The French and Spanish Consuls entered after the performance of the overture. The distribution of the ordinary prizes to the various divisions having been gone through by His Excellency, he next proceeded to confer the diplomas on the graduates, followed by the presentation of the "Dufferin " medals, silver and bronze, and the Prince of Wales prize. Previous to separating, addresses of thanks for the high honor done them were read in the name of their fellow students by Dlles. Lavoie and Caron in English and French respectively to their Excellencies. His Excellency in reply said:

“Ladies and GENTLEMEN,—I assure you I have difficulty in finding words to convey all that I have felt during the very touching spectacle we have just witnessed, but the performances of this afternoon would be incomplete were I not to express, on behalf of those present, the admiration we have experienced at everything that has taken place. I cannot say how glad I am to have had an oppor tunity of giving away with my own hands the medals I have been allowed to place at the disposition of this institution, and I can only say that if all the others I have the pleasure of annually distributing are as well deserved elsewhere as this one has been here to-day by Mademoiselle Lavoie I have every reason to be proud of the results they will have produced. (Cheers.) I have had so many opportunities on previous occasions of expressing my deep sympathy and interest in the educational work of which to-day's ceremonial has been so interesting an exponent that I fear I can hardly find anything new to say upon the general subject, unless it be to remind those ladies at whose triumphs we have had the pleasure of assist ing, that the honors they have now gained ought to prove a fresh incentive to them to continue their exertions in the honorable profession to which they propose to devote themselves. I say the honorable profession advisedly, because however wearisome, laborious, and trying it may occasionally prove, the privilege of teaching is after all one of the most beneficent, useful, and effective occupations in which those who love their country, and their fellow creatures, can engage. You are as was once said of your prototypes in a higher sphere the salt of the earth,' each one of you is now qualified to prove in the separate theatre of your respective labors a centre of light, and a fountain of intellectual and moral iustruction, destined to illuminate and render gay with fruit and flowers, the region within the scope of your influence; and what limit are we to place to the influence for good of a virtuous, high-minded, sensible and well-educated woman over those with whom she is brought into contact; and we who are anxious about the future of our country, must have great satisfaction in considering that there should exist in the various provinces of Canada such an admirable machinery as is provided by these Normal Schools for the diffusion of an atmosphere of cheerfulness, elegance, purity and intellectual activity in the homes of the nation. This is especially true as applied to the women teachers of our schools, for it is on them we must depend for the maintenance of a proper standard of good manners, of refinement, and of that high moral tone of which these qualities are the outcome, and I trust you will always remember that the execution of this portion of your functions is not less

imperative upon you than are the other branches of your profession; and in relation to this particular part of your duties there is one peculiarity I have observed in this country, indeed not indigenous, but imported,-which I think you might use your influence to correct: I observe that it is an almost universal practice upon this continent, even on public occasions-in prize lists,-roll calls,—and in the intercourse of general society, for young ladies to be alluded to by their casual acquaintances, nay even in the newspapers, by what, in the old country we would call their "pet" names—that is to say, those caressing, soft appellations of endearment with which their fathers and brothers and those who are nearest to them, strive to give expression to the yearning affection felt for them in the home circle. Now it seems to me to be a monstrous sacrilege, and quite incompatible with the dignity and self respect due to the daughters of our land, and with the chivalrous reverence with which they should be approached even in thought, that the tender love-invented nomenclature of the fireside, should be bandied about at random in the mouths of every empty-headed Tom, Dick, and Harry in the street, whose idle tongue may chance to babble of them. (Cheers and laughter.) For instance, in the United States before her marriage I observed that Miss Grant, the daughter of the occupant of one of the most august positions in the world, was generally referred to in the newspapers as "Nellie" as though the paragraphist who wrote the item had been her play fellow from infancy. Of course this is a small matter to which I have alluded, but it is not without significance when regarded as a national characteristic. After all the women of this continent are ladies, as refined, high-minded, and noble-hearted as are to be found in any country in the world, and the sooner we get rid of this vulgar solecism the better;—and the first place where the correction should be made is in our school lists,-which are official documents where young ladies ought to be entered in their full Christian names, and not in their nick names as I have often seen done. In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to congratulate you upon the very satisfactory character of this morning's ceremonial, and to express on your behalf to the authorities under whose intelligent administration such excellent results have been produced our warm appreciation of their efforts to promote the cause of education through the powerful instrumentality of the Female Normal School of Quebec." *

The following extract from the New York World is the more willingly reproduced, as it contains a well merited rebuke from an American journal of a practice whose vulgarity has become too noticeable among the English-speaking population of North America: "Whatever Lord Dufferin says is pretty certain to be worth saying, and well said; and his little speech before the scholars of a Quebec Female School offers no exception to this general rule. The main direction and purpose of his address was a criticism of the custom of making public property of the names of women, and through the agency of the newspaper placing the whole country on as familiar terms with them as would be their neighbors in a little country town who knew them as Polly Smith or Kitty Jones. It will be considered, of course, by the average reader that the Earl is a trifle too particular, and that, as a rule, the young ladies of the present age, and of this continent at least, are only too anxious to have their names in print. In such

On the 24th July their Excellencies returned to Ottawa.

