422 RACING CAREER OF SIR W. H. GREGORY. 



Sir William Gregory, who has his whole heart in 

 his work ; is ready to sympathise with all classes 

 and races, to see provinces, districts, and public 

 works for himself — by journeys on horseback, if 

 necessary ; is open to receive counsel as to pro- 

 posed legislation from the most diverse quarters, 

 while deciding for himself after giving due con- 

 sideration to such advice." 



The result of all these beneficent operations was, 

 that when the Prince of Wales visited Ceylon, Sir 

 William Gregory received the lionour of knight- 

 hood from his Royal Highness's hands ; and finally, 

 a statue of the right honourable gentleman, from 

 which the photograph opposite this page has been 

 taken, testifies, as it stands in the market-place of 

 Colombo, to the hig-h. reo-ard and esteem of the 

 population which he governed so well. Upon the 

 pedestal the following inscription is carved : — 



The Eight Ho>'ble. 

 SIR WILLIAM GREGORY, K.C.M.G., 



Governor of Ceylon. 



Erected by the inhabitants of this Island to commemorate the 

 benefits conferred by him uj)on the Colony during his administration 

 of the Government from 1872 to 1877. 



After his return to England, Sir William married 

 in 1880 Miss Augusta Persse, a young and much- 

 esteemed lady who lived in the neighbourhood of 

 Coole Park, Sir William's ancestral seat in Gal- 

 way. Never was there a hajDpier marriage. Lady 



