s a National
Training School for Music. The foundation-stone of the new institution
had been laid in 1873, at which time a member of the Council, Mr.
Freake, had liberally offered to undertake the whole cost of the
building. At first Mr. Freake intended to give the use only of the
building for some years, but he now requested the acceptance of it as a
free gift. It was further stated by the Duke of Edinburgh that there was
ample accommodation for above 300 students. It only remained to obtain
the foundation of Scholarships in sufficient numbers for the appointment
of a permanent Staff of Professors, and other arrangements for
efficiently carrying on the new training school.

The Duke of Edinburgh then moved a resolution for the appointment of a
Committee for taking steps to found Free Scholarships for the City of
London and the Metropolitan districts. This resolution was seconded by
the Archbishop of Canterbury, and supported by the Lord Mayor and the
Archbishop of York.

The Prince of Wales, in responding to a vote of thanks for
having convened and presiding over the meeting, said, "he
thought the initiative in this matter was really due to his
brother, the Duke of Edinburgh, who had taken great interest in
music since his childhood. The same was the case with their
father, the late Prince Consort, whose name would always be
remembered with gratitude for the powerful influence he had
exercised on the intellectual advancement of the country, and to
whose efforts might be traced in great measure the important
place which music now held in the estimation of all classes.

"On the whole, they had reason to congratulate themselves on the
success of the meeting, and he was glad to have the opportunity
of returning his thanks to the Lord Mayor and to all the
gentlemen representing the great City Companies for their
co-operation on this occasion, feeling that that meeting would
be the commencement of a movement which he trusted would be a
success. In conclusion, he wished to move a resolution conveying
a vote of thanks to Mr. Freake for the handsome and liberal
manner in which he had so kindly behaved in giving the building
for the National Training School of Music. It was already a
great exercise of liberality to offer the use of it rent free
for five years, and certainly he was sure none present could
have expected that he would ha