PAPERS 
Read before tlie Victoria Institute, 
Trinidad , 1899 i 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
Delivered by His Excellency, Sir Hubert Jerking ham, 
K.C.M.G., on the 26th of October, 1899. 
TAKE great interest in the working of this 
Institute for two reasons. 1 like to see men occupy- 
ing positions of trust and responsibility in the 
Colony devoting themselves to the instruction of 
those who have not the opportunity which they 
iSpyfl themselves in their earlier education have possessed, 
JSv' y and I also rejoice because the Institute brings together in 
r a bond of union the men of this Colony who are in humbler 
spheres and enables them to appreciate what those in higher 
spheres feel for them, namely, united brotherhood. Although 
1 take it as a great compliment to have been put down to give 
you an inaugural address it becomes a little matter of difficulty 
to know what I am to say to you ; I refer to my “Embarras de 
richesse ” due to the pace at which t his Colony has been going 
on of late. At the same time the pressure of work that has 
been put upon me since my return has made me unable to 
prepare such a paper as you might have expected ; hut I know 
you will he indulgent to your Governor. When 1 looked round 
for a subject, it seemed to me that having touched three Conti- 
nents in order to reach my Colony I ought to give you a little 
account of my travels : but then I recollected that you are not 
a Geographical Society. You are a Scientific Society, and it 
was suggested to me that as I had gone through the centre of 
a cyclone it might he interesting to you for iue to lecture on 
