Mémoires Et Comptes Rendus de la Société Royale Du Canada

teresting history of this loyal people, to prepare them to better appreciate the meeting of the Provincial Association-now the Ontario Historical Society-to be held by the invitation of the Chiefs in their Council House at Oshweken; a meeting unique in the history of the continent, and an earnest of the brotherhood of red and white, the loyal intelligence of the one, the grateful acknowledgment of the other; an earnest that as they fought side by side in the wars of the past, they may now take their stand together on the platform of intellectual and patriotic equality.

In pursuance of another rule of the society-to bring to the notice of its members the best contemporary works of Canadians—the following extracts have been read :

"A Centennial Poem," by Mrs. Curzon, read by Miss Alexandrina Ramsay. "How Baptiste Came Home," from Drummond's "L'Habitant." This was so enjoyed that Mrs. Morrison was asked to repeat, and at a subsequent meeting read two other selections from this valuable volume of national literature.

In addition to the regular meetings an open meeting was held on Dec. 10th, which Their Excellencies the Governor-General and the Countess of Aberdeen did us the honour of attending. An able address by Mr. J. H. Coyne, President of the Ontario Historical Society, the inaugural address of our recently elected President, Lady Edgar, were given. His Excellency and Lady Aberdeen also did the members the honour of addressing them. A short paper compiled from the unedited reminiscences of Mrs. Grover, a descendant of Peter Schuyler and of U. E. Loyalists, entitled Lady Colborne's Bazaar (the first ever held in Upper Canada) or School Life in the Thirties, was read by the secretary. A regret being expressed that a more consequent study of history had not been followed rather than the plan of reading fugitive papers, Miss Sara Mickle and the secretary were named a committee to arrange for extra meetings to be held on the evening of the third Tuesday in the month, when the following papers were read :

10. "The Cabots and their Voyages," by Miss Mickle.

11.-Jacques Cartier and his Discoveries," by the Secretary.

12. "Champlain, the Explorer," by Miss MacKenzie and Miss Hilliwell.

13.- The Indians of Champlain's Time," by Miss Ellerby.
14" Champlain, the Governor," by Miss Logan.

19. "Sir William Alexander," by Miss Mickle.

16.-" Sir David Kirke," by Miss E. Yates Farmer.

These papers were illustrated by lantern slides made for the purpose from rare old prints and by maps.

Although it was not anticipated that any original work could be of fered at these meetings, the plan was rather to bring within the reach of the many knowledge of original documents or publications which only

the few had knowledge of or means to obtain. In the first-" Cabot and his Voyages"-Miss Mickle was indebted chiefly to valuable works on the subject by Dr. S. E. Dawson. She drew out clearly the fact that according to the terms of the second patent granted, the official despatches of De Ayala and of Dr. Puebla, the only strictly contemporary evidence, the second voyage was sailed to "the lands and isles of late found." It must be remembered that it was not till 17 years later that Sebastian Cabot's account of a northern voyage was published. In the paper "Jacques Cartier and his Discoveries," attention was drawn to the apparently undoubted conclusion that the two natives taken home by Cartier on his first voyage to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and who showed him the entrance to the St. Lawrence by which he reached Quebec, on his second voyage, were women, this being but one more instance in the history of the world, more particularly of Canada, that woman's influence was ever the incentive to progress.

We have to regret that the funds of the society have not been sufficient to enable it to print a transaction this year. We hope, however, to be able to do so next year, as several of the papers compiled from unedited papers are of sufficient value to warrant their preservation, notably Miss Lefroy's paper on the Social Life in 1800 to 1806. The society has not applied to either government or municipality for any grant, and is dependent on its fees principally. It has, however, to gratefully acknowledge a kind gift from one of its honorary members, Mr. Gilbert Parker. The society has also received a number of valuable pamphlets and books from their authors, and arrangements will be made by which the members may have ready access to them during the coming year.

Another branch of work done was inaugurated recently in an able address from Mrs. Williamson, who recalled to the members that they were not only a society for the preservation of the records of past history but to make history and by every effort in their power to build up their country, and "that a unity of national purpose and a high ideal of loyalty and patriotism in her people would alone sustain her in her rapidly rising status among the nations of the world."

To this end, patronage of native manufactures was one of their first duties. Many instances were given where foreign goods were allowed to crowd out better native productions, and where merchants had deliberately falsified the marks on such goods in order to sell them.

The result of this Canada movement " has been the receipt of many samples of Canadian goods of great variety and superior quality, accompanied by gratifying letters, commending the patriotic effort of the society.

We We are also indebted to the editor and proprietors of The Canadian Home Journal for the exclusive use of a full page of that journal wherein to publish full accounts of meetings, or through contributed articles

arouse interest toward the formation of branches of the society among the women in other localities than Toronto.

We are indebted to the council of the Canadian Institute for valuable aid in permitting us to hold our monthly meetings in the lecture room of their building without charge.

The society is affiliated with the Toronto Local Council of Women and with the Ontario Historical Society, and as the delegate appointed by the members to represent them at this meeting of the Royal Society of Canada, I beg to convey their grateful acknowledgment of your distinguished recognition and to submit to you most respectfully the foregoing report.

III. From The Historical and Scientific Society of Manitoba, through Mrs. BRYCE.

The society still maintains the position which it has held for nineteen years. During these years the society has been supported by the Provincial Government, by members' fees, and latterly by assistance from the city of Winnipeg.

The present arrangement is that the city gives the society quarters in the City Hall, where the society's library of 3,156 volumes of reference works is combined with the Free Public Library of the city. The Free Public Library is managed by a joint board consisting of two members of the Historical Society and three aldermen of the city, appointed year by year. The Historical Society has a large exchange list consisting of 91 newspapers and periodicals, being a complete collection of all the newspapers published from Lake Superior to the Pacific Ocean, and 41 foreign magazines and reviews. The society has also 140 scientific and literary exchanges. By the arrangement with the city all these, with the excellent reference library of the society, are accessible to the citizens of Winnipeg.

During the past year four transactions have been published by the society, viz. :

49.-"The Lake of the Woods: Its History, Geology, Mines and Manufactures," by Rev. Dr. Bryce.

50.- Farm Life in Selkirk Colony," by Rev. R. G. McBeth.
51.—" Game Birds of Manitoba," by George E. Atkinson.

52. Sketch of the Life and Discoveries of Chief Factor Robert Campbell, H. B. C.," by Rev. Dr. Bryce.

A short time ago the matter of ethnology of the Canadian West was taken up and the Archæological Committee of the society was empowered to spend $200 on their investigations.

The library of the society continues to receive additions of a valuable kind. The society has lately become a member of the Prince

society, and has added a portion of its publications to the library. The aim is kept before the Library Committee to make a full collection of Canadian books of value, and the library of the society is becoming now very well provided in this respect.

Fortunately, the society has little anxiety over its financial affairs, having a comfortable balance to its credit. Up to the present time the joint arrangement with the city has proved mutually advantageous to both parties.

The society is pleased with the recognition given it by the Royal Society of Canada, and values highly the annual volume which it receives. For the information of the Royal Society, a list of the publications from 1882 to the present time is hereto attached.