Page:Convocation Addresses of the Universities of Bombay and Madras.djvu/175

160 position, we gain confidence; the case is greatly altered. We presume to call ourselves the spokesmen here of India, and sure I am that every emotion of admiration and regard that stirs your breasts, gentlemen, to-day will be repeated a million and ten millions fold as the electric wires like nerves radiating from this centre convey to the cities and villages of this great country the tidings of our celebration. We may venture, then, to ask Lord Ripon to inscribe his name first on the roll of our honorary graduates. I trust, it will be followed in that roll by many distinguished names, and certainly each one of the honorary graduates in that golden book of fame may well look up to the one which stands first there as an encouragement to be just and fear not, and to put great powers and opportunities to worthy uses. Our departing Viceroy when he has left us in a couple of days will be attended by the good wishes of none more than of the members of this University. His whole spirit has been in accordance with the spirit of the University, and the University trusts that when he has returned to his beloved country he will still find occasions to render us some service and often turn his thoughts towards those who will never forget him. Love and sympathy can bridge an intervening ocean, and many a patriot and philanthropist here will feel the spirit of his friend beside him in his struggle to do good. It will bid him to be of good cheer in adversity, to maintain fortitude, patience and faith, to meet opposition with firmness, gentleness and charity. And so we bid our guest farewell with hopes for his happiness, whether he choose the active or the meditative life, and until at the call of his great Master he can with calmness pass

The Chancellor then addressed the Senate as follows:—

Gentlemen of the Senate,—The honour which has just been conferred is one which should always be rare, conferred with discrimination, and founded on general acceptance. I am sure that these requisites are fully satisfied by the degree that has just been conferred. It is rare, for it is, indeed, at this moment unique. That it will be conferred in future with discrimination I am also certain, and so will its value be maintained; but I am still more sure, that in the act of the Senate in electing the Marquis of Ripon to this honour, they have met the wishes and satisfied the heartfelt desires of every member of this University, and so this is the parting gift of the University of Bombay to the retiring Viceroy. Gentlemen, I would say, though the Vice-Chancellor has set forth fully the claims of Lord Ripon to this degree, that although