Natural History Society.

Year
1880
Month
12
Day
8
Article Title
Natural History Society.
Author
----
Page Number
3
Article Type
Language
Article Contents
Natural History Society. The members of this association met last evening to hear Mr. Hay’s biography of Prof. C. F. Hartt, who had been for a long time a member of this society and had done much for its prosperity in its earlier years. After the meeting had been called to order some donations of books were presented and in connection with one of them specimens of insect remains, collected by Prof. Hartt, were shown. The secretary reported that the council had appointed a committee in the matter of a memorial for the Loyalists in 1883. Mr. Hay then read his memorial sketch of the life and work of Prof. C. F. Hartt, describing his early life in Nova Scotia, his geological work in St. John, and his studies at Cambridge under Prof. Agasstz. How he afterwards went with that famous naturalist to Brazil and thus began the important work in that country, where he spent the best years of his life. It was not in geology alone, but in the study of history and the civilization of the aboriginal races of that country, that he made important discoveries and earned for himself a lasting name and fame. The amount of work that he accomplished during his, alas! too short, but brilliant career was described as enormous, writing voluminous books and reports and carrying on a large correspondence, besides pushing his original researches in science. As a native of New Brunswick, and having done so much towards increasing a knowledge of the remarkable geological features of the country, he deserves to hold a high place in our esteem. His attainments were such as any country might be proud of, and in his death science lost one of her foremost men. Not yet arrived at middle age, with all the enthusiasm of youth still upon him, with his life work giving promise of a glorious fulfilment, it seems only human that a pang of regret should mingle with our thoughts of him, and of what he might have accomplished had his life been spared. While in the midst of his work he was cut off by yellow fever on returning to the coast from one of his expeditions to the interior of Brazil, having died in March, 1878. At the close of the meeting, a vote of thanks was given Mr. Hay for his valuable paper, and it was decided to place the memoir in the hands of the council of the society for publication. Some specimens of shells gathered on the shores of the harbor were shown by Dr. Allison and elicited considerable discussion, after which the meeting adjourned.