s at present being made
to establish a Royal College of Music--a work which, I venture
to think, is one of national importance.

"It is intended to place the institution on a broad and liberal
basis; that its advantages shall not be confined to residents of
the United Kingdom, but be open to our fellow-subjects in all
parts of the Empire; and the gratuitous education of scholars,
selected by competition on the claim of merit only, will be one
of its principal features.

"The scheme has been received with marked favour throughout the
United Kingdom, but I should consider it wanting in one of its
main objects if I did not succeed in enlisting the sympathy and
co-operation of our fellow-subjects residing in the Colonial
portions of the Empire.

"I have on so many occasions experienced the advantages of their
ready and earnest concert in promoting schemes of public utility
in relation to material progress, that I have some confidence
they will exhibit the like friendly rivalry in furthering our
efforts in favour of an elevating pursuit, which in all ages and
among all communities has exercised no slight influence on
national character, and the promotion of which may constitute a
bond tending to unite us as strongly in sentiment and feeling as
we now are in loyalty and material interest.

"For these reasons I was anxious to meet as many of the leading
gentlemen connected with the Colonies as might now be
temporarily in London, as well as those who permanently reside
here; and I am gratified at the readiness with which so many of
you have acceded to my invitation.

"My object is partly to make it understood how much importance I
attach to the element of Colonial co-operation and sympathy, not
only as affecting the immediate success of the work, but bearing
on the higher objects of national unity, by inspiring among our
fellow-subjects in every part of the Empire those emotions of
patriotism which national music is calculated so powerfully to
evoke.

"I further desired to apprise you of the steps which had been
and were being taken to carry out this purpose.

"Immediately after the Meeting at St. James's Palace I directed
that full reports of the proceedings should be prepared, with
the view of transmitting them to Lord Kimberley, the Secretary
of State for th