ted a movement which gave increased vigour to
commercial activity, and produced marked and lasting improvements
in industrial efforts. One indirect result of that movement has been
to bring more before the minds of men the vast and varied resources
of the Empire over which Providence has willed that I should reign
during fifty prosperous years.

"I believe and hope that the Imperial Institute will play a useful
part in combining those resources for the common advantage of all
my subjects, conducing towards the welding of the colonies, India,
and the mother-country, into one harmonious and united
community. . . ."

When war was declared in South Africa and the Boer forces invaded
Cape Colony and Natal, contingents from Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, Cape Colony, and Natal joined the British force and fought
side by side throughout that long and trying campaign.

In 1897 was celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the Queen's reign,
and every colony sent a detachment of troops to represent it. At the
steps of St Paul's Cathedral the Queen remained to return thanks to
God for all the blessings of her reign, and after the magnificent
procession had returned she once again sent a message to her people:

"In weal and woe I have ever had the true sympathy of all my people,
which has been warmly reciprocated by myself. It has given me
unbounded pleasure to see so many of my subjects from all parts of
the world assembled here, and to find them joining in the
acclamations of loyal devotion to myself, and I wish to thank them
all from the depth of my grateful heart."

_Appendix to Chapter XIII_

THE BRITISH EMPIRE

The population of the Empire is estimated to be 355 millions of
coloured and 60 millions of white people.

CANADA

1840. The Act of Union passed. The two colonies of Upper and Lower
Canada united, and a representative Assembly formed.

1867. Bill for the Federation of Canada passed. The various provinces
united under the title of Dominion of Canada, ruled by a
Governor-General, nominated by the Crown. The Central Parliament,
which dealt with matters relating to the Dominion, established at
Ottawa.

1885. Completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which led to the
opening up of the North-West. The great stream of emigration from
Europe commences.

AUSTRALIA

Australia became a United Commonwealth at the beginning of the
present century.

From 1851 onward the transportation of convicts wa