k.—9

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must have had great effect and influence in society all over the world—but also for the manner in which she has performed her duties as a constitutional Sovereign, showing in this respect an example to all other Sovereigns in the world, without which we should not be now celebrating the fiftieth year of her reign in the manner which we are about to do. Passing to general considerations, I am sure that there has been nothing more remarkable during the fifty years of Her Majesty's reign than the rapid development and growth of the population, and the wealth and the commerce of the Empire. A most interesting feature is the great and growing interest which all people in this kingdom take in the affairs of the most distant parts of tho Empire. We have witnessed an immense accession of wealth and commerce. We have seen education diffused and improved in a most remarkable way. Happily this has been accompanied by a diminution in crime, and, though much remains to be accomplished, we have experienced an immense improvement in tho material happiness and prosperity of the working-class of this country. Altogether, I think I may say that there never was a time when the people, as a whole, rallied more heartily and generously in support of the Crown and the constitution. In India, though we had to mark sad events years ago, We may congratulate ourselves on the importance of the results which have followed the assumption of the direct government "of that immense empire by the Queen's Ministers. That, I believe, has increased the benefits conferred by government upon millions and millions of people who dwell in that land. The colonies have developed, as Your Royal Highness has said, step by step with the Mother-country. We have seen nations of our own race and blood rising up and developing, we see them governing themselves by responsible government, and yet cherishing the most intense devotion, nay, enthusiasm, for the Crown and for the Mother-country. We had a notable illustration of that a few years ago when our colonial brethren volunteered to aid us in Africa with their men and means. As, with such considerations as these presenting themselves, we look back upon the fifty years, of Her Majesty's reign, we are impelled to try and find some memorial worthy of Her Majesty and of the affection which wo feel for her, to mark the great events which have passed during her reign. Your Royal Highness has been kind enough to take great pains with regard to this, and you have proposed to the country a scheme. It is to consider that scheme that we have met here to-day, and I venture to say that there is no memorial that could bo more appropriate or more worthy of Her Majesty, and of the glorious history of her reign than that proposed by Your Royal Highness. Sir, in this country we are often unfortunately divided by party feeling. It may be sometimes by religious feeling, sometimes by political feeling, but we all of us cherish one alike— a patriotic feeling in favour of the unity and strength of the Empire. We all have local interests, and part of the strength of this great Empire has been built up by the development of local interests. But we have the higher interests which attach to our citizenship of the great Empire over which the Queen reigns. It is not often that we have the opportunity to unite, in unanimity of feeling, to promote the welfare of that Empire. This is one of the occasions, and we cannot more worthily apply our energies than by coming forward to assist this Imperial Institute which will constitute such a noble emblem of the unity and strength of the Empire. This Institute, as Your Royal Highness has said, is to be placed in London. Now, London is the metropolis of a great Empire. It is not merely to promote a local Institute that we place this Institute hero ; we select London as the only place fitting to be the seat of a memorial not only for the United Kingdom, but for the Queen's dominions in India and in the colonies at large. Wo wish, as Your Royal Highness wishes, that the influence of this Institute should spread to every part of the United Kingdom as well as to the colonies. My Lords and gentlemen, as His Royal Highness told us, he wishes that there may be meetings held to exchange views on a variety of subjects. I understand that the idea is also entertained to have schools of commerce throughout the country, and that technical education should be assisted in many ways. Those are all matters of the greatest importance. They are all matters which directly concern the provinces as well as London. But, Sir, I fear I have already trespassed too long upon the time of this meeting, and I will now close by moving the first resolution, which I think in a proper way sets forth the objects which we have at heart to-day. I beg to move " That this meeting is of opinion that the foundation of an Imperial Institute for the United Kingdom, the colonies and India, would, as an emblem of unity of the Empire, and as an exponent of its industries, and commercial resources —be a national memorial fitting and worthy to commemorate the completion of the fiftieth year of Her Majesty's reign." The Right Hon. the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, (Sir Thomas Clark, Bart.) : Your Royal Highness, my Lords and gentlemen—l have the very greatest pleasure in seconding the resolution which has been just moved by Lord Spencer. As the chief magistrate of the metropolis of Scotland, my duty is more to listen and to report than to say much, but I am quite sure that such an object as this —an object of such universal interest—emanating from your Royal Highness and supported and welcomed by Her Majesty the Queen, whom we all love and revere —will carry with it the greatest possible weight in Her Majesty's northern dominion. In no part of the Empire is the Queen more beloved than in the northern kingdom ; and although tho Scotch people are slow to move, when once they are thoroughly convinced of the utility of the scheme, with that proverbial fervour that characterises the Scottish nation, they will throw themselves into this most important matter. I have very great pleasure in seconding this resolution. His Royal Highness the Peince of Wales then put the resolution to the meeting and declared it to have been carried unanimously. The Right Hon. the Lord Viscount Hampden, G.C.B. : May it please your Royal Highness, my Lords and gentlemen —I rise very willingly to propose the resolution which has been placed in my hands. At the same time I feel very painfully that the subject being so very large, I may not be able to do justice to it. There are some things which we must take as accepted; and among them this point—the loyalty of the English people. Having passed the best part of a long life in Parliament, I naturally look at the events of the past half century from the point of view of a Parliament man. The quality for which Her Majesty has been pre-eminently conspicuous during that long period has been her fidelity to the constitution. At all times Her Majesty has called to