Appendix 1. 149 



They are going back to the days of many other enlightened, scholarly 

 and public- spirited citizens of its fellowship, who in any public cause re- 

 sembled those ethnic progenitors of so many of them, who made that 

 proud reply to Alexander when he met them by the Danube or on the 

 Dalmatain Hills more than two thousand years ago ; who said that they 

 had no dread except that the sky might fall, that is to say, if I read the 

 old Greek historian aright, that they feared not the face of man but only 

 the anger of the gods. Those elders and pillars of the Society believed 

 in this country of British South America. They were born in it or they 

 made it their home. They were no rootless colonists of alien earth. 

 We of this Society also believed in its certainty of happier fortunes 

 and look to the day when under new conditions and ever-increasing 

 number of those who earn their bread in this fair land, with its genial and 

 healthy, even if on the coast somewhat relaxing climate, will regard it as 

 their home and as their home adorn it. 



Your Excellency has been kind enough to mark your recognition of 

 our past work and of our possibilities of usefulness in the days that are 

 to come, by accepting the office of Vice-Patron. At his accession His 

 Most Gracious Majesty King George V. extended to us the high privilege 

 of his patronage, following the example of King Enward VII. and of 

 Queen Victoria, and indeed he has no more loyal subjects than in this 

 colony, which treasures remembrances of his visit as a boy. Our Society 

 has no narrow elective foundation, no restricted racial franchise. It 

 includes not alone every leading planter, merchant and official in the 

 colony but many gentlemen of the Northern and Southern European and 

 American peoples, of the African, the coloured, the East Indian and the 

 Chinese races and even if our actual roll of membership at the moment 

 cannot show the name of any native American Indian, one of the most 

 useful and reliable officers of our Museum is of the blood of the more 

 ancient sons of the soil. It was from this vigorous stem that the 

 Chamber of Commerce, the Planters' Association, the Agricultural Board 

 and many other public institutions took their origin, and the stock to-day 

 is no barren stock. 



In concluding by bidding you both a hearty welcome in the name of 

 the Society I can only express the hope that your stay here will be as 

 happy as you can wish and that we shall often see you in our midst at the 

 numerous gatherings which are held within these walls where you will 

 always be assured of a cordial, a respectful and loyal welcome. 



The Governor's Speech. 



In reply, His Excellency, whose clear, musical voice was heard 

 distinctly in all parts of the hall, said : — 



Mr. Nunan, my Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, — It is always very 

 pleasing to be received so cordially as my wife and I have been to-night. 

 We know that, at any rate, in this audience our limitations are recog- 

 nised. I promise you that we will, both of us, do our best to help 



