The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, JULY 16TH, 1883.
Enclosure
VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR TO ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE.
On Friday afternoon His Excellency Governor Sir George Bowen, accompanied by his Private Secretary and A.D.C., paid a visit to St. Joseph's College. He was received by the Right Rev. Bishop Raimondi and the Brother Director of the College. Upon His Excellency's arrival, the boys played and sang "Welcome to our Governor." and five addresses were delivered by the boys—one in English by Master G. George, one in Portuguese by Master J. Loureiro, one in Italian by Master J. Francis, one in French by Master J. Elziogre, and a fifth in English by a Chinese lad.
In reply, His Excellency the GOVERNOR delivered the following address:- Monsignor Raimondi, Mr. Director and Gentlemen,-I assure you that it was with much pleasure that I accepted the invitation to visit, this day, St. Joseph's College. It is alike my duty and my pleasure, as the Governor of this Colony, to encourage by every means in my power all literary and educational institutions. The active interest which during my long career as a Colonial Governor I have always taken in such establishments is formed on the conviction that, in the absence of moral and mental culture, the fabric of domestic life, and even the apparently firmest guarantees of political institutions, are equally insecure. It is admitted on all sides that the most formidable impediments to civilization and good government are—ignorance, and the evils which ignorance produces. The mass of suffering and of crime directly or indirectly traceable thereto is appalling. Thence come most of the inmates of our gaols, and of the victims of drunkenness, vice, and disease. The aggregate of their misery, and the loss of their services to the community are indeed grievous; while the cost of their punishment is a very serious item in the public expenditure. Every effort should be made to bring about a cure, or at least, a diminution of such evils; and, next to the influences of religion, no effort appears more reasonable, more ready at hand, and more likely to prove efficient than the liberal support by the Government of Colleges and Primary Schools, coupled with public libraries, museums, and literary associations, calculated to raise the moral and intellectual tone of the people, and to breathe a right spirit into them. I will not, on the present occasion, enter at length on a discussion of the various branches of education which should be taught in the Public Schools of this Colony. But I desire to take this opportunity of pointing out the supreme importance that the youth of all races in this heterogeneous community should acquire, for their own sake and with a view to their own advancement in life, a practical knowledge of the English language: which, like the English race, is fast overspreading the world from one end of it to the other. Already nearly 100 millions of mankind, in the British Isles, in the British Colonies, in the United States of America, and elsewhere, speak English as their mother tongue; while certainly not more than 40 millions so speak either French, or German, the European languages most diffused after English. On this subject, I will content myself by quoting the opinion which an eminent statesman and scholar of France expressed some years ago, as "to the mission of England and the English language." He said: -"England's great mission is that which was foretold by Shakespeare with his wonderful spirit of prophecy, not far from the time when the Pilgrim Fathers first set foot in the new world. It is to form empires; to be Magna Virum Mater; to spread over the earth freedom and civilization. Fifty years hence the United States of America will be more populous, more wealthy, and more powerful than any European community. One hundred years hence Australia will be a greater nation than the present United States. Some 300 millions of men, the most energetic in the world, will then speak English as their mother tongue. French, German, and Italian will then be dialects as comparatively insignificant as is now Dutch. Those French, German, and Italian authors who desire world-wide and permanent fame should write in English." It will be recollected that this is the testimony borne by an eminent Frenchman to the victorious progress of the English language. I would remind all who hear me that every native of this Colony, from whatever race he may have sprang, is by his very birthright, a son and heir of the British Empire; and that it is alike his duty and his interest, whatever career in life he may choose, to make himself master of the English language (applause). In conclusion, my young friends, I thank you heartily for the addresses which you have presented to me, and for the hearty welcome which you have given me on my first visit to St. Joseph's College. I congratulate you on the splendid site, and on the excellent arrangements of this institution, and on the progress which you have evidently made under the care of the Christian Brothers. I have seen that Brotherhood at work in the great cause of education in many parts of the world, and always with success. I shall have great pleasure in visiting St. Joseph's College again at the Annual Distribution of Prizes; and until then I wish you all health and happiness (Loud cheers).
Bishop RAIMONDI thanked His Excellency in his own name and that of the Christian Brothers for his presence there, and added that St. Joseph's College being under the grant-in-aid scheme and the greater part of the pupils being British subjects, it was and always would be their duty to promote a good sound English education, and to make the boys learn the language of that noble nation and liberal government of England, which extended to them its favour and protection.
Several recitations in English by the scholars were then given, after which His Excellency inspected the building, and expressed his high satisfaction with it and its arrangements,
Accompanied by Bishop Raimondi and Father Reidhar, the Governor proceeded to the Italian Convent. The young lady boarders executed several vocal and instrumental selections with great credit, after which two addresses were presented to His Excellency by them. His Excellency, in response, expressed his gratification with what he had seen, and his appreciation of the good effected in the colony by the Sisters of Charity.
From the boarders the Governor passed to the orphans' section. Here the European orphans sang beautifully their "Orphans' song," and delivered two addresses. His Excellency next proceeded to visit the Chinese orphans. The first to greet His Excellency were the little infants, forty in number, from two to seven years old. The Governor was then shown the school for the blind; ten blind Chinese girls could read, write, make accounts, and do knitting work; the last were the grown-up Chinese orphans, who sang in Chinese, and two of them said a few words of Italian, welcoming His Excellency. Before leaving the Convent, His Excellency again entered the Hall where the boarders were gathered, and the young ladies harmoniously sang "God save the Queen." His Excellency left the Convent extremely satisfied with his visit.—Communicated.
377
The Daily Press.
HONGKONG, JULY 16TH, 1883.
Enclosure
VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR TO ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE.
