The occasion of the fourth century of the discovery of the sea passage to India by the rear Portuguese navigator was availed of Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., to deliver a lecture on the subject to the Odd Volumes Society at the City Hall on the 13th inst. The learned Q.O. gave a highly interesting history of this important event and the navigation leading up tot, and wound up an eloquent lecture by saying that although Portugal's glory in. these Eastern seas has departed so far as her possessions are concerned, the glory must always remain to Portugal and the Portuguese nation of having been the pioneers of trade, of commerce, and of empire throughout the East. Mr. Romano, Consul-General for Portugal, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was carried by acclamation. The room was crowded to its utmost caps city, and included a large muster of Portuguese.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.