Sir F. ABEL, the organising Secretary of the Imperial Institute,
recently issued a very agreeable and pleasing memorandum to the
Chairmen of Provincial Committees and others who have assumed an
active part in support of the undertaking. After describing the
"large measure of success" that has attended the efforts of the local
Committees throughout the country, Sir FREDERICK goes on to say that
a "considerable number" of them have "signified their willingness
to prolong their operations with the especial object of obtaining
additions to the 'Endowment Fund' of the Institute which is about to
be created." This is but natural. Taking into consideration the fact
that in many quarters a handsome subscription to the funds of the
Institute has been regarded as a sure passport to honour, and that
the non-distribution of titles right and left among a lot of
small provincial celebrities has already occasioned a good deal of
heartburning and disappointment, this new lease of life, affording
them, as it does, a fresh opportunity of struggling for their
much-coveted prize, cannot but be hailed by the yet unsatisfied
"Chairmen of Provincial Committees and others" with genuine joy and
thankfulness.
That plain Mr. JOHN BOPKINS, or Mr. PETER PICKLETUB, Mayor, should
suddenly blossom out into Sir JOHN BOPKINS, and, possibly, Sir PETER
PICKLETUB, Bart., would only seem to those indefatigable gentlemen an
appropriate finish to their labours in furtherance of the interests
of the Institute. Their readiness, therefore, to prolong their
operations, as it may be measured by the fact that it will have the
special object not only of "procuring additions" to the Endowment
Fund, but also of tacking them on to their own names, is likely to
be both hearty and enthusiastic. Whether anything will come of their
hopeful perseverance, remains to be seen; but it is tolerably certain
that if some sort of bureau for the sale of decorations, after the
latest French model, could be instituted on this side of the Channel,
there would be no lack of clients ready to besiege it. But----we
manage these things much better in England.
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When the Deputation waited on him, Mr. MATTHEWS was the "Not-at-Home
Secretary." Quite right too.
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NOTICE.--Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed
Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be
returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope,
Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule there will be no exception.
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