22 Royal Colonial Institute. * 



Earl of Albemarle), the Eight Hon. Chichester Fortescue, M.P., Mr, Leonard Wray, 

 Mr. A, H. Louis, the Marquis of Normanby, Mr. Baillie Cochrane, M.P., Sir H. Drum- 

 mondjWolff, Mr. Edward Wilson, Mr. W.^B. Hume, Sir Charles Nicholson, Mr. Henry 

 Braine, Mr. Marsh, M.P., and Mr. Selim Jackson. A full account of the proceedings 

 at the inaugural dinner, at which Viscount Bury presided, also appear in the volume. 

 It was a memorable occasion in view of the fact that a large number of the leading 

 politicians of the time representing the Motherland and the Overseas Dominions, 

 Colonies and India were present, including Mr. Gladstone, Earl Granville, the Duke 

 of Manchester, Sir Bartle Frere, Sir Charles Nicholson, Sir George E. Cartier, Sir Charles 

 Clifford, Sir George Verdon, Sir George Macleay, Captain Charles Sturt, Sir James A. 

 Youl, Mr. W. C. Wentworth, and many other distinguished men. In the report of the 

 inaugural meeting, which was held in the Theatre of the Institution of Civil Engineers 

 on March 15, 1869, Viscount Bury referred at some length to the great increase in the 

 number of scientific and literary institutions which was observable at that time, and 

 emphasised the fact that in his opinion an unnecessary number of institutions differing 

 only slightly from each other in the objects which they profess to aim at, fritter away 

 in the expenses of management funds which, under a system of cordial co-operation, 

 would be available for more extended and practical usefulness. He claimed that there 

 was no society or body of men in existence in England dealing with the one great 

 object of the Society — the diffusion of accurate information upon Colonial subjects 

 among our countrymen. The first Paper read before the Institute dealt with '' The 

 Relations of the Colonies to the Mother Country," which was written by Mr. W. 

 Westgarth, and is a subject that has always occupied a prominent place in the annual 

 programme of the Institute. The Institute, through its publications, has done a vast 

 amount of valuable work, more especially in diffusing accurate information to those 

 in this country desiring to gain a knowledge of the various Overseas Possessions, as 

 well as in shaping public opinion by quiet and steady educational work. The first 

 volume of the " Proceedings " contained 216 pages, and the second 166. In 

 succeeding years the size of the volume of " Proceedings " varied between 400 and 500 

 pages. The " Proceedings " continued to be issued until the year 1909, when they 

 were replaced by a monthly journal entitled United Empire. Forty volumes in 

 all were issued. 



The " Journal." 



In the year 1890 it was decided to issue an additional publication to be known as 

 the " Journal of the Royal Colonial Institute," to be published in advance of and in 

 addition to the annual volume of " Proceedings." The first number appeared in 

 December 1890, and it was issued during eight months of each year, viz. from 

 December to July inclusive, until December 1909. The number of volumes issued 

 was nineteen. 



" United Empire." 



During the year 1909, it having been decided that a review, or magazine, would be 

 one of the most effective means for widening the sphere of influence of the Institute 

 and increasing its popularity and usefulness, a new monthly journal, entitled United 

 Empire, was issued on January 1, 1910, which superseded both the annual volume 

 of " Proceedings " and the " Journal." This review is designed to traverse as far as 

 possible the whole field of Imperial activities, and cannot fail to prove of advantage 



