REPORT OF THE COUNCIL

 

OF THE

 

LITERARY & HISTORICAL

 

SOCIETY OF QUEBEC,

 

FOR THE YEAR 1861,

 

SUBMITTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING,

 

HELD ON JANUARY 8, 1862,

 

WITH

 

OFFICERS, LIST OF MEMBERS, &c., &c.

 

QUEBEC

PRINTED BY GEOROE THOMAS C.

1862.

 

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL

OF THE

LITERARY & HISTORICAL SOCIETY,

FOR THE YEAR 1861.

 

The Council of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, at the expiration of their time of office, have the honor to submit their report of the progress and proceedings of the Society for the past twelve months.

 

During the course of the year the number of our Members has gone on steadily increasing, although not, perhaps, so rapidly as could be wished.

 

In accordance with the suggestion made in the Report of the Council for last year, (a suggestion, which met with the hearty approval of the Society,) such of the original Members of the Society, as were still in Canada, and who, from one cause or another, had ceased to belong to the Society, were invited to rejoin its ranks. The Council regret to say that this well-intentioned movement has not met with the success which the late Council seemed to expect. Some few, however, of the original Members have again enrolled themselves among us, and the Council still entertain the hope that others may yet follow their example. '

 

The departure of Sir Edmund Head, from Canada, in the month of October last, deprived the Society of a distinguished patron. Immediately after the arrival at the Seat of Government of His Excellency Lord Monck, an address was presented to him by the Society, congratulating him on his assumption of the Government, and inviting him to accept the office of Patron of the Society. His Excellency received the numerous deputation which presented the address with his customary courtesy, and accepted the invitation to become our patron.

 

The Council think it not amiss to give the address of the Society and His Excellency's reply thereto in full, they arc accordingly subjoined :—

 

To His Excellency the Right Honorable Charles Stanley, Vis-count Monck, Administrator of the Government of the Province of Canada, &c, &c, &c.

 

We, the President, Council and Members of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec respectfully approach Your Excellency, to tender to you a cordial welcome on your arrival among us to assume the Government of this important Province.

 

Your Excellency has enjoyed abundant opportunities of witnessing the great benefits which other Countries derive from Institutions of a kindred character with ours, and we therefore allow ourselves to hope that you will be ready to regard our Society with favour.

 

We doubt not that your Excellency will agree with us in thinking that, great as is the value of such Societies in, older Countries, they are of much greater value in a young Country like ours, where the energies of so large a proportion of the community are, of necessity, almost wholly absorbed in the pursuits of Agriculture and Commerce, to the exclusion in a great degree of the cultivation of Literature and Science.

 

The Society which, we have the honour to represent to-day, claims to be the earliest Incorporated Literary Institution in the Province.

 

The ancient City of Quebec, as memorable from its historical associations , as it is grand in its natural position and scenery, was the appropriate birth-place and home of the first Historical Society in the Country.

 

It is the honour and the boast of our Society that from its foundation until now, the Governors of Canada (beginning with the illustrious Earl of Delhousie, under whose favouring auspices the Royal Charter incorporating the Society was granted, and closing with your Excellency's immediate predecessor, the high minded and gifted Sir Edmund Head,) have, each in his turn, marked their approval of our Society by holding the office of its Patron.

 

We would fain hope that we may look for a similar mark of favour at Your Excellency's hands.

 

We desire to convey through you to Lady Monck and the other members of Your Excellency's family, our respectful and cordial -greetings, and the expression of our earnest hope that their sojourn among us may be attended with every happiness and blessing.

 

Gentlemen,

 

I receive with sincere pleasure the Address 'with which you have done me the honour of greeting my arrival amongst you.

 

The object proposed to themselves by societies like that which you represent; of elevating and informing the minds of those whose ordinary occupations arc such as exclude them from the humanising influences of literature and science, is one which must commend itself to the favour of all thinking people, and I rejoice to find that amongst this rising community the advantages to be derived from an acquaintance with the events of past history, and with the thoughts of master minds in all ages of the world, are duly appreciated.

 

I accept with pleasure the honour you have offered me of becoming your patron, an honour which is enhanced by the consideration of the names of those who have preceded me in the office.

 

I thank you cordially for your kind greeting to Lady Monck and the other members of my family, and I will not fail to convey to them the expression of your good wishes.

 

The following is a list of the papers read at the Literary and Stated Meetings of the Society during the past year :—

 

1.—R. S. M. BOUCHETTE, Esquire,—"Life and Expeditions of J. Cartier," (from C. De Maziere de Sechelles, cor. mem., St. Malo.)'

 

2.—C. M. TATE, Esquire, V.P.,—" Glance at the march of Improvements in the last 30 years."

 

3.—E. T. FLETCHER, Esquire, V.P.,—" The Tyranny of the many."

