Things to be observed in Canada. 1 1 



farther take the liberty of mentioning the collection of the Rev. 

 Mr. Bell, now in Queen's College, and that of Sheriff Dickson, of 

 Kingston, from both of which I have derived much pleasure and 

 instruction, and those of Dr. Van Cortlandt, and of the Silurian 

 Society of Ottawa, and of our more venerable sister the Literary 

 and Historical Society of Quebec, the study of which is a pleasure, 

 I trust, yet in store for me. 



I have probably sufficiently trespassed on your patience, and 

 shall say little of the aids which intelligent public appreciation 

 can render to meteorological investigations, such as those of Prof. 

 Smallwood and Prof. Hall, or to the important chemical inquiries 

 of Prof. Hunt. The results attained by these gentlemen are full of 

 material for thought, and in many minor departments of their work 

 I have no doubt they might be aided by local co-operation on the 

 part of some of our members. If in no other way, we can aid 

 these gentlemen by studying and expounding to the public the 

 conclusions which they reach. Independently of their interest to 

 science, now appreciated far beyond the limits of Canada, the 

 tables of Prof. Smallwood and Prof. Hall, and the analyses of Prof. 

 Hunt, are full of facts of immense practical value in agriculture 

 and the arts of life. I had occasion, not long since, in connec- 

 tion with my lectures on agriculture to study the analyses of soils 

 in the reports of the Geological Survey, and I am convinced that 

 those analyses contain the germ of a revolution in Canadian agri- 

 culture, which will be effected so soon as they are thoroughly 

 understood by the people. 



Enough has been said to indicate some of the paths of inquiry 

 open to the members of this Society. But, it may be asked, why 

 should we leave our offices, our business, our social amusements, 

 for such occupations. It is not necessary that we should do so. All 

 of us have public, social, and private duties, that have prior claims 

 on our attention. We must not neglect these ; but, if we have a 

 little leisure for rational amusement, I know none more agree- 

 able or inspiring than the study of nature, or of some small de- 

 partment of it, such as the observer in his own locality can take 

 time fully to master. Let him provide himself with, or secure 

 access to, the best books in the department he may select, and 

 this need not, in the first instance, be a very extensive one. Le* 

 him read, collect, observe, and note ; and, in an incredibly short 

 time, he will find a new world of beauty opening to him. Objects 

 before unregarded will become friends, and will speak to him of 

 the wonders of the Universe of God, until he will long to make 



