330 OPENING OF THE ESSEX MUSEUM, ETC. 



He concluded b}' moving "that the best thanks of the meeting be given to 

 the Countess of Warwick for her attendance and for the admirable Address 

 which she had delivered." (Loud applause.) 



Councillor W. Crow, on behalf of the West Ham Town Council, 

 seconded the resolution, and also referred to Lady Warwick's interest in the 

 important question of education. He was rather afraid that she would have 

 to make some allowance for the West Ham Town Council. The Council 

 had, however, done very useful work, and they were doubly pleased to know 

 that that work had received the kindly notice of her Ladyship. 



The Countess replied that she was very grateful to them, for it had 

 afforded her a great pleasure to come among them. On future occasions she 

 hoped not to be forgotten by West Ham people, because she knew what an 

 active part they took in educational matters. In spite of all Councillor Crow 

 had said, she sat down with a glorified idea of the Town Council of West 

 Ham. (Loud applause.) 



Alderman Bethell then moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Passmore 

 Edwards, and referred to the many gifts which that gentleman had made to 

 West Ham from time to time. Not long ago, said Alderman Bethell, he had 

 offered to erect a library in the southern portion of the borough, but the 

 burgesses could not see their way clear to accept the offer. He (the speaker) 

 was pleased to say that Mr. Passmore Edwards was still willing to carry out 

 his pledge on condition that the burgesses would support the library. A 

 slight increase in the library rate would do it, and he hoped that West Ham 

 would yet be able to accept the offer. He felt sure he was only expressing 

 the wishes of them all when he hoped that Mr. Passmore Edwards would live 

 long to continue the good work he had in hand. 



Councillor Weaver-Smith seconded the resolution, and expressed the 

 hope that the burgesses would rise to the occasion and accept the offer of 

 Mr. Passmore Edwards. 



The vote of thanks was carried amid much applause. 



Mr. Passmore Edwards said he might say that had he known that they 

 would have had such a brilliant speech from Lady Warwick, he would have 

 set to work to make a better speech than he had done. (Laughter and 

 applause.) He had no objection to being left behind, but he refused to be 

 eclipsed. (Applause.) He could only say, in answer to their kind vote of 

 thanks, that the borough had been good to him. Some five or six years ago 

 when unknown amongst them he was asked to open the Canning Town 

 Library, and then the new wing of the hospital, and again was presented with 

 the freedom of the borough in a magnificent silver casket. Since then he had 

 done a little for West and East Ham. There were five institutions he had 

 assisted to work in the district, and probably there would be two more. 

 (Hear, hear.) Thus West Ham would have what he stated at one time of 

 Cornwall, seven sisters ot stone. He felt that they were more entitled to his 

 thanks than he to theirs ; and he would promise with Lady Warwick, that he 

 would occasionally come and give his services to his dear old friends in West 

 Ham. (Applause.) 



