29

A.—9

this Institute is to be in the metropolis—it must be somewhere—yet it is no part of the design of those whom the Prince of Wales has called into consultation with him, it is neither any part of His Eoyal Highness's design, nor of their desire, that it should be a metropolitan institution although it is to be situated here. Its purposes and its objects are intended to be as wide as are the dominions of the Queen, and one of the matters which must engage the most earnest attention of the committee in their further deliberation, before the matter passes from their hands into the hands of those who will govern the institution, will be this : how best they may carry out the proposal of this Imperial Institution so as to bring it into the closest contact and touch and co-operation with all the centres of industry in the United Kingdom. I can only say this: that we should be but too happy to receive the suggestions of any of the bodies interested in commerce in any of these centres to aid us in working out the scheme in that direction. I will not detain you further. I thought I might venture just to say those few words in inviting the assent of the meeting to the resolution which I move —"that the hearty thanks of the meeting be given to the Lord Mayor for presiding on the present occasion." Mr. George Shipton (Secretary of the London Trades Council): My Lord Mayor, my Lords, ladies, and gentlemen—l rise to second this resolution with considerable pleasure on two grounds —first because I believe that the proposed Imperial Institute will be a benefit to labour, and next because I have been invited here to take part in this meeting not on any personal ground, but on the ground that I belong to the industrial population myself. I regretted exceedingly just now that our friend, who professed to speak in the interests of labour, did not wait a little longer, and conduct himself with a little more moderation, in order that I might have had the opportunity of saying a word or two which he might have agreed with. My Lord Mayor, I sincerely trust—l not only trust but I believe—that the gentlemen who have initiated this movement will not forget the just claims, and the just claims only, in respect of that which is due to labour. We can talk, and do talk occasionally with truth, of the glory and immensity of the British Empire. My Lords and gentlemen, we have read the records of histories which tell us that we have had great Empires before our own, the intellectual Empire of Greece, and the more material Empires of Borne and of Spain, whose power at one period girdled the world. All of them have gone to nothing! Why? It was because their industrial populations were neglected and forgotten. I hear a gentleman say " Oh!" but they have gone, and there is the fact. I believe there is a greater solidity of the British Empire because we see reconciliations of all classes under this roof to-day, but there is no doubt that the neglect of the industrial population brought about the decay and took away the life of those other Empires to which I have referred. lam here to-day taking my humble part in promoting this institution, because I believe we have never had an opportunity of paying an affectionate tribute to our gracious Sovereign that is so well deserved—a tribute arising spontaneously and representing the feelings of the entire people, forming part of this great Empire, throughout the world. W Te hear on the other hand too about the loyalty of the people, and I trust I am not going to say anything which will give the slightest offence to anybody, be their political proclivities or their sentiments what they may; but I say you may look through the history of the world in vain for a nobler or truer loyalty on the part of the people to the Sovereign, or for a Sovereign who has shown such attention to the decision, to the wishes, and to the verdict of the people as expressed by their responsible Ministers, as our Sovereign Queen Victoria, who, whether the Conservative or Liberal parties have been in power, has always acted according to the advice of the principal Minister of the day. The Queen has always acted loyally within the pale of our Constitution, and it is because of this mutual resolution of loyalty to the Sovereign on the part of the people, and of duty on the part of the Sovereign to the wishes of her subjects, and to the Constitution, which has made the British Empire what it is. If we are only loyal in this sort of way in the future, we shall go on and prosper, and we shall have a true reconciliation of all interests and of all classes. I shall, my Lord Mayor, have very great pleasure in seconding the resolution, and I hope we shall have a future opportunity of talking on the labour side of the question; but it is on the grounds I have stated that I most respectfully support the resolution and give my cordial support to the objects of the institution. The resolution was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The Lord Mayor :My Lord Herschell, my Lords and gentlemen—l thank you very much for the vote you have just passed. I have been asked to announce several donations which have been made during the progress of the meeting : The Governor and Company of the Bank of England £1,000, Messrs. Eothschild and Sons £1,000, Lord Eothschild £500, Sir James McGarel Hogg, Bart., £1,000 ; Sir William Clarke, Bart., £1,000 ; Messrs. J. and. S. Morgan £1,000, Messrs. Marshall and Snellgrove £1,000, the Clothworkers' Company £2,500, Messrs. Baring Brothers £1,000, and Lord Eevelstoke £500. Now these are large gifts, and very noble gifts. I want to impress upon you, and I wanted to do so before the Chancellor of the Exchequer spoke, that, although we are so very much obliged to these princes of commerce, these great establishments, and this great company for the noble donations which they have given, yet we do not desire and of course we do not expect that every one will or can follow in their wake. I agree in what the Chancellor of the Exchequer said when he intimated that he hoped the working-classes would give their pennies and their shillings ; he knows that " every mickle makes a muckle," and he knew that if the working-classes would give their pence, and shillings, and sovereigns, and five-pound notes, that that would be of great benefit and advantage to the movement. If people contribute according to their wealth there will be very little difficulty in raising the necessary funds, and we shall in a very short time have sufficient means in hand to establish this Imperial Institute on a thoroughly satisfactory footing. My Lords and gentlemen, I thank you. The proceedings then terminated. The two meetings held yesterday to promote "the Imperial Institute ought to insure its success, if that were ever doubtful. At the meeting over which the Prince of Wales presided the representatives of very many of the great towns of the kingdom were present to approve of the foundation