 

4—G. G. DCNLEVIE, Esquire,—" The Ionian Isles."

 

5.—R. NETTLE, Esquire,—" The Fisheries of the Gulf and River St. Lawrence."

 

6.—LIECT. ASHE, R.K., F.R.A.S., V.P,,—Journey over the Andes to Lake Titicaca.

 

7.—E. T. FLETCHER, Esq., V.P.,—" Some illustrations of the discriminating power of the Human Ear." (Mss. of the late D. Wilkie, LL.D.

 

8.—E. A. MEREDITH, Esq., LL.D., President,—" An important but neglected branch of Social Science."

 

9—C. M. TATE, Esq., V.P.,—" Travelling forty years ago and today."

 

10.—MR. S. STURTON,—"The Food of Man, Botanically and Chemically considered.''

 

11.—Mr. W. COLPIR,—" Architecture of Canadian Insects."

 

During the past year, the publication of the Society's transactions was once more resumed, after a cessation of three or four years. The Council trust that in future the transactions will be published with .the same regularity as in the earlier days of the Society. In connection with this matter the Council desire to submit, for the consideration of the Society, the importance of giving increased power to the Editing Committee. This Committee should be authorized not merely to report upon papers formally submitted to them by a vote of the Society, they should be authorized to obtain from the Authors the papers as soon as they are read with a view to reporting on them, when deserving of publication, as speedily as possible. There can be no doubt that nothing would tend more to secure for the Society public sympathy and support than the regular appearance of its Transactions, especially if their contents were not unworthy of the high rank and standing of the Society. The publication of the Historical documents, referred to in the Report of the Council, for the last year, was unfortunately delayed much beyond the time anticipated. It has however been for some time printed, and will, it is thought, be found to throw some additional light on the history of the siege of Quebec.

 

The Council desires to bring prominently under notice the urgent necessity of securing, if possible, for the use of the Society, more convenient and suitable rooms than those we occupy at present. Our library may be extensive and valuable our literary meetings may be interesting, and the papers read at them and the discussion upon them may be improving ; .but if the rooms themselves are not much more accessible and comfortable than those which we at present possess, our books will remain unread upon our-shelves, and our meetings will be but scantily attended. Feeling the absolute necessity of changing our locality, the Council, under the orders of the Society, Have been busy for some time past in endeavouring to secure more suitable quarters.

 

The Reports of the Librarian, the Treasurer, and the Curator of the Museum, &c, are appended.

 

From the Librarian's Report it will be seen that a large and important addition has been made to the library during the past year. The most important accession to our list of books is undoubtedly the Natural History of the State of New York, a work in 19 volumes quarto, published under the authority of the State Legislature and edited by the well known Dr. Hall.

 

Many years must elapse before we can expect to see a Natural History of Canada on any thing like the same scale as this.

 

In the mean time, from the great similarity which obtains, as the Librarian remarks, between the Natural History of the country, and that of the State of New York, the student of the Botany, Geology, or Zoology of, Canada, will find in the pages of Hall's works, almost all the information he could expect to obtain from a work specially devoted to the Provinoe.

 

The Council are pleased to have it in their power to report that almost all the rare and expensive works which have been added to the Library, have been purchased considerably below the cost price, and they think it due to the Librarian to add that, to the seal and judgment of that officer this gratifying result is altogether due.

 

The funds of the Society appear, from the report of our energetic Treasurer, to be in a flourishing condition, not with standing the extraordinary inroads which have been made upon them during the past year for the purchase of books.

 

On the whole, the Council are of opinion that the proceedings and progress of the Society for the past twelve months have been satisfactory, and that our position and prospects are better now than they were at the commencement of the year. It will depend upon the members themselves, and especially upon the incoming Council, whether the progress made by the

Society during the present year will not be, as we have no doubt with proper effect it might be, far more marked and decisive.

 

E. A. MEREDITH, LL.D.,

President, Literary and Historical Society.

Quebec, January 8, 1862.

                       

THE TREASURER'S REPORT.

Your Treasurer begs respectfully to report the Financial Affairs of the Society to be in a healthy flourishing condition, as will be seen by reference to, the annexed abstract of its receipts and expenditure during the past year.

 

The Legislative appropriation of one thousand dollars has, of course, proved of material benefit, and as it has not been otherwise than legitimately and wisely expended in adding to

the library, and other property of the Society, your Treasurer apprehends that a similar munificent grant is likely to be made in 1862.  -,

 

The following names of eighteen gentlemen have been added to the Roll of Members during the year, vis :—

 

Anderson, Rev. D.

Vansittart, J. G.

Marsden, Dr.

Cauchon, Hon. J.

Hall, F. W.

Beaudry, F.

Whitcher, W. F.

Gay, Rev. J. L.

Hope, Rev. H.

Alley, Jr., J.

