88 Sir William Edmond Logan. 



the grand gold medal of honor, and the Emperor of the French 

 made him a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Early in the 

 following year (1856) he was knighted by Queen Victoria, and 

 received from the Geological Society of London the WoUaston 

 Palladium Medal in recognition of his distinguished labors in 

 Long previous he had won the confidence and esteem 

 fellow-countrymen in Canada, but this seemed to be a 

 fitting time to testify to him their appreciation of his worth. 

 Accordingly, on his return to Montreal, the citizens presented 

 him with a testimonial on which were engraved the words : 



" In commemoration of his long and useful services as Pro- 

 vincial Geologist in Canada, and especially his valuable services 

 in connection with the Exhibition of all Nations in London in 

 1851, and in Paris in 1855, by which he not only obtained for 

 himself higher honor and more extended reputation, but largely 

 contributed in making known the natur; ' *■ ' ' "'""" 



rh\?£i 



The Natural History Society of Montreal presented him with 

 an address, and made him an honorary member, while the mem- 

 bers of the Canadian Institute of Toronto, of which Sir William 

 was the first President, had his protrait painted and hung up 

 in their hall. They also presented him with an address expres- 

 sive of their affectionate esteem and respect. Sir William's 

 reply to this was so full of feeling, and so highly characteristic, 

 that we give a portion of it ; " Whatever distinctions," said he 

 "may be bestowed on us at a distance, it is upon the respect, 

 esteem, and confidence shown us at home, that our happiness 

 and satisfaction must chiefly depend. I can assure you with 

 sincerity that the honor conferred upon me, when you elected me 

 the first President of the Institute, was one highly prized, al- 

 though the circumstances of a distant domicile, and the intent 

 pursuit of the investigations with which I am charged, rendered 

 it extremely difiicult for me to be of much use in your proceed- 

 ings It is a fortunate circumstance" for me that 



ray name should be connected with an act of grace on tlie part 

 of Her Majesty, which serves to confirm your feeling in regard 

 to the fact that as Canadians we enjoy a full share in the honors 

 and privileges of British subjects. And I am proud to think 

 that it was perhaps more because I was a Canadian, in whom 

 the inhabitants of the Province had reposed some trust, that 

 the honor which has been conferred upon me by Her Majesty 

 was so easily obtained. That I am proud of the honors which 

 have been bestowed upon me by the Emperor of France, in 

 respect to my geological labors, and also by my brother geolo- 

 gists in England, there can be no doubt. But I have striven for 

 these honors because I have considered they would tend to pro- 

 mote the confidence which the inhabitants of the Province have 



