great respect paid to fathare in ancient Rome; you know what was meant by the patria potestas of the Romans. A great Roman poot, contemporary with some of the anthors of the Chinois Classics, rofors to this, and says a "precaptor should hold the holy place of father."
Di majorum umbris tennom et sine pondere terram, Spirantesque erosos, et in nená perpetuum var, Qui præceptorem saneti volnere parentis Ease loco.
-Applause.) The third event of last year to which the Head Master referred more particular- ly just now was the election of the first Govern- ment scholar, Mr. Walter Bosman. I con- gratulate this institution, and I congratulate all connected with it, that the first Government scholar should have been selected by competitive examination from the ranks of its pupils. (Ap- plause.) With regard to the object of the Govern- ment in founding this scholarship, at my in- stance, I cannot do better than repeat an ex- planation I made on a former occasion. I then | said- 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, as members of the legal or medical professions, or as civil engineers." Here I may remark that Mr. Walter Bosman has choson the profession of a civil engineer, and I think he has done well in so doing. There is no doubt a fine field for that profes- sion throughout the great empire of China. "It will be remembered that more than 2,000 years ago your Chinese ancestors had already established a national polity, a national code of laws, and a national literature; had built great cities, and had made mach progress in many of the industrial arts, at a period when the ance3- tars of what are now the three most powerful nations of Western Europe--the English, the Germaus, and the Freach-whose magnificent squadrons are often in this harbour, had not yet emorged from barbarism But in modern times, while China has remained well nigh stationary, the western nations have made rapid and con. stant progress in all the arts that can promote and adorn civilization I hope that a long suc- cossion of the Chinese students of this colloge, after completing their education in England, may have the honour of bringing back with them, and of introducing into their native land, the results of the humane and enlightened juris- prudence, and of the improved medical science of modern Europe, or may, as engineers, help to Icover the vast Empire of China, as Europe has already been covered, with a network of railways and telegraphs, those powerful promoters of commercial intercourse and of all the arts of mo. dern civilization." (Applause). I may now add to those remarks, which I made last year, that there are several former pupils of the Govern- gment schools in Hongkong who have already at- tained to positions of honour in the service of the Empire of China. When I was entertained last year at Tientsin by that able and powerful statesman the Viceroy Li Hung-chang, I found two of his secretaries, on whom he principally relies, were both former pupils of Government Schools in Hongkong. (Applause), So it is in many other departments of the Chinese Govern- ment, in the army, navy, and elsewhere, and it is also so to some extent in Japan. These men cannot fail to remember what they owe to that education which has led to their present promo tion and which they acquired under British aus. pices, and under the British flag. I am suro you will all agree with me that this is a most legitimate mode of extending British influence throughout the neighbouring countries, I may any throughout this quarter of the globe, which contains one fourth of the human race. (Applause.) And now, my young friends, as this is the first day of your holidays, I will not. detain yon any longer. I wish you a very happy time during your approaching festivities, and I am requested by the Head Master to say that your holidays will last till the 4th March," That
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