have mainly sprung—the Boltons and the Watts, the Telfourds and the Stevensons—and that under the expansive freedom and rapid growth of colonial society, even more surely than in the Mother Isle, Britain opens for all her sons and subjects, whether native-born or adopted, a cheering prospect of honour and wealth, if genius be allied to industry, and, above all, to virtue. (Applause). I am glad to welcome here to-day my hon. friend Dr. Stewart, who, as the first Head Master, performed successfully the difficult task of organizing the Central School on its first establishment. I am confident that the present Head Master (Mr. Wright) and his assistants will follow the example of Mr. Stewart's honourable zeal, unflagging labour, and calm judgment. (Hear, hear). I trust that each fresh generation of professors and masters will be animated with a like spirit; and that long lines of successors of the first founders of this institution will exercise their important and interesting functions through years of growing usefulness and reputation for this College. The men will come and go, but the College will abide. In the well-known words of Virgil:---
Ergo ipsos quamvis angusti terminus aevi Excipiat;
At genus immortale manet; multosque per annos
Stat Fortuna domus, et avi numerantur avorum. (Applause).
At the recent distribution of prizes, I reminded you, my Chinese friends, that it is recorded in the Chinese classics that the great philosopher of your country, Kung Tzu, or Confucius—the Aristotle of China—when gazing on a flowing river, once compared its bright and abounding stream to the transmission of pure morality and sound learning through successive ages of mankind. So let us once more express the hope that, under the blessing of Heaven, Victoria College—to be developed at some future day into Victoria University—may endure throughout the great future of China a main source whence will flow the streams of education and knowledge to generations yet unborn, in an Empire containing nigh one-fourth of the entire human race. (Applause). The Posterá crescam laude recens of Horace should be at once the motto and the aim of Victoria College. (Applause). Let me again remind you, moreover, that provision will shortly be made at the public expense to send a certain number of the most distinguished pupils of the Colleges at Hongkong to complete their studies in England, especially as members of the legal and medical professions, and as civil engineers. It is within my personal knowledge that many of the leading statesmen of England regard this project as at once the most powerful, the most legitimate, and the most honourable method of spreading British influence throughout the Eastern world. With me they trust that a long succession of our Chinese students, after completing their education in England, may have the honour of introducing into their native land the results of the humane and enlightened jurisprudence, and of the improved medical science of modern Europe, or may, as engineers and surveyors, help to cover the vast Empire of China, as Europe has already been covered, with a network of railways and telegraphs, those powerful promoters at once of commerce and of all the arts that advance and adorn civilization. (Applause.)
And now, gentlemen, I fear that I have already detained you too long, but let me end as I began this address, by the expression of my satisfaction at presiding on this auspicious occasion. I am much pleased, moreover, at finding myself surrounded by the Admiral Commanding Her Majesty's Naval Forces in China, by the Officer Commanding the Garrison, by the Bishop of Victoria, by the members of the Colonial Legislature, by the Judges and Heads of Departments, and by the most distinguished members of this community of every race and creed. I welcome your presence, as a proof of the interest which you feel in the great cause of education. (Applause). The time will surely come ere very long when any prejudices or passions of the present time will have been forgotten; and when the present generation of residents in this Colony will have itself passed away; and when another generation will have arisen, but a generation educated in the schools which the men of this generation have founded; governed by the laws which they have enacted; enjoying the benefits of the public works which they have erected; enriched by the trade and commerce of which they have fostered the beginnings. Perhaps the leading men of that future generation, meeting in the Hall of the future University of Victoria, may speak of some of us who are here assembled this day as free and civilized communities love to honour their early benefactors. Meanwhile, let us each and all work on in our separate fields of duty, with a patriotic eye to the public welfare; and let us not fail to invoke the blessing of Heaven on the work commenced this day. (Loud Applause.)
His Excellency then proceeded to lay the stone, and having done so said—Ladies and gentlemen, I now declare this stone to be well and truly laid. (Enthusiastic Cheers.)
Mr. WRIGHT, the Head Master, then said—
I must now ask Your Excellency's permission to express for myself and the whole staff of masters the gratification that we have felt at the approbation with which you have been pleased to speak of our labours at the Central School. With regard to this stone we have seen laid with so much pleasure, although the situation is somewhat higher up the hill, we hope that Victoria College will never look down upon the Central School. (Laughter and applause).
Hon. F. STEWART (Acting Colonial Secretary)—Your Excellency, allow me to offer you my thanks for the reference you made to myself and to express my personal gratification with what has been done to-day. More than ten years ago I had hopes the laying of the foundation stone of the new school was close at hand; it has only taken place to-day. I am quite sure that what your Excellency has done to-day will be held in grateful remembrance by the Chinese community. (Applause).
HIS EXCELLENCY—The hon. gentleman is good enough to thank me for what I said with reference to him. I assure you I did not say half enough to express my deep sense of what education in this colony owes to Mr. Stewart, because I know that merit and modesty are inseparable, and especially so in his case. (Applause).
Cheers were then given for Her Majesty, the Governor, Victoria College and Victoria University, Lady Bowen and the ladies, the Surveyor-General, and Mr. Stewart; after which the large assemblage separated.
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