Asiatic Quarterly Review (Full Title: The Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review, and Oriental and Colonial Record): Volume XIII, No. 26 [‎489r] (102/238)

at the South A frican College. 315
influenced the minds of people in South Africa. W hether
we are Republicans or not, we can hardly fail to realize that
a popular Republicanism founded on ignorance both of
South Africa and of general history is likely to be a
rickety and ruinous structure which no nation can inhabit
with security.
In conclusion, it remains to say something of the
prospects of the Endowment Fund, and of the probability
of obtaining a suitable occupant of the proposed professor
ship. It is satisfactory to find that, with few exceptions, the
great commercial firms connected with South Afiica have
realized the importance of the present proposal. At least
^7,500 is required to establish the professorship at all. It
could be established and the first Professor appointed
within a few months of the time when this sum should be
obtained. Over ,£1,800 has already been contributed in
London alone, and subscriptions have not yet been invited
at all elsewhere. Judging from the temper evinced by the
press at the Cape, it may be hoped that the scheme will
not be allowed to fail for want of financial support. But it
is much to be desired that the success of the project should
not be delayed, and as long as the fund is open it will offer
an opportunity to all of testifying in a practical way an
intelligent interest in the progress and consolidation of the
Empire.
As to the prospects of obtaining a suitable man for the
post, it is not, of course, as yet possible to speak definitely
We may, however, notice the extremely satisfactory way in
which the proposal has been taken up by the academical
world, and especially by the historians. Among those who
have lent the movement the support of their expressed
approval we may notice with special gratification Sir
William Anson and Sir Richard J ebb, Members of Parlia
ment for the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge;
Dr. Prothero, President of the Royal Historical Society ;
Professor York Powell, Regius Professor of Modern
History at Oxford; and Principal Roberts, Vice-Chancellor