8 Royal Colonial Institute. 



of tlie Imperial Legislature who had taken a prominent part in the discussion of Colonial 

 questions, unanimously agreed that it was desirable to establish an institution, above 

 all mere party considerations, where persons from all parts of the British Empire might 

 exchange experiences, and where trustworthy information might be imparted to all 

 inquirers. A provisional committee was appointed, which drew up rules — substantially 

 the same as those now in operation — and reported to a general meeting on August 12, 

 1868, when the " Colonial Society " became constituted by the adoption of such rules 

 for its government and the election of the first President and Council. 



A deputation of the Council waited upon His Grace the Duke of Buckingham and 

 Chandos, Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the Right Hon. Sir Stafford North- 

 cote, Secretary of State for India, with the object of obtaining their official sanction 

 and support, which were most readily conceded. Those Ministers undertook that the 

 Governors of the several Colonies should be addressed in favour of the Institute, which 

 undertaking was carried into efiect by their successors in office, the Right Hon. Earl 

 Granville and His Grace the Duke of Argyll. As a result of this action, a large number 

 of valuable works illustrative of the resources and progress of the Oversea Dominions, 

 Colonies, and India have been added to the library. Numerous contributions have 

 also been received from the Colonial Office and the India Office, and for some years 

 past full particulars of the constitution and objects of the Institute have been published 

 in the Colonial Office List, " on account of the importance of the subject to Colonists 

 generally." The Institute is now officially included in the list of Institutions named 

 in the Colonial Regulations, so that the whole of the Statutes of various parts of the 

 Empire are regularly received. 



On March 10, 1869, the inaugural dinner was attended by the Prime Minister (the 

 Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P.), the Secretary of State for the Colonies (the Right 

 Hon. Earl Granville), and many other distinguished guests, and was regarded as a most 

 successful demonstration in favour of the Colonies and the Unity of the Empire. 



The speeches at this banquet are of singular interest to-day. Mr. Gladstone's 

 reminiscences of the " Colonial Department," in which he had served thirty-four years 

 previously ; Sir George Cartier's attempt to explain Canadian Nationalism without 

 wounding the susceptibilities of prejudiced Britons and his challenge to the United 

 States as to the freedom of Canada under representative rather than democratic insti- 

 tutions ; the reminder of Mr. Hugh C. E. Childers that sea-power and the Colonies 

 are intimately connected, and that the sea is the connecting link and not a barrier 

 between the sons of a sea-going race — all these long-forgotten speeches will repay the 

 attention of the historical student who cares to trace the great dynamic forces of the 

 century to their origin. 



In June 1869 the prefix of the word " Royal " was graciously sanctioned by Her 

 Majesty Queen Victoria. Inconvenience arising from the similarity of the initial 

 letters to those of the Royal College of Surgeons, the name of the Society was, by the 

 vote of a general meeting on March 7, 1870, changed to the Royal Colonial Institute. 



In July, 1871, His Grace the Duke of Manchester was elected President, in succession 

 to Viscount Bury, who retired, and in June 1878 His Royal Highness the Prince of 

 Wales was pleased to accept that office, afterwards becoming Patron as King Edward 

 the Seventh, the Duke of Manchester maintaining his connection with the Institute 

 as one of its Vice-Presidents and Chairman of the Council up to the time of his death 

 in 1890, when the office of Chairman of the Council was abolished. On his accession to 

 the throne in 1910, His Majesty the King became Patron, and he was succeeded in 

 the office of President by Field-Marshal H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught. During the 



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