of the United Empire Loyalists, ie., those American colonists who not only refused to bear any part in the Revolutionary War of 1775 to 1783 against the mother country, but also, many of them, took up arms in her support, hold their monthly meetings. These meetings perpetuate the memory of the loyalty and the sufferings of those who forfeited their homes and their fortunes, in short their all, rather than fight against the country from which they or their forefathers had emigrated to the New England and Southern States. These men, with their families, moved from the States to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Upper and Lower Canada, where free grants of land were assigned to them. Moreover, the British Parliament voted £3,300,000 for their indemnification and support. Their number is estimated at 25,000. During the War of Independence the condition of those who remained in the States had been far from enviable. Regarded as traitors by the revolutionists, they were exposed to insult, to loss of property, and to danger to the lives of themselves and their families. They are men whose fidelity should be remembered to this day and to all time with pride and gratitude by every Briton, and their descendants do well to perpetuate the memory of their courage and loyalty by joining the United Empire Association. It was in the Château de Ramezay that met from 1838 to 1840 the Special Council (half English and half French) which was appointed by the Home Government to act in place of the legislature of Lower Canada during the Rebellion and so-called "Patriotic War" of 1837-38. The Constitution was for the time suspended. The Special Council paved the way for the Act of Union of 1840, which was a step towards the present Constitution of the Dominion. The Confederation of 1866 was the final step.

Two of the principal rooms in the Château are now known as the "Salle du Conseil" and the Library. With the former tradition associates many names (already mentioned) well known to history, and on whom the varying fortunes of Canada have depended. Its walls are now hung with engravings and documents that commemorate those names and those fortunes. The old fireplace in the Library has only recently been discovered, having been walled up for many years. The treasures that have already been collected in this, the first Canadian Museum of Antiquities, are most interesting and valuable, and some are unique. There are 113 portraits, 82 historical pictures, and 74 old prints, which illustrate the most celebrated names and the most famous scenes and events of Canadian history, from Jacques Cartier to Sir John Macdonald. Early explorers, Jesuit missionaries, governors and generals, both French and English; old maps and prints of Canada, Quebec, and Montreal, battle scenes, etc., are the subjects. In addition there is a collection of scarce books, papers, documents and magazines connected with Canada, weapons of the 17th and 18th centuries, and many quaint and curious relics both of war and peace. The supplement of these may be sought in the treasures of the Laval University, the Basilica, the Seminary, and the Ursuline Convent of Quebec. Very recently in support of a charity some residents of Quebec, aided by a few contributors from Montreal, lent their most valuable paintings and other

artistic and historical possessions to form an Art Exhibition. It formed a corollary to the collection of the Château de Ramezay. Specimens of the finest English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Dutch masters are to be found in Quebec and Montreal, especially in Quebec. Many of these were brought over by the refugees during the Reign of Terror. The Literary and Historical Society of Quebec has been in existence for over three-quarters of a century, and on the list of its members are found the names of the Governors General, Commanders of the Forces, and of nearly all the men who have distinguished themselves in Canada during that long period. Its records will be found a source of valuable information open to all those who seek for knowledge concerning the history and the varied resources of Canada.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE EAST INDIA

ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EAST INDIA ASSOCIATION. THE Council of the East India Association submit their Report for the year 1898-99. The past season has been one of some activity, and the Association has been able to place before its members and the general public papers and discussions of exceptional interest. The last lecture of the season which was to have been delivered during the present month by Mr. Virchand R. Gandhy on the Jain Religion, which was expected with much interest, has unfortunately been indefinitely postponed owing to the absence from England of the distinguished lecturer.

The Association has sustained an irreparable loss in the death of Dr. G. W. Leitner, LL.D., who had been a most active member for the last 25 years. His great attainments and his distinguished services in almost every branch of Oriental learning have been recognised by the scientific and literary world and English and foreign Governments. In the East India Association he took the warmest and most constant interest, and the Council feel that there is no one who can adequately fill his place or sustain and animate its discussions with the same wealth of knowledge on all difficult problems of Oriental and especially Muhammadan sociology, ethnology, law, language and sentiment. His enthusiasm and untiring energy were always at the service of our Association. For some years the proceedings of the Association, with addresses and discussions delivered before it, have been published in the Asiatic Quarterly Review, which he owned and edited, with good results both to the Association and the Review, which, under his control, has risen to the highest rank as an authoritative and liberal exponent of the best opinions on all questions relating to the Eastern world. The Council has already conveyed to Mrs. Leitner and the family an expression of their profound regret at her husband's death and their high appreciation of his character and services, and they are glad to understand that there is a firm resolve to continue and indeed largely increase the influence and area of the Asiatic Quarterly Review, which will continue to be the official record of the proceedings of the Association.