matters-possibly because as a people we have been losing of late years something of the exclusiveness characteristic of the old English home circle, public sentiment on the two sides of the water is not exactly the same; and our enterprising local papers, with their society columns' and 'personal gossip,' are educational agencies only beginning to be employed in England. It must, nevertheless, be conceded that from his standpoint-that of a sensitive man who objects to having his wife, sister, or daughter familiarly canvassed by every reader of a penny paper, the Canadian Viceroy's comment is just. We could have wished indeed that the speaker had gone a little further, and ridiculed or reprehended with due severity the abominable practice into which young women have fallen now-a-days of tagging the diminutive "ie" to their names. Under this treatment such honest, melodious, or stately names as Adelaide, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Ellen, Sarah, and Louisa become Addie, Lottie, Lizzie, Nellie, Sadie and Louie, and give the hearer the impression-sometimes, no doubt, a just one— that their owners are contributors to some independent' newspaper. The spirit of Ambrose Phillips, to whose vagaries and vapors we owe the expressive phrase 'namby-pamby,' is as much at war with true womanly dignity as with masculine vigor. Fancy Lottie' Cushman holding an audience rapt as Meg Merrilies, or Bessie' Browning writing Casa Guidi Windows,' or Aurora Leigh,' or 'Flo' Nightingale doing her work at Scutari! Miss Anthony as 'Susie' would be robbed of much that now inspires the awe of mankind. Shakspeare writing for all time, and knowing that in due course this evil state of things would come to pass, invested his female characters, whether arch and sprightly, loving and tender, or stately and gifted with strength above the common kind of women, with names that are not susceptible of adulteration, and called them Beatrice, or Rosalind, Jessica, or Miranda, Portia, or Imogen. So general is this absurd practice becoming, that we have fears of seeing it involve even the realm of sacred literature. Under the auspices of some such able editor as Talmage, or Murray, we may yet be presented to Mollie,' or 'Mamie,' who chose the better part, while her sister Mattie' occupied herself with matters of the house, or read in an improved Bible how 'Ruthie' gleaned in the fields of Boaz, or by faith 'Sadie' bore Isaac at the age of ninety."

CHAPTER VIII.

CONTENTS.

Visit to British Columbia, 31st July, 1876–San Francisco— Arrival at Esquimalt and Victoria-His Excellency declines to receive an address threatening secession from the Confederation-State of public feeling in British Columbia on the Pacific Railway matter-Notice of Mr. De Cosmos-Life at VictoriaVisit to Nanaimo-Proceeding northward the party visit Bute's Inlet, Skeena River, Metlahkatlah, Fort Simpson and Queen Charlotte Islands-Returning, they visit Burrard's Inlet, New Westminster, Yale, Port Hope, Lytton and Kamloops Return to Victoria-The "Great" British Columbia speechReturn to Ottawa, 23rd October, 1876-Reply to address of City CouncilRemarks on British Columbia and on His Excellency's speech at Victoria-His course approved by the Secretary for the Colonies-Visit to Toronto, January, 1877-Speech at the National Club-Speech at the Toronto ClubRemarks on these speeches-The Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia— Canada's high position there-Benefits to Canada by it.

On the 31st July, the great trans-continental journey was commenced. Their Excellencies and suite left Ottawa for British Columbia via Chicago and San Francisco. A large crowd assembled at the station to see them off-among others the Hon. A. Mackenzie, Mrs. Mackenzie, Chief Justice Richards, Hon. R. W. Scott, Mr. Vail and Mr. Burpee. A detachment of the Governor General's Foot Guards with their band was in attendance. The party left in a Pullman Car which was to convey them without change to Ogden, Utah, the terminus of the Union Pacific Railway.

It consisted, besides their Excellencies, of Col. the Hon. E. G. P. Littleton, the Governor General's Secretary; Capt. Hamilton, A.D.C.; Capt. Ward, A.D.C. ; and Mr. Campbell, Private Secretary.

On reaching San Francisco, the party found H. M. Corvette Amethyst (Commodore Chatfield) in the harbor, in which they sailed for British Columbia. On arriving at Esquimalt, 760 miles from San

Francisco, the Lieut. Governor of British Columbia, Mr. Richards, paid their Excellencies a visit on board the Amethyst. In the afternoon the Vice-regal party landed. As they did so the yards of three menof-war, then at anchorage in the harbor, were manned, and a salute was fired from the Amethyst. At the landing was a guard of honor, consisting of mariners from the men-of-war. The place was beautifully decorated. His Excellency was formally welcomed to the Province by Sir James Douglass acting on behalf of the Esquimalt Reception Committee, by whom he was attended. The Governor General replied briefly, and in doing so expressed the gratification he felt at meeting a gentleman who had done so much for British Columbia, and who was so well known outside of the Province as Sir James Douglass. All then entered carriages to proceed to Victoria, the Capital of the Province, three miles distant. On their way they were met by a band of Ancient Foresters who escorted them into Victoria. At a bridge on the way a large number of Indians made their appearance in canoes on an arm of the strait, who sang a song of welcome in the Indian dialect. Victoria was elaborately decorated. Flags, streamers and bunting were flying in profusion from all the public buildings, and from the best private dwellings. Several fine arches were erected; three of them by the Chinese residents, one being situated in what is called the "Chinese quarters." They were all in Pagoda style, and had the mottoes "Glad to see you here," “English law is the most liberal," and "Come again." Other arches bore the words "Hearty welcome to the Governor General," "British Columbia welcomes Lady Dufferin," "God save Victoria, the Empress of India," "Hyas Tyhee," "Hyas Kloosh," " Mika Shakoo," "Loyal to the Crown," "Repeat your visit," "In Union there is strength," "The Pacific greets the Atlantic." The absorbing railway question was the subject of many mottoes. "United without Union," "Con

federated without Confederation," "Railroad the bond of Union," "Psalm xv, Verses 5-7 Prayer Book," * "British Columbia, the Key to the Pacific," and "Our railway iron rusts," were ominous expressions. A more emphatic declaration of feeling with regard to the Railway policy of the Dominion Government was seen in a motto displayed on one of the arches, and also on the front of a store on Government street, "Carnarvon or Separation." The mottoes were

* The appropriateness of this novel device will be seen on consulting the Book of Common Prayer.