

Natural History Society. . 229 



and was attended by about 800 of our fellow-citizens, who wel- 

 comed with much satisfaction the officers and members of the 

 " Association." Considering our inexperience in the management 

 of such large assemblies, it was yet most gratifying to witness the 

 general excellency of the arrangements, and the complete success 

 of the entertainment. For the interest of the meeting your 

 Council were successful in obtaining for exhibition the celebrated 

 Indian cariosities and pictures, the property of Paul Kane, Esq., 

 who, with a liberality worthy of all praise, placed these valuable 

 objects freely at our disposal. 



The Council feel that they not only express their own senti- 

 ments, but also those of every member of this Society, when they 

 state that the opportunity which this scientific convention afforded 

 them of meeting with so many gentlemen of scientific celebrity, was 

 in the highest degree gratifying, and an honor which they highly 

 appreciate. We had then amongst us the distinguished represen- 

 tatives of the Geological and Linnean Societies of Britain, together 

 with the savans of the United States and Canada, vying with each 

 other in the exposition of their scientific discoveries. Many 

 valuable papers were read, and facts of interest and value elicited 

 in discussion, in the various sections into which the Association 

 was distributed. In the more popular departments of geology 

 and ethnology the citizens generally took a deep and appreciating 

 interest. In the various sections it was also gratifying to note 

 the cordial reception and honorable position accorded to the 

 representatives of Canadian science. May we not indu'ge the 

 hope that a Canadian Scientific Associaion may soon be orga- 

 nized, and take an honorable place alongside of similar institu- 

 tions in Europe and America ? 



Your Council have good reason to believe that this most 

 successful meeting of the " American Association" has awakened 

 an interest in scientific pursuits, both in this city and in the pro- 

 vince at large, which will yet prove most beneficial in its results. 

 Your Society has, undoubtedly, reaped much advantage from this 

 event. Its zealous members have been greatly cheered, its num- 

 bers considerably increased, and hopes have been awakened, that 

 it will yet occupy a higher position of scientific eminence than 

 that to which it has yet attained. 



The Council report with regret that their sanguine expectations 

 of being able to proceed with the erection of a new and more com- 



