28 Timehri. 



tion of Secretary to the Society. In my wish to see him there placed I 

 have no private interest to move — my sole object being that of having 

 that office confided to one who I am sure will discharge its every duty 

 with ability and efficiency. 



Hoping that your Excellency will not consider my zeal outstripping 

 the bounds of discretion and respect. — I have, etc., 



W. A. 



To His Excellency, Henry Light, Esq. 



This was promptly acknowledged on the 22nd. The Governor 

 approved of the rules and the suggestion ; he had long been desirous of 

 seeing a Museum, Library, Reading Room and Hall for public amuse- 

 ments, but he suggested some difficulties in carrying out all the objects 

 by one Society. The letter is too long to be given here but it is decidedly 

 interesting. He suggested an early meeting of both classes, i.e., merchants 

 and planters. 



Copies were printed and distributed throughout the colony and we 

 have a letter from Berbice giving the names of those to whom George 

 Laing sent the Prospectus. We also have the originals that were sent 

 out, dated February 1st, with the signatures of those willing to become 

 members. All this preparatory work appears to have been done by Mr. 

 Campbell and we may be quite sure that he must have been enthusiastic 

 and assured of success. 



The preliminary meeting was held on the 18th of March and this 

 may be considered as the starting-point of the Society, for it was then 

 arranged to form it and to provisionally adopt the Rules drafted by Mr. 

 Campbell. 



Mr. Campbell remained as Secretary until the year before his death 

 in London November 3rd, 1883. We may, therefore say, that he was 

 nearly forty years canning on his " labour of love." Those who knew him 

 well spoke highly of his kindness and sympathy ; as far as I know he had 

 no real enemies, and when there was something like a persecution the 

 colonists almost to a man rallied round him. The amount of work he did 

 for the Society can hardly be estimated ; I happen to have seen the evi- 

 dence when searching lor the Society's records. Where he did not write the 

 minutes himself he got his private clerks to help, for unfortunately the 

 attendants in the Reading Room could hardly have been trusted with any- 

 thing beyond routine work. When Mr. Luke Hill wascliosen as Secretary 

 he was not prepared to spend so many hours on the Society's work. This 

 could hardly be expected, but it shows what Mr. Campbell willingly did 

 because it could not have been done otherwise. The present generation 

 has to thank him, and every member to-day should think of this when 

 his bust comes in sight at our entrance. 



When I call him the founder of the Society I do not mean to dis- 

 parage the other members, but to show that our Society, like many 

 others, was very largely due to one working member. 



