2 2 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 



brightening very greatly. Here it is that we have cause to regret that 

 this address is not from the lips of one of those who have a personal 

 knowledge of the society's past, and of such as were wont to take 

 part in its proceedings. The present annual commencement marks 

 an era in its existence, sufificiently distinct to be made the occasion 

 for a retrospect of its history, and for calling to mind the names of 

 those friends, many of them passed away, who initiated the society, 

 and who continued it often under circumstances of difficulty and 

 discouragement. I regret that this, which would be a pleasing duty, 

 is one which cannot be efficiently undertaken by the present speaker. 

 It has not been his privilege to have been so long an associate as 

 that he would be justified in the presence of several who are present, 

 in dealing with the persons and things connected with the Associa- 

 tion in past times. Rather one will confine himself to the present, 

 and point to the existing condition of the society, and to the results 

 before us to-day of the efforts of those who are aiming at constituting 

 it as an efficient institution When we look around us to-night we 

 are encouraged to say that the Hamilton Association bears good 

 promise of permanency as well as efficiency. One very important 

 condition of permanency we have succeeded in obtaining — we have 

 localized ourselves. I am sure we cannot but feel satisfied with our 

 accommodation. The possession of a room for the purposes of the 

 Association was not only desirable for the comfort of the members, 

 but it is necessary for the safe keeping of the many things with which, 

 as a society, we should strive to surround ourselves ; for example the 

 museum, of which we have a very fair nucleus gathered together, as 

 you have an opportunity of seeing. We have to thank many friends 

 for donations for the museum, and especially may we express our 

 obligations to one whom we may mention as our distinguished fellow . 

 citizen, Colonel Grant, for the many interesting geological specimens 

 which he has presented to us. Some of us are aware that Colonel 

 Grant in his searching among the Silurian rocks of our own neigh- 

 borhood has made what is likely to be pronounced a very important 

 discovery. He has had the kindness to present us with many speci- 

 mens of flint, which have been found by him where, according to 

 the knowledge of geologists, few or no flints were to be looked for. 

 Those have been regarded as productions especially characteristic of 

 the chalk formation of the mezozoic age, but Colonel Grant seems 