On Friday afternoon His Excellency Governor Sir George Bowen, accompanied by his Private Secretary and A.D.C., paid a visit to St. Joseph's College. He was received by the Right Rev. Bishop Raimondi and the Brother Director of the College. Upon His Excellency's arrival, the boys played and sang Welcome to our Go. vernor." and five addresses were delivered by the boys-one in English by Master G. Jeorge, one in Portuguese by Master J. Loureiro, ouein Italian by Master J. Francis, one in French by Master J. Elziogre, and a fifth in English by a Chinese lad.
In reply, His Excellency the GOVERNOR de livered the following address:-Monsignor Rai- mondi, Mr. Director and Gentlemen,-I assure you that it was with much pleasure that I Accepted the invitation to visit, this day. St. Joseph's College. It is alike my duty and my pleasure, as the Governor of this Colony, to ed. dourage by every means in my power all literary and educational institutions. The active interest which during my long career as a Colonial Go- vernor I have always taken in such establish- ments is formed on the conviction that, in the absence of moral and mental culture, the fabric of domestic life, and even the apparently firmest guarantees of political institutions, are equally insecure. It is admitted on all sides that the most formidable imperii nents to civilization and good government are-ignorance, and the evila which ignorance produces. The mass of suffering and of crime directly or indirectly traceable there- to is appalling. Thence come most of the inmates of our gaols, and of the victims of drunkenness, vice, and disease. The aggregate of their misery, and the loss of their services to the community are indeed grievous; while the cost of their panishment is a very serious item in the public expenditure. Every effort should be made to bring about a cure, or at least, a diminution of such evils; and, next to the influences of re- livion, no effort appears more reasonable, more ready at hand, and more likely to prove efficient than the liberal support by the Government of Colleges and Primary Schools, coupled with public libraries, museums, and literary associa- tions, calonlated to raise the moral and in- tellectual tone of the people, and to breathe a right spirit into them. I will not, on the present occasion, enter at length on a disons- sion of the various branches of education which should be taught in the Public Schools of this Colony. But I desire to take this oppor. tunity of pointing out the supreme im- 'portance that the youth of all races in
this heterogeneous community should quire, for their own sake and with a view to their own advancement in life, a practi- oal knowledge of the English language: which, like the English race, is fast overspreading the world from one end of it to the other. Already nearly 100 millions of mankind, in the British Isles, in the British Colonies, in the United States of America, and elsewhere, speak English as their mother tongue; while certainly not more than 40 millions so speak either French, or German, the European languages most diffused after English. On this subject, I will content myself by quoting the opinion which an eminent statesman and scholar of France expressed some years ago, as "to the mission of England and the English language." He said: -England's great mission is that which was foretold by Shakespeare with his wonderful spirit
20-
of prophecy, not far from the time when the Pilgrim Fathers first set foot in the new world. It is to form ompires; to be Magna Virum Ma- ter; to spread over the earth freedom and civili. zation. Fifty years hence the United States of America will be more populous, more wealthy, and more powerful than any European commu- nity. One hundred years hence Australia will be a greater nation than the present United States. Some 300 millions of men, the most suergetic in the world, will then speak English as their mother tongue. French, German, and Italian will then be dialecte as comparatively insignificant as is now Datoh. Those French, Gorman, and Italian authors who desire world-wide and permanent fame should write in English." It will be recollected that this is the testimony borne by an eminent Frenchman to the victorious progress of the English language. I would remind all who hear me that every native of this Colony, from whatever race he may have sprang, is by his very birthright, a son and heir of the British Empire; and that it is alike bis duty and his interest, whatever career in life he may choose, to make himself master of the English language (applause). In sonolasion, my young friends, I thank you heartily for the addresses which you have presented to me, and for the hearty welcome which you have given me on my Arst visit to St. Joseph's College. I congratu- late you on the splendid site, and on the excellent arrangements of this institation, and on the pro- gress which you have evidently made under the oare of the Christian Brothers. I have seen that Brotherhood at work in the great cause of edu- cation in many parts of the world, and always with success. I shall have great piessure in visiting St. Joseph's College again at the An. nual Distribution of Prizes; and until then I wish you all health and happiness (Loud cheers). Bishop RAIMONDI thanked His Excellency in his own name and that of the Christian Brothers for his presence there, and added that St. Joseph's College being under the grant-in-sid scheme and the greater part of the pupils being British subjects, it was and always would be their duty to promote a good sound English education, and to make the boys learn the language of that noble nation and liberal government of England, which extended to them its favour and protection.
Several recitations in English by the scholars were then given, after which His Excellency inspected the building, and expressed his high satisfaction with it and its arrangements,
Accompanied by Bishop Raimondi and Father Reidhar, the Governor proceeded to the Italian Convent. The young lady boarders executed several vocal and instrumental selections with great credit, after which two addresses were presented to His Excellency by them. His Ex- cellency, in response, expressed his gratification with what he had seen, and his appreciation of the good affected in the colony by the Sisters of Charity.
From the boarders the Governor passed to the orphans' section. Here the European orphans sang beautifully their "Orphans' song," and de- livered two addresses. His Excellency next proceeded to visit the Chinese orphans. The first to greet His Excellency were the little in. fants, forty in number, from two to seven years old. The Governor was then shown the school for the blind; ten blind Chinese girls could read, write, make accounts, and do knitting work; the last were the grown up Chinese orphans, who sang in Chinese, and two of them said a few words of Italian, welcoming His Excellency. Before leaving the Convent, His Excellency again entered the Hall where the boarders were gathered, and the young ladies harmoniously sang "God save the Queen." His Excellency left the Convent extremely satisfied with his visit.-Communicated.
377
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