know now that we shall find a deserving candidate to hold it.

"Let me now pass to an account of what has been actually
accomplished. Fifty scholarships have been established, of which
thirty-five confer a free education in music, and fifteen
provide not only a free education, but also maintenance for the
scholars. Of these scholarships half are held by boys and half
by girls. I observe with pleasure that the various districts
from which the scholars are drawn indicate the widespread
distribution of a taste for music, and an adequate cultivation
of music throughout the United Kingdom. London, with its vast
population, sends only twelve out of the fifty. The remaining
thirty-eight come as follows:--twenty-eight from fourteen
different counties in England, two from Scotland, six from
Ireland, one from Wales, and one from Jersey. The occupations of
the scholars are as various as the places from which they come.
I find that a mill-girl, the daughter of a brickmaker, and the
son of a blacksmith take high places in singing, and the son of
a labourer in violin playing.

"The capacity of these candidates has been tested by an
examination of unusual severity. Each of these scholars who
returns to his native place furnished with the highest
instruction in music will form a centre from which good musical
education will spread around; while those who obtain musical
engagements elsewhere will stimulate and encourage by their
success the cultivation of music in the places whence they have
come. Surely, then, it is not too much to expect that many years
will not pass away before our College has so popularised music
as to place England on a par with those countries on the
Continent which have acquired the distinction of being called
musical people.

"I feel, then, that one great object of a College of Music has
been secured--namely, the discovery of latent musical ability
and the extension to those who, with great natural gifts, have
been blessed with little of this world's goods, of the
opportunity of obtaining instruction in music, to say the
least, not inferior to any which this kingdom can afford. That
these words are not the language of exaggeration will be
apparent to those who read the names of the eminent staff who
have placed their services at the disposal of the College.