An ADDRESS ddlivered in the MERCHANTS' HALL,
EDINBURGH, on 26th January, 1883.
The LoRD PROVOST OF EDINBUJBGH in the Chair.
Sir ALEXANDER GALT :-My Lord Provost, ladies and gentle-
men,-I have first of all to return my thanks to the Lord Provost
for his condescension in taking the chair on this occasion, but
still more are my thanks due to his lordship for the kindly
reference he has made to my respected father. If there is one
thing more than another that I am glad to find in Scotland, it is
the mention of my name in connection with my father's reputa-
tion. He was, I believe, a true Scotchman, and 1 hope his sons
in Canada have not degenerated. Let me also return my
acknowledgments to those gentlemen who have been so kind as to
invite me to deliver an address on the relations of the colonies
to the empire. There is no part of that great empire which I
should have myself chosen for the purpose so soon as the place
where we are now meeting. Scotland and Scotsmen have been
distinguished in building up the great colonial empire abroad.
They have carried their genius and their energy, and, if I
may say so, their Scotch thrift, to every part of the world;
and there is no colony that 1 know of where the influence
of Scotsmen is not felt in the government of the posses-
sions which acknowledge the sway of our gracious Queen. In
venturing to speak before you this afternoon on the subject of
the empire, I ought to preface my remarks by a disclaimer of
appearing before you in any official or representative capacity. I
must speak frankly if I am to speak with any advantage, and I
have no right to speak for the Government which I have the