1855.] 



OBSERVATIONS ON GONCHOLOGIOAL RELICS OF THE INDIANS OF 0. W. 



155 



acres of cleared land in each township, — thus affording the 

 means of comparison, year by year, as to the quantity of land 

 in cultivation, and its proportion to that which remains still in 

 a state of nature, — and affording also through such comparison 

 the means of judging what effect the clearing up of the country 

 has upon the climate, as regards heat and moisture. It would 

 seem to give occasion for regret, that such an opportunity of 

 obtaining a knowledge of interesting facts of this description 

 should be lost, for the results of observations taken under cir- 

 cumstances so favourable, might materially tend to correct false 

 impressions, and establish the truth upon points which have 

 given rise to a great deal of speculation among philosophers. 



For these reasons, among others of more weight, that might 

 be mentioned, it does seem to deserve immediate and earnest 

 consideration, whether progress cannot at once be made in 

 acting upon the suggestions which I have referred to.''' 



I will detain you, gentlemen, but a few moments longer, 

 while I solicit your attention to some reflections which have 

 naturally presented themselves in connection with the Institute. 



We have here an association formed for the advancement of 

 Science, established by Royal Charter, and which the Govern- 

 ment and Legislature have very early condescended to counte- 

 nance and encourage by some very gracious marks of confi- 

 dence and goodwill. The Province, I will venture to say, 

 contains a very fair proportion, if not its due proportion, of 

 men of cultivated minds, active intelligence, and of laudable 

 enterprise and ambition. 



Can there then be any reason why the Canadian Institute 

 may not be made to do for Canada whatever the spontaneous 

 and united efforts of learned men have been able to do in other 

 countries for the promotion of the Arts and Sciences ? 



There is certainly nothing in our political system to fetter 

 the mind — no barrier to mental improvement presented by any 

 impediment physical or moral, but on the contrary, unusual 

 encouragement from the certainty that the decisive, comprehen- 

 sive, and well-sustained measures that hiive been taken for the 

 general diffusion of education must soon have the effect of 

 raising the standard of knowledge among the inhabitants of 

 Canada much above the ordinary level in other countries. 



If a large expense were inseparable fi'om the maintenance of 

 such associations as this, still that consideration need not ope- 

 rate more strongly as a discouragement in Canada than in other 

 countries, for it would be no easy matter to point to any part of 

 the world in which wealth is more rapidl;,' accumulating, though 

 undoubtedly, the proportion of individuals possessed of large 

 wealth is less in Upper Canada, than in countries where com- 

 merce and manufactures have flourished for a much longer 

 period. But in truth large means are not required for our 

 purpose. Nothing can be more simple and inexpensive than 

 the system bj' which literary and scientific institutions of this 

 nature proceed to accomplish whatever it is in their power to 

 effect. 



A building suilliblo for the pmpose is clearly indispensable : 

 this calls ior an expenditure which must be once incurred, and 

 the earlier the better. But after that shall have been accom- 



''■' Tlie sup;jjestiona referred to have iinderjiono the consiilerntinn of 

 tlio Committee of the Council, which very recently reported, but they 

 thought it advisable, before recommending any special steps to be 

 taken, that correct information should be procured of the working of a 

 system, which l>as been in operation some years in the United States ; 

 but they hail taken steps to procure such information, and were not 

 prepared until it was received to recommend any definite course of 

 action. 



plished, although large means might no doubt be usefully 

 applied in promoting objects fairly within the range of such 

 institutions, yet a large expenditure is by no means necessary 

 for the attainment of its purposes to an extent that would be 

 useful and satisfactory. 



There are contingent espences of an ordinary kind not to 

 be avoided, for which a certain and adequate provision should 

 be made with as little delay as possible, for until this has been 

 done on a reasonable scale, there can be neither comfort nor 

 efl&ciency in the management of any such Association. But a • 

 very moderate sum will be sufiicieut for this purpose and for 

 all beyond it, such as the gradual collection of books, and what- 

 ever is necessary for illustrating the different Sciences we may 

 trust to the benefactions of liberal patrons, and the continued 

 aid of the Legislature, which we may trust will not be with- 

 held if the institution shall be found to be steadily advancing 

 in the path of usefulness. 



As an instance of the manner in which this Association 

 may be made to assist in serving very important interests, I 

 refer to the late publication in a Supplement to the Canadian 

 Journal of the several papers upon the improvement and pre- 

 servation of the Harbour of Toronto, which were submitted by 

 different gentlemen to the Harbour Commissioners, with dia- 

 grams illustrating the subject — which subject I need not say 

 is one of extreme interest not only to this rising city but also to 

 a large surrounding country. 



And I may refer to the papers of Mr. Billings, a native of 

 this Province, which have been spoken of so approvingly in 

 the last report of the Council, as proof of the tendency which 

 the Canadian Institute must have to stimulate and encourage 

 those whose tastes happily lead them to prosecute with ardor 

 such investigations. 



They have thus presented to them an opportunity of sub- 

 mitting conveniently the fraits of their observations for discus- 

 sion and examination among men of similar intellectual habits 

 and pursuits — who can estimate their value and understand 

 the difficulties which have been overcome — and they have in 

 the Journal of the Institute a channel well adapted for con- 

 veying the results of their researches to those quarters where 

 they are most likely to receive attention. 



"Whatever can assist materially to strengthen in the minds 

 of Canadian youth an attachment to such studies, or to assist 

 them in pursuing them, must be acknowledged to be important 

 not merely as intends to render them more valuable members 

 of society, but as it makes them in themselves more happy, 

 multiplying their sources of rational and innocent enjoyment, 

 increasing "their self-respect, and saving them from the dangers 

 of idleness, and from the remorse which sooner or later must 

 follow an ill-spent life. 



Observations Sug'gested by Specimens of a Class of fioncholo- 

 gical Kelics of the Red Indian Tribes of Canada West. 

 Read before the Canadian Inxtiinte hy D.ixiEi, Wilsox, T.LD. : 

 Professor ofHCsfori/ and EntjUsh Literature, 

 Unirersity College, Toronto. 

 Among the numerous relics of the Indian tribes pertaining 

 to the northern regions of this continent, there is one da.ss,^ 

 consisting of certain large species of the sea shells of the Gulf 

 of Jlexico and the West Indian Islands, and of articles of per- 

 sonal ornament fashioned from these, which appear to present 

 some special claims to .nttontion. 



