100 THE PRESIDENT'S ADDBESS. 



in addition to this, our museum, when properly arranged, and so far 

 increased as to render it one of general interest, is also thrown open, 

 we shall have effected an arrangement which will make the Institute 

 essentially a Provincial Institution, and establish for it the strongest 

 possible claims for the sympathy and support of every Canadian. 



I may be thought, perhaps, by some, rather to overrate the im- 

 portance of this matter, but we should recollect that Upper Canada 

 at all events does not boast of a single public library, in the strict 

 sense of the term, or of anything that can be called a Provincial 

 Museum. True it is that the universities of University and Trinity 

 Colleges possess valuable libraries ; and University College being a 

 provincial institution, and having ample funds at its command, its 

 library and museum will no doubt continue to receive important ad- 

 ditions every year, which must ultimately render them very complete 

 and valuable collections. 



But, although these institutions are most liberal in affording every 

 facility to strangers who may be desirous of visiting either their libra- 

 ries or their museums, the practical benefits to be derived from either 

 the one or the other must necessarily be almost entirely confined to 

 those more immediately connected with the Universities themselves. 



Under these circumstances, therefore, it cannot but be a matter 

 of rejoicing, to all who are interested in the intellectual progress of 

 the people of this country, that a most favorable opportunity is now 

 afforded to us of supplying a great public want, and more especially 

 have we, as Members of the Institute, reason to congratulate our- 

 selves that this is likely to be effected through the instrumentality 

 of this Society. 



That the Institute, from its very nature and constitution, uni- 

 ting as it does all parties in its pale, is peculiarly fitted for being 

 the medium for carrying out this undertaking, cannot, I think, admit 

 of question. For it is undoubtedly one of the unfortunate results 

 consequent upon the divided state of public opinion on educational 

 questions in this country, that our efforts in the cause of knowledge 

 have in many cases been rendered less effective by the different views 

 entertained as to the best mode of imparting it ; and the means and 

 energies of those most anxious for its advancement, which, if united, 

 would produce the most splendid results, are by their division weak- 

 ened and impaired. 



Much as this is to be lamented, it was perhaps impossible that it 

 could have been otherwise, and I only allude to this subject now, for 

 the purpose of bringing more forcibly before you the immense advan- 

 tages which the Institute possesses in presenting, as it does, a com- 



