ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 231 



of instruction. A shining light of Nova Scotia, Dr. McGregor, one 

 of her Alumni, comparatively young in years, but who has already 

 made his mark in the Universities of the world, is to be the first 

 occupant of the new Chair. I can not affirm that the example of 

 our own Institute has had any weight with Dalhousie in the deter- 

 mination — most probably none at all, — but of this I am sure, that the 

 University is entering upon a course of study which, so far as the 

 training of our youth is concerned, i8 second to none in importance 

 in her whole curriculum, and which, if zealously persisted in, 

 will place her higher than ever in the estimation of all orders of 

 the community. We may, I hope, expect from the liberal charac- 

 ter of the learned Professor, and also from the Alumni of his 

 ^department, much assistance in our own work.* Our members 

 cannot all be students of Dalhousie, but she may do herself honour 

 beyond College bounds by lending her aid to the public enlighten- 

 ment. Nay, this is part of the work to which she is appointed, 

 and in its accomplishment she will best fulfil her destiny. 



In conclusion of this general but imperfect summary of the 

 doings of the Institute, I may as well say that I have been far 

 from intending to deal harshly with shortcomings. These may be 

 easily avoided or amended, and there is a bright side to the pros- 

 pect, to Avhieh I would shortly advert. I remember that at our first 

 Ordinary Meeting, fifteen years since, the present Provincial Sec- 

 retary, still a member of the Institute, delivered the Inaugural 

 Address. Then, the Marquis of Normanby, at that time our 

 Lieutenant Governor, attended our meetings, and gave us in his 

 plain, unvarnished but forcible style, a word of encouragement. 

 After him Sir Richard McDonnell, another Lieutenant Governor, 

 would have done us more honour than our conduct towards him 

 deserved at his hands. I am compelled, in mentioning his name, 

 to make this acknowledgment. Our Governors have invariably 

 been our patrons, and have been pleased to preside whenever we 

 have held a conversazione. We should like them to go a little 

 farther than this, as some of their predecessors did not think it 



* Which has since been rendered in an excellent Paper on Electricity delivered at 

 one of our Ordinary meetings. 



