The British Associations visit to Montreal, 1884: Letters | Page 9

home to receive us. She is handsome, and quite
English in tone and manner, daughter of the Minister of the Interior, Sir
David Macpherson. Mr. Dobell is very bright and pleasant-looking, the
house pretty and comfortable, with large conservatory. We Had a
tremendous supper (our fifth meal) and so I could hardly do justice to it.
I went to bed very tired after this hard day's work and awoke this
morning to find it pouring, so I have been taking advantage of the quiet
to write to you. Dick and Mr. Dobell went to Quebec, and we follow at
three. They hope to have some organ-playing in the Cathedral. Mr. S.
Bourne and his young ladies are also gone, and we are to leave at three
and start at five in the river steamboat for Montreal. Tell Edward and
Lisa, &c., &c., about us. We all thoroughly enjoyed everything
yesterday except that we wanted warmer clothes. They had tremendous
heat here before we arrived, and so every one was advising us to wear
light clothing!--and the weather changed!

LETTER NO. 3
_August 29th, 240, Drummond Street, Montreal._
We left the hospitable Dobells on Tuesday, 26th, took our luggage
from the police station, receiving many bows and much politeness from
the several Canadians in charge and, with about one thousand others,
besides soldiers, went on board a very large steamer--a new experience,
for these river steamers are quite different from anything we see on this
side, even I think, on the Rhine,--the Lansdownes were in it and we

saw something of them. An uncomfortable night, and were glad to
reach this, Wednesday morning, at about eight o'clock. Such a mass of
luggage and people, but as Mr. Angus kindly sent a carriage and man to
meet us, I did very well and arrived safely with all mine.
I drove with Hedley and Miss Angus in the afternoon (there are four
grown-up young ladies) and finally got out at the Queen's Hall, where
the Mayor read an address in French, and after Sir William Thomson
had spoken, John said a few words. There was a great crowd here, and
we sang "God Save the Queen" with enthusiasm. We dined at half-past
six and afterwards the two Misses Angus and Hedley and I drove to the
Hall.
Lord and Lady Lansdowne sat on the platform, and after a nice speech
from him, Sir William Thomson introduced John as the new President
with many compliments. Then, dear John, looking so nice, with a clear
voice, read his address, and I am told it was heard even in the gallery at
the end. I liked it extremely, and people seem to think it was very good.
Our party, Evelyn, Dick, &c., sat in the front row, and when John read
one or two passages which he thought would particularly "fetch" me,
he looked with a little twinkle in my direction and of course I twinkled
in return.
[The following account is reprinted from the "Montreal Gazette,"
August 28th, 1884.]
Everything combined to favour the opening day of the British
Association meeting yesterday. Bright skies overhead, and weather not
too warm, and tempered by a cooling breeze, made what outdoor work
had to be done pleasant and prevented indoor proceedings from being
oppressive. Adding to these conditions the general enthusiasm which
prevailed, the presence of so many notable personages, distinguished in
the worlds of science, of politics, of letters and of mercantile pursuits,
and the attendance of so large a number of the fair sex, who evinced the
greatest interest in the proceedings, and it will be seen that the opening
could not have taken place under more pleasing auspices. Whilst the
city in general showed an extra amount of life and bustle, the interest
naturally centered in the grounds of McGill University, which
presented a bright and lively scene. In the reception room in the
William Molson Hall there was a constant succession of visitors, and
the various offices wore a busy air. In the grounds a new and

picturesque effect was made by a couple of marquees wherein luncheon
was served, and the grounds themselves, the grassy lawns and wooded
walks, were the constant resort of ladies and gentlemen. The morning
was spent by the visitors either in visits to the offices and reception
rooms, the arrangement of papers, or in "doing" the city. At one o'clock
the first work of the meeting commenced in the meeting of the general
committee. Subsequently, at half past four, the visitors were formally
welcomed by the mayor and corporation in the Queen's Hall, which
was the scene of a brilliant gathering, and in the evening the first
general meeting of the Association took place in the same hall, when
the representative of the retiring president resigned the presidential