LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF QUEBEC.

REPORT OF THE COUNCIL,

FOR THE

YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 1872.

THE Report of the Council of the progress of the Society during the past year must be virtually a stereotype of those lately preceding—a report of uninterrupted and increasing prosperity. The Stated Meetings were regular and well attended, and have furnished five valuable papers to the "Transactions."

In their last year's Report, the Council stated the completion and publication of the long-contemplated Catalogue of the Library. From causes most unexpected, chiefly connected with the ill-health of the Librarian, Mr. Faucher, which prevented him from attending to his duties, and subsequently led to his resignation of office, the hopes of the Council were not realized; but the President, who undertook, at the request of the Council, to act as Librarian, reports that he had completed the index and placed it in the hands of the printer,-that a few pages of it had been printed, and that there was every reason to believe the printing would be completed in a few weeks.

Owing to an unfortunate misunderstanding as to the authorship of an important document which the Society had proposed to publish, and which has not yet been settled, the Historical Document Committee has not this year added to the list of the historical publications; but the Council takes this opportunity of stating that neither within the past two years nor at any other period of which it is aware, has any document been printed unless in accordance with the regulations, and which has not been creditable to the Council and the Society. Large and valuable additions, both by purchase and donation, have been made to the Library; and while the Council has

attended to the maintenance of the chief object of the Society, it has felt justified in introducing such works as the Waverley Novels, which may justly be viewed as British classics.

The Museum has been enriched by several valuable donations, forming the foundation of an interesting collection in connection with early Indian affairs.

The ordinary dull season of the summer was this year enlivened by the unexpected visit to Quebec of the Governor-General, Lord Dufferin. The Council availed itself of the opportunity to present him with an address, which was most courteously received and replied to. Encouraged by the reply, and knowing his lordship's high taste in literature, the Council took the liberty of inviting him to address the Society, as had been the practice of its first patron, Lord Dalhousie. His Excellency thought proper to decline, but in such terms as to lead the Society to hope that, knowing the earnest wish of the Society, he may at some future period gratify its hopes.

The Council has not lost its interest in the establishment of a Public Record Office, and, in order to further this object, requested the President to permit the publication of a paper which he had prepared, and which, in compliance with that request, has been published in the "Transactions." The Council is not aware of any action having as yet been taken by the Dominion Government.

After striking from the list the names of certain persons who had resigned, and those who, from non-compliance with the regulations, have ceased to be members of the Society, there still remain 256 in full privilege, and entitled to vote at this day's election.

As will be seen by the Treasurer's account, the revenue for the past year amounted to $2,450.16, and the expenditure to $1,695.05, leaving a balance ⚫ to credit of $755.

Mr. George Mathison, who for several years past had so efficiently discharged the several duties entrusted to him, having been compelled, much to the regret of the Society, to resign his office, the Society had the good fortune to secure the services of Mr. Judd, who, by his careful attention and obliging disposition, has proved no unworthy successor to Mr. Mathison.

The Council, with regret, record the deaths, during the past year, of the Rev. Mr. Plees, Mr. Duncan Patton, Mr. Noel Hill Bowen, and Dr. George Goldstone, who, though not taking any prominent part in its affairs, will yet be much missed by the Society.