Lord Lansdowne's Departure From Ottawa. 
 
 HIS AnMINISTRATIVE RfXORD IN CANADA. 
 
 {Ottawa Citizen^ 14th April ^ 1S88.) 
 
 As the time draws near for severing his official connection with 
 Canada, the feeling of regret everywhere felt at Lord Lansdowne's de- 
 i)artiire finds frequent utterance. It is officially announced that Their 
 Excellencies, with the vice-regal household, will embark at Quebec on 
 24th |)roximo. Therefore, it is a question of a few weeks only, indeed, 
 we might say of almost a few days — so rapidly does the time approach — 
 when the i)resent Cknernor-Cieneral will bid farewell to the Dominion. 
 
 Lord Lansdowne has been not only a most acceptable, but also a 
 very po])ular representatitive (jf the Crown in Canada, and nowhere is 
 his popularity more a|)parcnt and more firmly fixed than at the Capital 
 and throughout the Ottawa Valley. Here both Lord Lansdowne and 
 his distinguished consort have a very warm place in the hearts of the 
 [)eople. In |)roof of this we need only recall the magnificient reception 
 accorded to Their Excellencies a few months since, on their return from 
 the West.* Thnt demonstration, so unaniinous and wildly enthusiastic, 
 was a il' ;''y n^t o" \*' of tho loyc.'ly or' i.he peoj)le to the rejjresenl'itive 
 of the Sovereign, but of their personal attachment to the man. Remem- 
 bering the exhibition of regard and admiration manifested on that day, 
 and knowing that .Lord Lansdowne's public course has since in no way 
 varied, we were not unprepared for the movement lately made to give 
 His Lordship a hearty "send off" on his departure from the country. 
 On the present as on the occaiiion to which we have alluded, a Citizens' 
 ("ommittee, appropriately headed by His Worship the Mayor, has been 
 named to make the requisite arrangements. The programme adopted, 
 we understand, includes a banquet and a public recejition, at the latter 
 of vvhich an address from the city will be presented. Some movement, 
 we believe, was madt towards j^roviding a separate ban(]uet to be given 
 to His Excellency by members of both Houses of Parliament in the 
 Senate Chamber, but ^ich a proposition has been wisely, we think, 
 abandoned with a view lo mak'ng the civic banquet a thoroughly repre- 
 sentative gathering. Parliament being in session it seems not unlikely, 
 though we have no official knowledge of the fact, that a joint address 
 from the Senate and Commons will be ado[)ted and presented to the 
 retiring Governor-Ceneral, as has been usual on like occasions since 
 Confederation. 'I'he custom is a good one, affording as it does an op- 
 portunity for the Viceroy to take a |)ersonal farewell of the great men 
 of the nation. In this coimection many of our readers will recall the 
 imjyressive scene in the Senate Chamber in the sprin;^ of 1878, just prior 
 to Lord Dufferin's departure from Ottawa, when the then leader of the 
 (iovernment (Mr. Mackenzfe), surrounded by many of the prominent 
 
 * After the O'Hrien fiasco. 
 
public men of tlie day, including ihe tlien leader of the Opposition (Sir 
 John iVIacdonald), rdad an eloquent acknowledgment of the great diplo- 
 matist's untiring efforts on behalf of the Dominitjn. We have no doubt 
 that Ottawa's demonstration on the forthcoming occasion will be entirely 
 successful, and that her example will be followed by other centres of in- 
 telligence and public opinion. All, of course, cannot hope to secure 
 His Excellency's presence at a dinner, but addresses will doubtless be 
 either presented or forwarded to him so as to voice the general sentiment 
 — a sentiment which while including the highest regard for the Queen's 
 representative is strongly impregnated v/ith love of England and rever- 
 ence for the Queen's person and Government. Thoroughly concurring 
 in and upholding this view, we desire to see all suitable homage paid to 
 a ruler who, during his term of office, has wisely and judiciously admin- 
 istered the important trusts committed to his charge with an eye solely 
 to the advancement of the best interests of one of the foremost portions 
 of the British Empire, 
 
