PROCEEDINGS FOR 1897 CI 



The history of Italian maritime republics contains numerous records 

 of adventurous seamen who sought to discover new continents across 

 unknown oceans, and not the least celebrated among these explorers 

 were the Cabotos, who, like feathers of the winged Lion of St. Mark, 

 centuries ago landed on these northern shores, then desolate, now swarm- 

 ing with restless life and activity. The histor}^ of j^our friends and 

 kinsmen of Old England is filled with names of similar heroes, and 

 proves to the world that they have taken the place and inheritance of 

 those republics to which I have referred. The grand record of events 

 of British history seems destined never to be closed. When we look at 

 the map of the world, the impi-ess of Britain's footstep may be traced 

 almost everywhere. Wherever her sons are scattered, under any sky or 

 in any climate, on the shores of the sacred Ganges or in the plains or 

 forests of Australia, in darkest Africa or among the Polar icebergs, the 

 British flag waves proudly triumjihant, always in the van of progress 

 and civilization. The wondrous history of that flag teaches us in what 

 way empires are founded, built up and firmly established. In truth, it 

 seems as if to the Anglo-Saxon race were confided by Heaven the genius 

 of colonization possessed by the ancient Phœnicians, as well as the 

 science of pushing new countries into the current of modern life, holding 

 them by ties of liberty, and efteetively attaching them to the mother 

 country by all the humanizing agencies of civilization. 



Personall}' — and I am proud of the fact — I have had the good 

 fortune of seeing and studying the British colonies of the far east, and 

 I have now the greater good fortune of studying with unfeigned admira- 

 tion the Dominion of Canada. Emigi-ants from certain countries in old 

 times abandoned Canada, fearing to encounter hardships and difficulties 

 which are naturally met with in a new land ; but England and you 

 Canadian citizens have demonstrated to the world how such a country 

 can be raised to the highest degree of civilization and prosperity. 

 (Applause.) 



The present ceremonial, to which you have cordially invited us, and 

 for which invitation I personally, as an Italian, heartily thank you, must 

 have a highly educational significance in the eyes of every thinker. 

 And that is the reason why Venice, the fall of whose republic took place 

 exactly one hundred years ago — Venice, whose city, in the words of 

 Byron, resembles a dream, and her history a romance — that is the reason, 

 I repeat, why Venice could not miss the honours which you are now 

 bestowing upon her sons, and, accordingly, the Italian Geographical 

 Society, always ready to initiate or aid any useful enterprise, wished to 

 be here represented, while the Italian Ministry of Public Instruction 

 also desires to be present in spirit. 



To attract the minds of the rising generation to striking examples of 

 self-denying heroism, tenacious will, and civil virtues — to elevate public 



