Historical Sketch. 7 



are a boon, the value of which it ia impossible to esaggerate ; especially when they 

 can be consulted under the guidance of a courteous and helpful librarian. A special 

 room has been set apart as a law library, which contains a most valuable collection 

 of statutes, law reports, treaties, &c. In the law library provision is also made for the 

 storage and display of maps relating to all parts of the Empire. . To give an idea of 

 the Institute's resources it may be added that during the year 1914 over 79,000 

 numbers of newspapers and magazines were received and filed. Considering the 

 benefits of membership it is not astonishing to learn that the Royal Colonial Institute 

 has now over ten thousand Fellows and Associates, and that its growing importance, 

 the widening of its scope and the increase of its membership have necessitated a great 

 extension of its premises. The house in Northumberland Avenue has been almost 

 entirely rebuilt on a larger area, and " as a result," we are told, " instead of the seven 

 inconveniently small and inappropriate rooms formerly available, there are now twenty- 

 five well-equipped rooms." 



These things do not indeed go to the heart of the matter. It is possible for great 

 things to proceed from mean and stufiy surroundings, and a sumptuous club-house 

 does not always produce an active spirit ; but when, as has been made manifest, the 

 spirit is in the right place, it is surely well that the accessories of comfort and con- 

 venience shall be added. 



There is one other subject, without mention of which any account of the Royal 

 Colonial Institute would be deficient. Useful as had been the annual volume with its 

 permanent record of the progress made during the year, it was generally recognised that 

 so influential a corporation should possess its own monthly organ, reflecting the various 

 sides of its work. An editor was forthcoming who had both a practical knowledge 

 of the Empire and was a trained litterateur, whose death, during the year, all lovers 

 of the Empire will deplore. United Empire is still in its youth ; but already it has 

 attained a wide circulation, and few will question the modest claim put forward by 

 the Council that it " has from month to month enabled those interested in the various 

 Overseas Dominions to keep in touch with the more important aspects of Imperial 

 development." The outbreak of the great war in August, 1914, further brought 

 home to the whole world the strength of the ties binding together the scattered 

 portions of the Empire and served to justify the faith for which the Institute is 

 working; whilst, as appears in the Report, a War Services Committee has been able, 

 in several ways, to be of service to the Imperial Government. Such, then, being the 

 various grounds on which the Royal Colonial Institute has more than made good 

 the aims of its founders, there ia no one who cares for the Em.pire and the Empire's 

 well-being who will not gratefully repeat " Esto perpeiua." 



H. E. EgbPvTON. 



m.— HISTORICAL SKETCH. 



The Royal Colonial Institute is first and foremost a non-sectarian and non-politfcal 

 organisation which exists for the purpose of stimulating the loyalty of all Brilons 

 towards the Empire, and for promoting its closer and permanent unity. 



It was founded on June 26, 1868, when a meeting was held at Willis's Rooms, under 

 the presidency of Viscount Bury, to promote the formation of a society which shou!d 

 assume, in relation to the Colonies, a position similar to that filled by the Royal Society 

 as regards science, and the Royal Geographical Society as regards geography. The 

 meeting, which comprised influential representatives of Colonial interests, and members 



