nd the cost
of the erection and equipment of the new building was defrayed out of
savings that had accumulated in the hands of the treasurer during the
previous seven years.

A very large number of persons interested in education assembled in the
lecture-hall to witness the ceremony, among whom were Sir Lyon Playfair,
Sir Richard Temple, Mr. Lyulph Stanley, the Dowager Lady Stanley of
Alderley, the Presidents of several societies, and the Head Masters of
Harrow, Charterhouse, and Merchant Taylors' Schools, of Marlborough and
Dulwich Colleges, and of Christ's Hospital.

On the arrival of the Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Princess of
Wales, and their daughters Princesses Victoria and Maud, an address was
presented by the Rev. Dr. T. W. Jex-Blake, President of the Council. The
Prince, in replying, said:--

"Dr. Jex-Blake, Ladies, and Gentlemen,--It gives the Princess of
Wales and myself great satisfaction to have been able to accede
to the request of the council, and to open the new building of
the College of Preceptors. I am reminded, by your reference to
the circumstances that this building is opened during the year
of the Queen's jubilee, of the many and important improvements
that have taken place in Her Majesty's dominions during the last
fifty years, and especially in the advancement of education
among all classes of the people, a share of which progress is
due to the excellent work undertaken by this self-supported
institution.

"For over forty years the College of Preceptors has exercised a
marked and growing influence for good upon the education given
in some of our endowed schools, and more particularly in the
numerous private schools for boys and girls which are an
important feature in the educational system of this country. The
value of your work is sufficiently shown by the high reputation
of your examinations and by the constantly increasing number of
your candidates, and I sincerely congratulate you on the results
you have achieved. In the further development of the work of
training teachers you have before you a future of great
usefulness, for there can be no doubt that the provision of
properly-trained teachers for middle and higher schools is
almost, if not quite, as necessary as for our public elementary
schools.

"The key of the building which you have presented to me I shall
retain