sion made for the Madras Schools,
generally, and to that of the African School at St. John, I
recommend some provision for a similar establishment at the Seat of
Government, to bring more generally within the influence of these
excellent Institutions, a portion of the human race to whom we owe
kindness, charity, and benevolence, and for whom we should provide
religious, moral and industrious education.

In the very prosperous condition which the affairs of this Province
may now permanently take, I perceive, that the period is arrived
for entertaining enlarged views and scope of system, necessary to
supersede some very disadvantageous circumstances which should be
gradually corrected, and to raise the Province to that
consideration, value and importance, which it will soon assume, if
the management of its affairs proceed upon sound views and
estimates of her true situation, and be conducted according to
fixed and solid general principles. But great misery and
embarrassment may be inflicted on young and advancing Countries, if
disturbed by doubts, or exposed to quick transitions arising from
different schemes of temporizing policy, and I desire to point out
the errors and dangers of all contingent measures and pursuits made
only to comply with chance circumstances, temporary interests and
adventitious excitements.

To that solid course, then, which may best embrace all of those
interests of which the public good is made up, and upon which the
permanency of your prosperity depends, I shall endeavour to look,
and on it encourage the exertions of the whole Population to push
their special interests with spirit and enterprize, under the sober
guidance of general measures calculated to produce a steadiness,
healthfulness and solidity of progress, which, under Divine
Blessing, and the powerful and enlightened protection of our Parent
State, will gradually conduct this happy Province to a very high
degree of value and prosperity.

At a general meeting of the Members of the Legislature, and other
respectable Gentlemen from all parts of the Province, assembled in one
of the Committee Rooms of the House of Assembly on Thursday the 17th of
February, 1825, by request of the LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, to take into
consideration some propositions to be submitted by his Excellency,
relating to the improvement of Agr