Nettle, R.

May. H.

Keefer, S.

Jones, Hy. J.

Hector, T.      

Ramsay, T. K.

Douglas, Rev. J.

Worthington.T.

 

The number of Members of the Society, at the commencement of 1861, was as follows, vis:—

 

Ordinary: 2

Life: 2

Corresponding: 22

Honorary: 6

Associate: 66

Total: 88

 

Of the Ordinary and Associate Members, your Treasurer begs to report that, while some, whose subscriptions were largely in arrear, availed themselves of the Society's indulgence, by paying for three, and regularly retired,—-others declined to do so, on the plea that they had had nothing to . do with the Society since their last payments. These should be struck off the Roll. A list is appended to this Report, accounting for every Member, whose name is printed in the report of the Council for 1860.

 

Your Treasurer would not, he believes, have been able to show so clear a subscription list as he does, if it had not been for the kindness of Mr. Sturton, Junr., son of the worthy Librarian of the Society, who very kindly volunteered to try and collect the amounts outstanding.

 

The heaviest items of expenditure, it will be seen, are for Books, Rent, Printing and Advertising. The Insurance is paid up to March, 1862,—the rent and gas account up to the 1st of November last, and your Treasurer is not aware of outstanding claims of any kind against the Society.

 

The available funds of the Society at this date are as follows, vis :—

 

General Fund: 825 60

Historical Document Fund: 209 17

Life Members' Fund: 64 65

 

Total: 1,089 42

 

And in March, 1862, the Savings Bank, in which deposits are made will add the accrued interest.

 

Add to which the nominal balance of subscriptions due: 275 00

 

ABSTRACT.

Amount of Arroars due by Members: $627 00

Do paid do: 372 00

Balance due: $275 00

 

And also $8 by two new members.

 

All which is respectfully submitted,

                                       T. DOUGLAS HARINGTON,

                                                                          Treasurer.

 

Quebec, 31st December, 1861.

 

THE REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN.

 

The Librarian begs to report that large and valuable additions have been made to the Library during the year, consisting of some of the best works in Science, Natural History, History and Travels. He would especially particularize the the works of Hallam, Mahon, Grote, Motley, Prescott, and Bancroft, among the Historians ; Barth, Burton, Livingston, De Chaillu and Atkinson, among the Travellers. And more especially the valuable work on the Natural History of the State of New York which State being conterminous with our Province, can be used as a substitute for one upon Canada, and will be especially invaluable till we can boast of one of our own. The purchase of the Gilfillan Poets has commenced the Poetical department of the Library, which your Librarian hopes soon to see completed.

 

It is with great pleasure that your Librarian reports an increase in the number of volumes taken out for reading during the year, and this your Librarian attributes to the valuable modern works recently added, and your Librarian regards it as an indispensable necessity for this Society, that every standard work upon History and Science should be added as soon after publication as possible. In doing this your Society is supplying a want which has been long felt in Quebec, and greatly assisting the intellectual development of our locality.

 

Your Librarian would be glad to call attention more generally to the fact that our Library table is constantly supplied with the four Reviews, Blackwood's, the Athenaeum,

 

Revue Contemporain and Revue des deux Mondes.

 

S. STURTON,

Librarian.

 

REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF THE

MUSEUM.

 

Your Curator has the honor to report that the Museum is in the same state that it was last year, with the exception of some additions, of which he furnishes a list.

 

Your Curator regrets that a prolonged absence from town, and other causes, have prevented him from making a catalogue of the contents of the Museum as he intended doing.

 

Humbly submitted,

A. WALLACE,

Curator of Museum.

 

Quebec, 4th Jany., 1862.

 

 

DONATIONS TO MUSEUM.

From W. D. Campbell,

Sample of Copper Ore from Harvey Hill Mines.

 

From Mr. Wallace,

18 Specimens of Canadian Woods,

 

 

LIST OF DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

 

From the Dublin Geographical Society,

Journal of their proceedings, vol 8, pt 3.

 

From Legislature,

Journals of Nova Scotia for 1860.

 

From T. Cary,

Treaty -with the United States in the reign of Geo. III.

 

From Hon. East India Company,

Meteorological Observations at Bombay in 1858,1 vol. 4to.

 

From Prof. Buckland, Toronto,

Transactions Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.

 

From Mom. DeSechelks,

Genealogy of Jacques Cartier and his family.

 

From Legislature,

Consolidated Statutes for Lower Canada (English).

                       Do                 do              do          (French).          

 

From the Eon. P. J. 0. Chauveau,   

Archeologie Canadienne.

 

From Mr. Futvoye,            .

The Canada Law Almanac for 1861. 

Annual Reports of the Superintendent of Education for the years 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858,1859. .

 

From the Prince of Wales,

Journal d'Instruction Publique, 1858,1859,1860.

