Page:King Edward VII, his life & reign; the record of a noble career 4.djvu/20

2 took investigations into subjects connected with the Empire. A library and museum were established, and, after 1870, Pro- ceedings were regularly published. In 1881 the Lord Mayor was Sir William M' Arthur, M.P., a colonial merchant of high repute, who had visited most of our great colonies. This gentle- man, on July 1 6, entertained the Prince, with other distinguished personages, and a great company of " Colonials ", at a Mansion House dinner. No such gathering of governors, premiers, agents and administrators of British territories beyond the seas had ever been held. The company also included Kalakaua, King of the Sandwich Islands, who, to the surprise, perhaps, of some of the guests who may have dreamed of seeing " native " costume, wore the " regulation " evening dress and made a little speech in English. The Lord Mayor spoke of his own visit to the beautiful and fertile group, and of the prosperity and happi- ness of the people. The Prince of Wales, in replying to the toast of his health, referred to the remarkable character of the assemblage, to his interest in the colonies, his visit to Canada and other territories in North America, and to his great grati- fication in seeing among the guests "an old friend, Sir John Macdonald, Premier of Canada". He then spoke of the interest with which he had seen various products of the great Austral- asian colonies at the International Exhibitions of London, Paris, and Vienna, and of his pleasure in making the personal acquaint- ance of many colonists. He also referred to his having sent his two sons on a visit to Australasia, adding: " It has been a matter of great gratification, not only to myself and to the Prin- cess, but to the Queen, to hear of the kindly reception they have met with everywhere". The Duke of Manchester, who had lately returned from Australasia, referred to facts proving that Australians and New Zealanders, per head, man, woman, and child, consumed at that time ^"8, 105. worth of British goods, while France only stood at js. Set. per head, and the United States at is. He held that we had "very forcible financial reasons why we should consolidate, encourage, and promote in every way the prosperity of. the British Colonies".