A CHAT ABOUT THE SOC1ETYS PAST/ 



By J. Rodway. 



Its Name. 



It has often been remarked that the name is not suitable, because 

 the interests and objects of this Society are hardly agricultural or 

 commercial. Possibly something like the Guiana Institute would have 

 been better but it is too late to suggest a change even though the name is 

 too long and not comprehensive enough. 



The reasons for such a name are obvious to one who studies the 

 social conditions of eighty years ago. There were then two cliques, 

 planters and merchants, whose interests did not always coincide. There 

 were even disputes which led to newspaper correspondence. At one 

 time there was an attempt to get up a united society of merchants and 

 planters which failed. In 1835 there was an Agricultural Society which 

 invited the merchants to unite to establish a Public News Room and 

 Exchange, but the planters would not join, and although it was started it 

 went the way of many other societies which rose and fell from about 1810 

 until our Society came to stay. 



Something can be said in favour of Agricultural and Commercial, 

 for after all, our colony is based on agriculture and commerce. Every 

 other interest is subservient to them, for even the officials could not exist 

 without them. Our colony arms has a ship to represent Commerce and 

 our motto means that we give and receive through our shipping agricul- 

 tural products and getting desirable returns. It might be perhaps said 

 that our forest products do not represent agriculture, but they certainly 

 come under commerce. 



The project for a comprehensive building or society was " floating in 

 the air" as it were for some time. In November, 1843, it was proposed 

 in the Town Council to apply for what is now the site of our buildings to 

 have a Town Hall and a Chamber of Commerce; it was then stated that 

 the Government were intending to erect thereon a Museum and anatomical 

 rooms. "The Royal Gazette" suggested that the project should embrace, 

 not only a Town Hall but a Public Library and Museum. 



The paragraph in the " Royal Gazette " of February 15th, 1844, might 

 be read to-day for it is still applicable : " The want of a due encourage- 

 ment of public establishments, having for their end the advancement of 

 art cr science of any kind, has frequently been objected to by strangers, 

 as a great omission in the social constitution." After referring to the 

 proposed society it went on to say : " We cordially concur in the recom- 

 mendation of this Society, less for the sake of the utilitarian purposes 



" Read at General Meeting, July 0th, 1!U7 



