Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/162

 degrees, whereby I am sorry to say the seats provided for the graduates have proved insufficient. But, gentlemen, in the history of a University we cannot always look for startling events. We must be contented in this, as in other phases of our career, to lay one more stone of the edifice which we hope to raise to solid and enduring usefulness. It is thus that in the little span of our lives, which seems to us important, but which is soon forgotten by our fellow-men, we must be satisfied that we have maintained the standard of the past and contributed something little to the cause in which we are all interested. On this great annual occasion I should do wrong if I forgot the memory of one who was well known to us, but a few days since passed away. I refer to the Honorable John Marriott, who on several occasions had filled an important office in this University. That one so eminent in his profession, so entirely respected in his private life, enjoying the regard of so many, should in the full enjoyment of his intellect have passed away from us with startling suddenness, is an event which must cause us regret and sorrow. But, gentlemen, it must be a satisfaction to us to know that his memory will be cherished amongst us. He was one who raised himself from the threshold of his profession to the front by his own industry, and one against whose memory no man can cast a stone.

Then, too, gentlemen, during the past year we have had to congratulate ourselves on fresh contributions to the means of reward to our diligent students. The four fresh scholarships which have been announced to-day testify to the public spirit of our citizens and to the interest which they take in this useful institution. I am sure no more pleasing tribute can be paid to the memory of past members of the Service who have gone from us than that their names should be perpetuated by the encouragement of academical distinctions in those branches in which they themselves took an interest.

It is indeed to me a matter of congratulation that the most important step has been taken of admitting women to public to public examination. There are many steps that will have to be taken before they will have the full benefit of the University. They cannot yet, for example, without proceedings being taken by Government, be admitted to the enjoyment of our colleges, and no doubt many matters will have to be considered before such a step can be taken; but I do not think that the warmest advocate of female education can object to one step being taken at a time; and it is well that