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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 29TH JULY, 1882.
I have on so many occasions experienced the advantages of their ready and earnest concert in promoting schemes of public utility in relation to material progress, that I have some confidence they will exhibit the like friendly rivalry in furthering our efforts in favour of an elevating pursuit, which in all ages and among all communities has exercised no slight influence on national character, and the promotion of which may constitute a bond tending to unite us as strongly in sentiment and feeling as we now are in loyalty and material interest.
For these reasons I was anxious to meet as many of the leading gentlemen connected with the Colonies as might now be temporarily in London, as well as those who permanently reside here; and I am gratified at the readiness with which so many of you have acceded to my invitation.
My object is partly to make it understood how much importance I attach to the element of Colonial co-operation and sympathy, not only as affecting the immediate success of the work, but bearing on the higher objects of national unity, by inspiring among our fellow-subjects in every part of the Empire those emotions of patriotism which national music is calculated so powerfully to evoke.
I further desired to apprise you of the steps which had been and were being taken to carry out
this purpose.
Immediately after the Meeting at St. James's Palace I directed that full reports of the proceedings should be prepared, with the view of transmitting them to Lord KIMBERLEY, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to be forwarded by him for the information of the Governments of the various Colonies, in the hope that the goodwill of these Governments might be attracted in our favour, and such public encouragement afforded as they might feel it becoming to extend.
It seemed doubtful, however, whether an official communication of this character was calculated to accomplish the full object we had in view, viz. to stimulate popular feeling and sympathy among our Colonial fellow-subjects. It was thought that such an end might be better attained by a direct appeal to themselves and by a more general distribution of the reports of our proceedings among the various institutions, religious bodies, heads of municipalities, and leading persons in the Colonies.
I accordingly propose to supplement this communication by a further letter, and to send a sufficient number of copies of our proceedings to meet the necessary requirements, for transmission to the Colonies. I am not insensible to the engrossing nature of the pursuits of Colonial life, nor to the claims which material interest have on young communities. We must all recognise with pride and admiration how much the enlightened enterprise and perseverance of our Colonial fellow-subjects have already contributed to the greatness and wealth of the Empire; and I am far from suggesting any relaxation
of these efforts.
My purpose is to provide for the leisure hours which must come to the busiest among us-no matter where we live or what sphere of life we occupy--an elevating source of enjoyment which is at the same time calculated to strengthen those emotions that have so much influence in perpetuating a common love of country,
I have endeavoured in my further letter to Lord KIMBERLEY to convey fully the object I have at heart, and although its terms are in some measure a repetition of what I have now stated to you, I think it well you should be apprised of its contents :—
.6
MY LORD,
"I am anxious that no possible steps should be omitted which may be calculated to bring the proposal to found a Royal College of Music under the favourable notice of Her Majesty's subjects in the Colonies.
"It appears to me that the communication which I request you in the accompanying letter to be good enough to transmit for the information of the Governments of the various Colonies, might advan- tageously be supplemented by a somewhat more general distribution within these Colonies of the proceedings which have taken place here in connection with the movement.
"The object of such distribution would be to awaken public interest among all classes of Her Majesty's subjects more thoroughly than even proposals on the part of any of the Colonial Governments to extend their practical aid are calculated to do.
among
"I have therefore directed further copies of these proceedings to be transmitted to you, and would again request that you will be good enough to forward these further copies for distribution such religious or educational Institutions, Municipal or other Public Bodies, or private persons in the various Colonies as may be thought most likely to help the project.
"I trust that the efforts now being made here may ineet with general support on the part of the Clergy of all denominations in the Colonies, and that they, as well as the Heads of Colleges and Municipal Bodies, may interest themselves in their several localities to make known the advantages offered by the establishment of the Royal College of Music, and especially that all these advantages (including free instruction) will be open as unreservedly to Her Majesty's Colonial subjects as to those residing in the United Kingdom.
"Her Majesty's Colonial subjects have indeed already shown that the possession of musical talent exists among them in as great a degree as in any other nation, for they may claim with pride that they have produced one of the most accomplished vocalists of the present age.
"I have in past years had occasion in many ways-especially through the medium of the various International Exhibitions over which I have presided-to notice the manifold benefits which have resulted from the combined action of the Colonies and the Mother Country in the development of