CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 309 



The following papers were then read; 



1. By the Rev. Prof. Young, M.A.: 



"On Sir David Brewster's supposed law of visible direction iu monocular 

 vision, and the corresponding law of visible direction in binocular vision." 



2. By Professor Wilson, LL.D : 



" Bemarks on a specimen of Indian Corn having the male and female newer 

 developed on the same stalk. The specimen was presented to the Institute. 



3. By Col. Baron de Rottenburg : 



"Report of the Committee appointed to consider a proposition from Lieutenant 

 Ashe, R.N., for the establishment of an Astronomical Observatory at Quebec. 



The Report was adopted, and the following draft of a memorial was approved 

 of, and ordered to be transmitted to His Excellency the Governor General, and to 

 the Legislative Council, and the Legislative Assembly, the Council being request- 

 ed to take the requisite steps for securing the fitting presentation thereof. 

 The Memorial of the Canadian Institute Incorporated by Royal Charter, — 



Humbly Sheweth, — That Your Memorialists have been informed that application 

 has been made to Your Excellency by Lieutenant Ashe, Roval Navy, for an 

 extension of the Astronomical Observatory at Quebec, whereby the same may be 

 rendered more efficient and useful. 



Your Memorialists most respectfully beg of Your Excellency to take this 

 application into consideration, and in support of the same they desire humbly to 

 represent to Your Excellency, that Astronomy, while deservedly ranking as the 

 first of sciences, both on account of the certainty of its processes, the brilliancy of 

 its results, and the wide field it offers for investigation, is at the same time that 

 above all others which is most closely connected in its practical bearings with the 

 interests of civilized life and the progress of commercial intercourse ; that so 

 fully has this truth been recognized that at the present day there does not exist 

 a kingdom in Europe which has not established one or more National Observa- 

 tories, while in the United States so strong an interest has been awakened on 

 this point that such institutions are being founded in all parts of the country, of 

 which the recently opened Observatory at Albany is a splendid and notable 

 example. 



Your Memorialists believe that even if the practical benefits that would result 

 from the establishment of such an institution were not directly and immediately 

 felt, Canada has now taken such rank among communities that it 'would not 

 consist with her dignity to lag behind in the march of scientific research ; but the 

 requirements of her rapidly increasing commerce render this establishment almost 

 a necessity. 



Your Memorialists need only refer to the important duties which would 

 devolve on the Observatory in connection with Navigation, such as the determina- 

 tion of true time, the regulation of Chronometers, the correction of Ship-com- 

 passes ; and here also they might be permitted to recall the great services render- 

 ed by a similar institution at "Washington, under the conduct of Lieutenant 

 Maury, by his famous Charts and system of Navigation which are producing 

 effects the value of which can hardly be over-rated. 



Your Memorialists would also represent that Quebec is peculiarly and fortu- 

 nately qualified for the site of an Observatory, both from its steady climate, the 

 clearness of its atmosphere and its local advantages of position ; and also from its 

 being at once an inland town and a seaport. 