 Lord Lansdowne, it is tru'.', has been with us but for a limi.ed period. 
 He assumed the duties of oftice in the autumn of 1883, and he will 
 therefore leave Canada some considerable time before comj^leting the 
 official term usually allotted to a Governor-General. His period of ser- 
 vice, however, though short, has been fruitful of many inlportant and 
 remarkable events. The com}jletion of the Canadian Pacific Railway 
 from ocean to ocean, opening up new pathway over British territory 
 to the East; the rebellion in the North-West Territories, which, how- 
 ever much to be deplored for the causes of its origin and the loss of life 
 involved in its suppression, was not devoid of public advantages; the 
 final settlement of the Adantic fisheries dispute, a matter of long stand- 
 ing contention between two t)f the great powers, and one which might 
 at any moment develop into a serious international complication; and 
 the initial step towards securing the admission of the ancient colony of 
 Newfoundland into the Canadian Union, thus ensuring the complete 
 P'llitical unification <jf British North America are some of the matters of 
 weightiest import which have engaged the attention of Lord Lansdowne, 
 and with res})ect to ^vhich, as in his general adniinistrative course, he 
 has disjilayed coni^ummate ability, tact and judgment, affording proofs 
 of the possession of the highest gift, ol statesmanshij). In the ordinary 
 routine oi office he has, it is said evinced a careful, conscientious, 
 interest in the administration of justice, with results which have fre- 
 quently been attended with advantage to society and to the Government. 
 'Fhe best test of the succe.ss of his admini.stration is the entire absence 
 from its record of friction or complaint. He has ruled constitutionally, 
 and from first to last, apparendy, has been in entire accord with his 
 Ministers. 
 
 Space will not permit us to-day to enlarge on His Lordship's general 
 services to Canada — on his warm interest in Education, partic'ilarly 
 Higher Education, in Literature, in the Fine Arts, and in Science; on 
 his efforts to promote among the youth and manhood of tin- country. 
 
healthtLil outdoor Sports and Aniiisenients; and on his sympathetic 
 encourage.nent of the Volunteer Militia Force. Let it suffice that he 
 has devoted his time and his means to the promotion of all gcod and 
 des(,Tving works. Socially, his hospitality has been boundless. Like 
 his immediate predecessors, Lords Lome and Dufferin. he has at various 
 times visited each of the several Provinces of the Dominion, as well as 
 the outlying Territories, thus familiarizing himself with the character of 
 the people and the resources of the country, and the speeches and 
 addresses delivered by His Lordship on these occasions, while models 
 of eloquence and pure diction, have practically tended not a little to 
 produce beneficial results, by attracting abroad increased attention to 
 Canada. 
 
 In a few days His Excellency will leave Canada to assume new ^ 
 official duties in a far distant and in a more important sphere of action. 
 Though loath to part with him, we all rejoice at his promotion in the 
 public service, and, it is needless to say, will watch his future career with 
 a feeling of the deepest interest. Our best wish for His Lordship is that 
 the same prosperity and success may attend his government of the great 
 Indian Empire as have crowned his administration in the Dominion! 
 
 It would not be fitting to conclude thi:, article without a sjjecial 
 reference to the gracious and accom|)lished lady who so admirably 
 has supplemented His Excellency's efforts for the well-being of our 
 rountry, and whose panegyric was pronounced so recently by that master 
 ot sincere iind elcKjuent compliment, the Earl of Dufferin. Lady 
 Lansdowne's higliest i)raise is that she has not, in any degree, fallen short 
 ■)( the exalted responsibilities— responsibilities none the less important 
 because largely social -incumbent on her high position. Rather, indeed, 
 has she more than justified the anticipations of kindliness and excellence 
 which iour years ago heralded her advent to Canada. 
 
 "Bettii l<-)'ecl )e canna be 
 Will ye no come hack again?"