 

 

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

 

LIST OF OFFICERS, 1868.

 

PATRON.

His Excellency Sir Edmund Head, Bart., Governor General, &c., &c.

 

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Sir David Brewster,

Sir Kohn Herschel,

Geo. Bancroft,

F. X. Garneau,

Professor Wilson,

Admiral Bayfield,

Colonel Lefroy, R. A.

N. Gould,

Sir W. Logan, Provincial Grologist,

Sterry Hunt, Assistant Do. Do.

 

LIFE MEMBERS.

The Right Reverend The Lord Bishop of Quebec.

THOMAS GLOVER, Esq.

ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, Esq.

 

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS.

 

His Grace the Archbishop of Quebec

Andrew, W., M. A.

Ashe, Lieut. E. D., R.N., F.R.S.

Anderson, W. Hedley

Anderson, Rey. Duncan

Alleyn. the Hon. Chas. M.P. P.

Alley, T. Jr.

Beswick, George

Burroughs, Ed.

Buchanan, A. C.

Bowen, N. H.

Bouchette, R. S. M.

Bernard, Hewitt

Beaudry, F.

Cassels, Robert

Campbell, W. Darling

Cary, George T.

Cambie, Chas.

Cauchon, Hon. Jos. M.P.P.

Dean, James, Jr.

Desbarats, George

Dunlevie, G. G.

Douglas, Revd. Jas.

Fairbault, G.B.

Fletcher, E. T.

Forsyth, James Bell

Glackemeyer, Edouard

Gowen, Hammond

Griffin, W. H.

Gay, Reyd. J. L.

Harington, T. D.

Hall, Geo. Benson

Herring, W.

Hutton, Wm.

Hall, F. N.

Hope, Bevd. H.

Hector, T.

Irvint, George

Joly, H. G.

Jones, H. J.

Killaly, Hamilton H

Keefer, Saml.

Langton, J., M. A.

Lewis, Francis,

Meredith, E. A., LL. D.

MacDonald, Honble. J. A.

Montisambert, C. N.

Middleton, R.

Marsden, Dr.

May, H.

Nettle, B.

O'Leary, J. M.

Panet, Charles, M. P. P.

Price, William

Ryan, Edward 

Ross, Dunbar, M. P. P.

Ramsay, T. K.

Shordiche, W.

Stevenson, James

Shaw, P. A.

Sinclair, P.  

Scott, Henry S.

Steele, Henry E.

Sturton, S.

Thompson, D. C.

Tate, C. M.

Vansittart, J. G.

Wallace, Alex.

Wilkie, Daniel.

Wicksteed, G. W.

Whitcher, W. F.

Worthington, T.

 

CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.

 

Bury the Rt. Hon. Viscount, London.

Baird, Spencer T., Smithsonian Institute, Washington.

Bourne, F. Orlandt, New York.

Brackenbury, H., R. E.

Bois, the Revd. Abbé, L. E., Maskinongé.

Campbell, Major, St. Hilaire.

Chaoveau, the Hon. P. J. O., Montreal.

Cherriman, Professor, Toronto University.

C. Desmaxiéres de Sochelles (St, Malo.)

DeSola. Revd. A., Montreal.

Davies, W. H. A., Montreal.

D'Urban, W. S. M., Montreal.

Graham, Lt. Col., U. S. A., Chicago.

Henderson, W., Frampton.

Hamilton, P. S. Halifax, N. S.

Kingston, G. T., Professor, Upper Canada College, Kingston.

Latour, H., Montreal.

Noble, Capt. R. A., F. R. S. Woolwich.

Russell, J. P., M. D. E., Toronto.

Roche, A. B., Toronto.

Renwicke, J as., New York.

Sewell, Wm, New York.

Sheppard, the Hon. W., Wendover, C. E.

Sir John Dorat (London.)

 

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

List of Officers 1862.

 

COUNCIL

 

PRESIDENT.

J. Langton, M. A.

 

VICE-PRESIDENTS.

E. A. Meredith, LL. D.

C. M. Tate.

E. D. Ashe, R. N., F. R. S.

G. W. Wicksteed, Q. C.

 

TREASURER.

T. D. Harington.

 

COUNCIL SECRETARY.

E. T. Fletcher.

 

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.

W. D. Campbell.

 

RECORDING SECRETARY.

H. May.

 

LIBRARIAN.

S. Sturton.

 

CURATOR OF MUSEUM.

Rev. J. Douglas.

 

CURATOR OF APPARATUS.

D. Wilkie.

 

HISTORICAL DOCUMENT COMMITTEE.

Honble. Jos. Cauchon, M. P. P.

R. S. M. Bouchette.

C. N. Montizambert.

N. H. Bowen.

With the President and Corresponding Secretary, ex-officio.

 

ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

W. Couper.