II.— INTRODUCTION. 



More than a generation has now passed since, in 1868, the Colonial Society was started. 

 The Dominion of Canada had just come into being ; and, though not many openly 

 agreed with John Bright that the continuance of the British connection was burden- 

 some to Great Britain and humiliating to Canada, still there was a widely spread 

 undercurrent of feeling that Canadian Confederation was a half-way house to peaceful 

 separation. It was this kind of temper, more dangerous than open hostility, that the 

 Colonial Institute sought to counteract. Most wisely its founders recognised that the 

 best way of going to work was not to set on foot an actively militant political organisa- 

 tion. What was wanted was knowledge : knowledge in England of the boundless 

 resources and true temper of the Overseas Dominions ; knowledge in the Colonies of 

 their English kinsfolk, when once one has penetrated the outer crust. The Royal 

 Colonial Institute (as it was named in 1870) became at once a club-house where 

 persons from all parts of the Empire might exchange experiences, and an information 

 bureau, whence the latest and most authoritative facts with regard to the Empire 

 might be brought to the light of day. Starting with the modest number of one hundred 

 and seventy-four members, the Institution so fully justified its existence that by 1880 

 it had over eleven hundred members. The great danger of such an organisation was that 

 it should be run by men who disapproved of the action of their Colonial Governments, 

 and were out of touch with Colonial public opinion ; the Royal Colonial Institute ha-s 

 been careful to draw new blood into its veins, and has never in any way identified itself 

 with any one school of thought regarding Colonial questions. The Papers read in its 

 winter sessions have been a perfect quarry of first-hand knowledge, freel}' placed at 

 the disposal of the inquirer, whether his purpose be historic, statistical or practical. 

 But it may be asked, now that the Royal Colonial Institute has achieved such 

 success in promoting fuller knowledge, and, on both sides, a very differ nt temper — 

 especially now that its example has been followed by so many Leagues and Societies, 

 has not. the time come when, so far as its original purpose was concerned, it might 

 pronounce its nunc climittis and leave to younger bodies the burden of the fr.iy ? But 

 it must be remembered that, especially in new countries, the condition of things is 

 always rapidly changing, so that the truth of last year is the falsehood of to day and any 

 record of facts and opinions requires constant modification and revision. liut what 

 institution could so efficiently carry on this work as the Institute, which 'n the past 

 has done it so successfully ? Moreover, while the general tone of thouirh'- /egarding 

 Imperial questions is, on both sides, most satisfactory, and there is everywhere the 

 desire to promote friendly social intercourse, there are still problems connected with 

 the Empire, in the solution of which the Royal Colonial Institute can give a helping 

 hand It is a melancholy fact that, in spite of mutual goodwill and Colonial preferences, 

 British trade within the Empire does not grow by leaps and bounds. The Royal 

 Colonial Institute has set on foot an Empire Trade and Industry Committee. Its 

 objects are to encourage such trade and industry by arranging for the delivery of 

 addresses on financial, industrial and. trade subjects, by authorities before the Institute 

 itself and before Chambers of Commerce, trade bodies, and like institutions in the 

 leading industrial centres. There is tlie further object of facilitating, encouraging, and 

 arranging industrial conferences or meetings to be attended by men of affairs from any 



