List of officers & Preface to Transactions: 1829

 

by Jonathan Sewell

 

[Originally published by the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec in Transactions, Original Series 1, Volume 1 (1829)]

 

OFFICERS OF  THE LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF QUEBEC,

For the Year ending 4th June, 1829.

 

President—FREDERICK BADDELEY, Esq.;

First Vice President—THE HON. JUSTICE BOWEN;

Second Vice President—HON. A. W. COCHRAN;

Secretary and Treasurer—WILLIAM GREEN, Esq.

 

THE LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF QUEBEC, founded in January 1824, owes its origin to the zeal for the advancement of Science, and to the munificence of the Earl of DALHOUSIE, late Governor General of British North America.—To that distinguished Nobleman the first idea of its creation is due.—The powerful influence of his example supported it during its infancy, and his generous liberality portioned its youth.

 

The establishment of this Institution, as being the first step by which the rising literature of a Colony is made to approximate, that of the Mother Country, must be interesting to every friend of Science. Its first efforts have an undoubted claim to be viewed with a degree of indulgence somewhat greater than would be allowed to a similar Institution in most of the European States; for, it must be obvious, that in a Colony where, with few exceptions, the occupations of all, are either Professional, Commercial, or Agricultural, Society, besides being comparatively less extensive, is so constituted, that those who have leisure for scientific enquiry are far from numerous, and there are perhaps none who are so circumstanced as to be able to devote the greater part of their time to the acquisition of knowledge. This Society has, therefore, difficulties to overcome which are peculiar to its situation.

 

When the Members of this Young Society reflect on the successful efforts made by similar Institutions of the Old World in the pursuit of knowledge, they feel, in regard to their own humble exertions, that there are different gradations in the scale of merit. They have, however, this gratifying recollection, that all additions to the sources of literary and scientific information are valuable and meritorious.

 

In conclusion, it must be borne in mind, that the first object of this Society is to promote a taste for literature, and scientific enquiry in a New Country. The following Volume which contains selections from its Transactions, from the period of its foundation down to its junction with the SOCIETY AND SCIENCES IN CANADA, which formally took effect on the 4th June 1829, will show, in part, how far they have as yet succeeded, in exertions which are universally conceded to be conducive to the good of Society.

 

Quebec, 10th November, 1829.

 

AT THE MEETING of the QUEBEC LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, holden at the Castle of Saint Lewis, in the city of Quebec, on Monday, the 31st day of May, 1824. The following inaugural Address and Essay respecting the early civil and ecclesiastical juridical History of France, written by the Honorable J. SEWELL, Chief Justice of Lower Canada, was read before the Society, by the Author.

 

Certified,

WM. GREEN,

Secretary.