1887.] Sir Frederick Abel on the Work of the Imperial Institute. 99 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 



Friday, April 22, 1887. 



H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, E.G. F.R.S. 

 Vice-Patron, in tlie Chair. 



Sir Frederick Abel, C.B. D.C.L. F.R.S. M.B.L 



The Work of the Imperial Institute. 



The Colonial and Indian Exhibition, which owes not only its con- 

 ception, but also its brilliantly successful realisation to your Royal 

 Highness, will be pre-eminently remarkable in times to come, for 

 having achieved many results of vital importance and highest benefit 

 to Her Majesty's subjects in all parts of Her vast Realms. 



The collection of all that is commercially valuable and scientifi- 

 cally interesting of the natural products of the great Indian Empire 

 and of the Colonies in one exhibition, embracing as it also did very 

 comprehensive illustrations of the development of commerce, of the 

 arts and of certain industries, in the many countries beyond the seas 

 which combine with the United Kingdom to constitute an Empire 

 over nine million square miles in extent, afforded those at home an 

 opportunity, surpassing all previous conception, of studying and 

 comparing the natural history and resources of those distant lands, 

 of which, attached though we might be individually to one or more of 

 them by ties of friendship or of interest, the knowledge of many of 

 us was of a very vague or partial character. 



To the Colonists who visited us last year, the Exhibition has 

 been of inestimable value, in affording them a most favourable and 

 appropriate opportunity of becoming acquainted or renewing their 

 old friendship with the Mother Country, and of examining the pro- 

 gress there made in industrial, educational, and commercial develop- 

 ment ; in leading to the cultivation of intimacy between Colonists 

 from different sections of the Queen's Dominions; and in afibrding 

 them invaluable opportunities of comparing the resources and state of 

 development of their respective countries with those of other parts 

 of Europe. No more convincing illustrations than were provided by 

 this great Exhibition could have been conceived of the importance, 

 to the Home Country, to each Colony, and to India, of fostering in- 

 timate relationship and unity of action. No more encouraging proof 

 could have been afforded of the desire of all classes of Her Majesty's 

 subjects at home to cultivate a knowledge of those far-off countries 

 which the enterprise and perseverance of the British, and men of 

 British offspring, have converted into prosperous and important 

 Dominions, chiefly during the period of the Queen's reign, than was 

 furnished by the interest which the thousands upon thousands, who 



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