ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. . 183 



trust that the success which has already i-ewarded their exertions — tliough far short 

 of what they aim at, — may be regarded as sufBeient to justify the hope of the 

 Canadian Journal becoming a means of union and combined action among the 

 Scientific and Literary Men of Canada, and a direct medium for the communication 

 of such observations and discoveries to the scientific world, as have heretofore 

 been pxiblished through Ihe medium of English Societies' Transactions, or in foreign 

 Scientific Journals. 



In concluding this second report, the Editing Committee trust that it is unneces- 

 sary they should remind the Council, and the Members of the Society generally, that 

 while they undertake the editing of the Journal, the contribution of materials for 

 its pages is not only invited from the members at large, but is indispensable for 

 its permanent success. The editorial oversight — including as it does, press-reading, 

 correspondence, and the preparation of those portions of each number which 

 necessarily constitute editorial work, — is in itself sufiicient to involve a considerable 

 sacrifice of time to those on whom it chiefly devolves. But in addition to this the 

 supply of the requisite matter for each successive number has heretofore been the 

 work of so small a minority of those who ought to constitute the working members 

 of the Institute, — a body now numbering upwards of six hundred members 

 throughout the Province, — as to encroach to an unfair extent on services voluntarily 

 and freely rendered on behalf of the Society at lai'ge. 



Toronto, 3rd December, 1857. Dan. "Wilson, Convener. 



With a view to add to the efficiency of the working staff of the Institute, the 

 Council wish to recommend the adoption of the following changes relative to the 

 election of Vice-presidents. They have come to the conclusion, after mature de- 

 liberation, that it is expedient to retain the services of the Vice-presidents 

 for a longer time than that of a single year. Hence they propose that the first 

 Vice-president shall retire annually, and his place be occupied by the second Vice- 

 president ; the third Vice-president becoming second ; and that the new Vice-pres- 

 ident who shall be elected to fill the vacancy shall rise successively to the rank of 

 second and first Vice-president in subsecjuent years , before retiring from office. la 

 this manner, it is thought, that a more thorougJi knowledge of the duties of the office 

 and a greater interest in efficiently carrying out the same, will be acquired, than 

 can reasonably be expected when, as at present, the tenure of office is limited to 

 a single year. These proposed changes will be submitted to the Institute in pro- 

 per form, for approval or rejection as the Members may think fit. 



The financial prospects of the Institute are, on the whole, satisfactory. By the 

 subjoined Report of the Treasurer, it will be seen that the estimated balance, after 

 transferring a sum of £200 to the Building Fund, amounts to £343 3s. 7d. 



TREASURER'S REPORT, 1857. 

 Da.] Scatement of Canadian Institute General Account for 1857. 



Estimated balance from last year £211 6 6 



Cash received from Members 336 12 9 



" " for sales of Journal 67 1 3 



" " Parliamentary Grant 250 



