THE ROYAL COLLEGE. 245 



about voluntarily to alter the course of study pursued in St. 

 Mary's College, so as more nearly to assimilate it to that 

 pursued here. 



" I rejoice, because in their presence I hail a sign that the 

 affiliation which is, I believe, desired by the great body of the 

 Eonian Catholic community in this island, and to which it 

 has been shown no insuperable religions obstacle exists, will 

 take place at no more distant day than is necessary to secure 

 the approval, the naturally requisite approval, of ecclesiastical 

 authoritv elsewhere. 



" I rejoice at their presence, because it enables me before 

 this company to express my high sense of the courage and 

 liberality which have maintained their College for years past 

 without any aid whatever from the State, and, in spite of 

 manifold obstacles and discouragements, have caused it to 

 increase in numbers and efficiency. 



" I rejoice at their presence, because I desire to see the 

 youth of Trinidad of every race, without indifference to their 

 respective creeds, brought together on all possible occasions, 

 whether for recreation or for work : because I wish to see 

 them engaged in friendly rivalry in their studies now, as they 

 will hereafter be in the world, which I desire to see them 

 enter, not as strangers to each other, but as friends and 

 fellow-citizens. 



" I rejoice, because their presence enables me to take a 



