34 The Huîmning Bird. 



confidence would be restored, and the rest made easy ; but it 

 cannot be done if the new Company has to pay four millions, 

 from its capital, to the Columbian Government. 



This is the state of affairs at the present moment, and I 

 think that the only way of rescuing this gigantic international 

 and most useful undertaking should be the immediate convo- 

 cation of an International Congress, either at Paris, London, 

 New York, or Chicago, where suitable measures could be taken 

 to that effect. [Ed.] 



THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. 



On Wednesday, the 12th of May, the Imperial Institute 

 v\^as officially opened by Her Majesty the Queen. 



The weather was magnificent, and that day of rejoicing 

 and spontaneous holiday making, will be remembered during 

 their life time, by all Londoners who assisted, either as guests 

 or spectators, at that grand ceremony. 



Crowds began to assemble in the vicinity of Buckingham 

 Palace and along the line of route to be taken by the Royal 

 cortege, as early as nine o'clock in the morning, and it is quite 

 impossible to form an exact estimate of the number of 

 spectators who assembled together to do honour to QuEEN 

 Victoria, but we think that nothins^ less than several hundred 

 thousands lined the passage followed by the Royal Family. 

 Triumphal arches, festoons of evergreens, and flags could be 

 seen everywhere. Add to that, most magnificent weather, 

 and you will have an idea of the glorious appearance of that 

 part of London, on the 12th of May last. 



No such gathering had been seen since the Jubilee celebra- 

 tion. Shortly after noon the appearance of the six carriages 

 forming the Queen's procession was signalled by a flourish of 

 trumpets from the Queen's trumpeters. The first four carriages, 

 preceded by an escort of Life Guards, contained the Equerries, 

 the Lords and Ladies in Waiting, and the Court officials. Then 

 came a carriage containing Prince Christian and Prince Henry 

 de Battenberg. A body of Life Guards, followed by the 

 Australian, Canadian and Indian troops, preceded the Queen's 

 state carriage, drawn by six cream coloured horses. Her 

 Majesty, who appeared to be in excellent health, was dressed 



