HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF INSTITUTE. PIERS. Ixi 



remained only a vice-president, a treasurer, a curator, and 

 five committeemen. In that year the trustees handed over 

 the collection to the Provincial Museum, which action 

 finally closed the history of the society. 



It may be mentioned that about 1839 a society known as 

 the Halifax Literary and Scientific Association was in exist- 

 ence, with W. C. Silver as president, and it at least survived 

 till the next year, but I know nothing further of its history. 

 (See Belcher's Almanac for 1840). 



The Nova Scotian Institute of Natural Science. 



In 1859 the Nova Scotian Literary and Scientific Society 

 ■^vas doing some active work, no doubt formed, about then, 

 from the salvaged wreckage of the Mechanics' Institute, and 

 with objects intended to save the new association from running 

 on the rocks which had caused its predecessor to founder. 

 It published its Transactions for the period from 4th January 

 to 3rd December, 1859, (Halifax, 1859), probably not more. 

 In the next year Dr. Charles Cogswell was its president, being 

 followed by Robert ]\Iorrow; and in April 1862, I believe, 

 J. R. Willis read before it a paper on our shells. 



There seems to have been various interests working in this 

 societ}^, which possibly did not harmonize, and the scientific 

 men proposed to form an organization that would be all their 

 own. 



In February. 1861. the second International Exhibition of 

 London received its charter and was opened on 1st Alay of the 

 following year. Nova Scotia had been rapidly coming into 

 notice. Coal was being largely produced, iron was being 

 mined, and gold had lately been discovered, and it was 

 considered to be a favourable opportunity to bring our 

 natural resources before the eyes of the world. Specimens 

 for the purpose were collected with much enthusiasm and 

 were forwarded to London. Those who had been engaged 



Proc. & TR.iNS. N. S. Inst. Sci . Vol. XIIL Proc' — E. 



