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It is felt by the Noblemen and Gentlemen composing the Shakespeare Committee that all Her Majesty’s subjects who speak the language of Shakespeare must regard with interest the proposal to commemorate his birth, by the erection of a monument in a conspicuous part of London. It may not be possible for many of those who reside in distant parts of the British dominions to assist personally on the 23rd of April, 1864, in laying the foundation stone of the proposed National Memorial. Nevertheless, as many thousands so circumstanced must desire to contribute towards such an undertaking, it is hoped they may be afforded a suitable opportunity of doing so.

The Committee have therefore instructed us to communicate with the Representatives of the Crown in the various British Colonies, and to request their good offices in making the object of this application widely known.

The people of England have had so many recent and gratifying proofs of the strong sympathy which unites them to their Colonial brethren in all matters of national interest, that we anticipate a hearty and early response to this invitation on the part of your Council and of the community the administration of whose affairs has been entrusted to Your Excellency.

We feel that it would be presumptuous in us to offer any special suggestions as to the most effective mode of bringing the subject before the people of the Colony. The proper authorities there can alone fully decide such local details. We may, however, state that it is confidently expected that this movement will ere long be honoured by Her Majesty’s immediate patronage, and by the Presidency of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

When the list of distinguished Vice-Presidents, Officers, and Members of the Committee is completed, we shall have much pleasure in transmitting it. We have further to request that Your Excellency will allow your name to be added to the list of the National Shakespeare Committee.

In the meantime, we may state that contributions towards the Shakespeare Memorial should be remitted to Messrs. Coutts & Co., Bankers, London.

We shall also be most happy to pay every attention to any communication with which Your Excellency may favour us on the subject of this letter.

We have, &c.,

Charles Nicholson

R. G. MacDonnell

His Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.B., &c.

THE NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE COMMITTEE.

Patron—

President—

Vice-Presidents— The Duke of Manchester,
The Earl of Carlisle, Charles Dickens, Esq.,
Alfred Tennyson, Esq., Poet Laureate.

General Secretaries— W. Hepworth Dixon, Esq., F.S.A.; J. O. Halliwell, Esq., F.R.S.

Colonial Secretaries— Sir Charles Nicholson, Bart.; Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, C.B.

Dramatic Secretaries— J. Stirling Coyne, Esq.; G. Linnaeus Banks, Esq.

Treasurers— Sir Richard Kirby, C.B.; Wm. Tite, Esq., M.P.; F. W. Cosens, Esq.

Bankers— Messrs. Coutts and Co., Strand, London.

Committee.

Hans C. Andersen.
Richard Ansdell, Esq., A.R.A.
Rev. Dr. Angus.
E. H. Bailey, Esq., R.A.
M. W. Balfe, Esq.
G. Linnaeus Banks, Esq.
Henry N. Barnett, Esq.
Thomas Bazley, Esq., M.P.
Robert Bell, Esq.
Rev. J. M. Bellew.
Bayle Bernard, Esq.
E. L. Blanchard, Esq.
Sydney Blanchard, Esq.
Algernon Borthwick, Esq.
Sir C. Rouse Boughton, Bart.
C. H. Bracebridge, Esq.
Sir David Brewster.
Rev. Professor Brewer, M.A.
Shirley Brooks, Esq.
The Right Hon. Lord Justice Knight Bruce.
Leicester Buckingham, Esq.
J. B. Buckstone, Esq.
General Sir J. Burgoyne, Bart., G.C.B.
Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Burns.
H. J. Byron, Esq.
B. Bond Cabbell, Esq.
The Earl of Carlisle, K.G.
Robert Chambers, Esq.
The Chevalier de Chatelain.
The Earl of Clarendon, K.G.
The Duke of Cleveland, K.G.
C. J. Coleman, Esq.
J. P. Collier, Esq., F.S.A.
W. D. Cooper, Esq., E.S.A.
F. W. Cosens, Esq.
J. Stirling Coyne, Esq.
William Creswick, Esq.
George Cruikshank, Esq.
Lord de L’Isle and Dudley.
The Duke of Devonshire, K.G.
Edward Dicey, Esq.
Charles Dickens, Esq.
Sir C. Wentworth Dilke, Bart.
W. Hepworth Dixon, Esq., F.S.A.
Dr. John Doran.
Members of the Dramatic Authors’ Society.
James Dugdale, Esq.
The Earl of Dunraven.
Rev. Alexander Dyce.
The Mayor of Durham.
Joseph Durham, Esq.
Sir Culling Eardley, Bart.
Viscount Eversley.
William Ewart, Esq., M.P.