34 Timehri. 



The enthusiasm of the first few years did not last, for the depression 

 of the colony which came through the gradual loss of protection to 

 Colonial sugar, was felt by every one. The Society, however, slowly but 

 steadily progressed, building up a fairly good library and discussing 

 everything bearing on the welfare of the colony. Mr. Campbell's original 

 by-laws were somewhat modified but there was no radical change. We 

 may say that the Society was due to an upset when a spurt was made, 

 but this leap was followed by a jog-trot. Progress was visible but slow. 



In 1864 came the Great Fires to which Georgetown largely owes its 

 practical immunity from yellow fever. From one standpoint it was a 

 great disaster, from another it gave room tor improvement. The effect 

 on Georgetown influenced every institution and necessarily the Society. 

 Pessimists would have said, " Let the Society go for it has already gone," 

 but Mr. Campbell never said this. Arrangements were made for continu- 

 ing and for building something tetter. 



I cannot find that there was any Insurauce money to receive and there- 

 fore nothing available for the new start. The fire took place on the 3rd of 

 April. A meeting of the Directors was held on the 14th to consider what 

 should be done. Mr. A. W. Perot was then President, and it was resolved 

 to take immediate steps to raise a fund and erect without delay a new 

 building which would provide room for a Museum. The loss was 

 estimated at $25,000. The responses to the appeal for donations were so 

 prompt that on the 22nd they amounted to $4,255. I cannot go into 

 the particulars of how subscriptions were raised in the colony and in 

 England, but the work was done, with the result we can see to-day. At 

 first it was intended to have a Museum on the lower floor, but this gave 

 place to the Post Office and Pilot Otfice which necessitated a special Museum 

 Building. And here I may call attention to the fact that the tower and 

 lower floor were built for the signal station and Post Otfice, and I have 

 always held that there is a moral obligation on the part of the Government 

 to occupy and pay rents for the portions so provided by their request. It 

 will be seen that the first building accommodated the signal office and 

 therefore it was continuous down to a few years ago. 



The result ofthefire was and impetus to the Society which has continue 

 with slight fluctuations to the present. My personal experience begins 

 with 1870 when the new buildings were completed with a new library 

 already of some value. I was agreeably surprised to find many of the 

 books I specially desired to give me an insight into the colony and its 

 resources ; the local literature was greedily devoured and I must have 

 pestered the Managing Directors for special permission to borrow many 

 books. As an Associate, however, I did not attend the meetings because 

 I might have been an intruder, but I read the reports and always took an 

 interest in the work of the Society. The subscriptions were then $16, 

 $12 and $8. Ladies had not yet been admitted and were very few until 

 recent years. It was suggested to me that I should become a member so 

 as to be free of the meetings but $16 repelled myself and many others who 

 might have been useful 



