A FEW FOOTPRINTS

TJohn Passmore EdwaJrdsJohn Passmore Edwards e 1823-1911Autobiography of John Passmore Edwards

Foot Notes

12
When Mr. Bayard, the United States Ambassador, laid the foundation-stone of one of the houses for epileptic men at the colony, I said: ~' One reason why I suggested that Mr. Eayard should be invited to perform the ceremony was that I felt sure he would do it to perfection. Another reason was that I desired to utilise ambassadors to promote the pacification of nations. Ambassadors are too frequently regarded as mysterious persons who are much talked about, but rarely seen. If they were seen oftener, and particularly in promoting philanthropic schemes, they would not serve their respective countries less, but humanity more. I therefore would like to see other ambassadors, representing other nations, performing similar acts as they had witnessed with so much satisfaction ; and I should also rejoice to see British Ambassadors so employed wherever stationed, and so work harmoniously for the progress of mankind.
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13
When laying the foundation. stone of the Newlyn Art Gallery I said: "It so happened that, while artists were forming a colony of their own in Cornwall, Cornishmen, in greater proportion to the inhabitants of any English county, were peopling the new colonies of the world. One of my motives in complying with the request made to me to build an Art Gallery in Newlyn was to assist to root these artistic colonists in that locality. Being there, I should like to keep them there. I am, naturally, interested in anything appertaining to the good of Cornwall, and, as the mines of Cornwall were drying up under the soil, I am desirous that the world at large should know more of the scenic wealth of Cornwall on the soil, and which was scattered in rich abundance within and round their rock-bound coasts. The Newlyn school and colony of artists were illustrating and interpreting that wealth in line and colour on canvas, and thereby benefiting themselves, Cornwall, and the world.
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April 17, 2005