During the past year several questions of importance have been considered and discussed, and several papers of great interest read before large and appreciative audiences. One burning question still under discussion is the treatment of Indian emigrants in the British South African colonies and in the Transvaal. With regard to the first part of the subject, our last annual report showed that the Association, after full inquiry, and after the delivery of a lecture before it by Mr. Robert Cust on the grievances of British Indian Immigrants in Natal, had taken every step to bring the disabilities under which Indians suffered, and the grievances of which they most justly complained, under the notice of the Secretary of State and the

Governor-General in Council. The representations then made have not been successful, and before renewing them with the Governor-General recently appointed, it was thought desirable to allow him some time to become familiar with Indian questions and politics. It is now proposed to address him and urge the desirability of reconsidering the rules which facilitate the immigration of Indian British subjects to South Africa, restricting or prohibiting such immigration till such time as just and equal treatment is accorded to Indian merchants and traders. With regard to the Transvaal, the Association have not felt it incumbent upon them to take immediate action. It seems certain that the treatment of British Indian subjects in the Transvaal is harsh and unjust in the extreme; but these grievances are more or less shared by the whole Uitlander population, and their redress is in the hands of H.M. Government. Nor does it seem appropriate to agitate for the removal of disabilities on Indians in foreign territory while those in British territory remain unredressed. When British colonies have removed the grievances of their Indian fellow-subjects we shall have a much stronger reason to urge their redress elsewhere.

In accordance with the request of the Associated Chambers of Commerce a deputation, consisting of Sir Lepel Griffin, K.C.S.I., Mr. Lesley Probyn, Mr. T. H. Thornton, c.s.I., and Sir M. M. Bhownaggree, was appointed to join that of the Chambers of Commerce in an interview with the Marquis of Salisbury on the Railway Connection of India and China.

The Chairman of the Council was also invited to attend and speak at a Conference in a Committee-room of the House of Commons on the question of Ocean Telegraphs, a discussion on which was raised by Mr. Henniker Heaton, M.P.

The most interesting event connected with the meetings of the Association was the first public appearance of the Earl of Elgin, late Viceroy of India, who took the chair on the occasion of a paper read by Sir Charles Elliott, K.C.S.I., on the India Famine Report of 1899, and made two most interesting speeches, in which he explained and justified his famine policy, and expressed the warm acknowledgments of the people of India for the help and sympathy extended to them by the people of England.

Another address to the Association deserving special mention was delivered by the Honble. John Barrett, United States Consul-General at Bangkok, on Siam and Her Neighbours. This lecture was a little outside the ordinary routine of the Association's work; but it was explained by the Chairman, and the policy has been endorsed by the Council, that the connection of India with other countries in the East, such as Persia, Afghanistan, China and Siam, has now become so intimate that it was desirable to occasionally extend the area of the Association proceedings and invite lectures on such countries when it was evident that Indian policy or interests were directly involved.

Other lecturers of reputation and exceptional knowledge who addressed meetings of the Association during the past season were Colonel R. C. Temple, C.I.E., on "The Development of Currency in the Far East," with Lord Reay in the chair; Sir Charles Roe, on "Tribes and the Land in the

Punjab," with Sir Lepel Griffin in the chair; Mr. C. W. Whish, on "Reform in the Police Administration of India," with Lord Reay in the chair; Sir Roland Wilson, Bart., on "The Codification of the Personal Laws of the Natives of India," with Sir Raymond West, K.C.I.E., in the chair.

The question of the formation of agricultural banks was discussed by the Council in connection with a scheme propounded by Mr. Alexander Rogers, c.s., and it was ultimately resolved that, although they would gladly see agricultural banks experimentally started in suitable districts on the general lines laid down by Mr. Rogers, they did not see their way to take any practical action to give effect to the scheme.

The question of the disqualification of retired civilians for appointments to such posts under the Indian Administration as were open to English barristers and others unconnected with the Civil Service was discussed, but the matter was considered to be of too special a character to be submitted to public discussion in an open meeting of the Association.

The subject of reforms in the police administration in connection with Mr. Whish's paper was also discussed by the Council.

Sir William Rattigan, Q.C., and Sir Charles Roe have been elected members of Council of the Association.

ANNUAL MEETING.

THE annual meeting of the East India Association was held on July 17, Sir Lepel Griffin, K.C.S.I., presiding, and there were present, among others, Sir M. M. Bhownaggree, K.C.I.E., M.P.; Sir Roper Lethbridge, K.C.I.E.; Sir William Rattigan, Q.c.; Mr. Lesley Probyn; Mr. P. M. Pait, F.R.G.S.; Mr. A. H. Wilson; Mr. Brij Behari Lal Bisya; Mr. M. Abdullah Shah; Mr. H. R. Cook; Mr. Martin Wood; and the Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. W. Arathoon.

The Right Hon. Lord Reay was unanimously re-elected vice-president. The retiring members of the Council were re-elected, and the appointments of Sir Charles Roe and Sir William Rattigan as members of the Council were confirmed.

The Hon. Frederick Verney, of the Siamese Legation, proposed by the chairman, was elected a member of the Association; and, on the proposal of Sir Roper Lethbridge, Mr. Dossabhay Nusserwanji Chenoz, of Hyderabad Deccan, was also elected a member of the Association.

The CHAIRMAN, Sir Lepel Griffin, in opening the proceedings, said that, as the meeting was of a formal character to adopt the report and accounts, and elect the officers of the Association for the coming year, he would only make a few observations to supplement the report which expressed the views of the Council generally on the events of the past year. In the first place, he would express the acknowledgments of the Association to their distinguished president, Lord Reay, who had, at personal inconvenience to himself, taken great and constant interest in their affairs, and was always ready to preside at their public meetings, where his interesting, scholarly, and eloquent speeches had added value and attraction to their gatherings. The expectations which the Association had formed of Lord Reay when