Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/145

130 months which have passed since my arrival have been crowded with business, and occupied in gaining information of every kind, so that hardly upon any point can I attempt to speak with authority, for I am still a learner; but I assure you I am not supine or insensible to the great responsibilities involved, especially in the spread of education. We have done much, but we have still more to do, and problems are arising every day which require the earnest attention of the wisest to solve, if the future is to be turned to good account, and if we do our bounden duty by the people of India. But relying upon the Providence which has so greatly blessed British influence here, which has given such a wonderful impulse to the country, and promoted the best interests of the people in this last half century at least, we may look forward hopefully to the results of this and kindred institutions in raising the character and aims of the people, and in equipping many for the work of life, of whose knowledge, of whose aspiration we need not be jealous, but in whose love of country we should find our best ally.

 

Gentlemen of the Senate,—It was the intention of His Excellency the Governor to preside at this Convocation as Chancellor of the University. You know too well the calamitous events which have devolved on me a function which I can but, very imperfectly perform. We miss to-day and every day a gracious presence which diffused a benign and kindly influence wherever it appeared. I feel that I but express the universal sympathy when I give these few words of sorrowing commemoration to a loss which has been felt as a personal misfortune in each household of our community and must for long cast a shade of sadness over every public ceremony. Amongst the labours of the year the chief undoubtedly is the general re-casting of the Bye-laws of the University. In this work the Senate at large has taken its full share. It bears its share of the responsibility. The Bye-laws will, I trust, ere long be sanctioned by the Government, and then it will be your part, gentlemen, first by a careful study of the Bye-laws, and then by a wise and consistent administration of them, to make the Senate a pattern of what a deliberative body should be—courteous, candid, fair in argument, tolerant, business-like, free from cant, and free from faction. The swift succession of events must bring many important questions before you. I shall probably have 