List of officers & Preface to Transactions: 1854

 

[Originally published by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec in Transactions, Original Series, Vol. 4, No. 2 (1855)]

 

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF QUEBEC.

 

OFFICERS

 

FOR 1854.

 

PRESIDENT

G. B.  FARIBAULT, Esq.

 

VICE-PRESIDENTS,

E. A. MEREDITH, L. L. B.,

LIEUT. A. NOBLE, R. A.,

LIEUT. E. ASHE, R. N.,

G. T. KINGSTON, M. A.

 

RECORDING SECRETARY,

H. D. THIELCKE, Esq.

 

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY,

LIEUT. H. G. SAVAGE, R. E.

 

COUNCIL SECRETARY,

LIEUT. G. RANKEN, R. E.

 

CURATOR OF MUSEUM,

ROBERT HENRY RUSSELL, M. D.

 

CURATOR OF APPARATUS,

WILLIAM BENNING.

 

TREASURER

GEORGE THOMAS CARY.

 

LIRRARIAN,

E. T. FLETCHER.

 

THE Council of the LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF QUEBEC, in giving to the public this part of the transactions of the Society, think it right to state, in reference to

the length of time that has elapsed since the papers included in it were read before the Society, that it has been, as they are informed, in print for some years past, but its publication has been delayed from various causes, latterly from the loss of a portion of an interesting article, "A Comparison of the "French and English Languages," by the late Dr. WILKIE.

 

The Council have, however, thought it advisable to direct the publication of this part without, further delay, omitting the imperfect article which, should the missing portion be found, will be included in some subsequent number of the Society's Transactions.

 

The Council desire to take this opportunity of stating, that, with very few exceptions, the communications read before the Society for some years past, many of which would have found a worthy place in the Society's Transactions, were destroyed in the Society's Rooms, at the Parliament Buildings, during the recent fire.

 

The Council feel warranted in adding, however, that, notwithstanding the serious loss, as regards materials for publication, thus sustained, they trust to have it in their power to publish another number of the Society's Transactions before very long; and they think they may promise that in future the publication of their proceedings will be more regular and rapid than heretofore.

 

In reference to the heavy losses sustained by the Society in the recent destruction of the Parliament Buildings; The Council think it may not be out of place to add here a Circular addressed by their direction to several sister Societies and private Individuals of this Continent and in Europe, who, it was thought, might feel disposed to aid the Society in the present emergency.

 

QUEBEC, 8th March, 1854.

 

SIR,

 

I regret to announce to you that in the destruction by fire of the Parliament Buildings at Quebec, the Literary and Historical Society, whose Library and Museum were situated there, also shared in the general disaster.

 

Some of the Books, all the Manuscripts, and part of the Philosophical Apparatus, have been saved, but the loss in Minerals, Specimens, and objects of Natural History, has been very great, few of the original number having been saved.

 

At this crisis I beg leave, by direction of the Council, to bring to your knowledge this melancholy occurence so disheartening to a young and struggling Society, and to suggest, that any Specimens, Minerals, or other objects which may tend to promote the cause of science and which could be spared by you, would be gratefully accepted by us.

 

I am,

 

Sir,

 

Your obedient Servant,

 

H. SAVAGE, LIEUT. R. E. Corresponding Secretary.

 

Quebec, 22nd March, 1854.