History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. 11.] A NOBLE SCHEME. 95

a fund, the interest of which shall be applied towards relieving the indigent of our people and the education of their children, and I now propose to mmvest the sum of Rs.300,000 in the public securities, and place it at the disposal of trustees, who with the interest shall carry out the object I have mentioned ; and this trust I hope you will take under your care.

“And now, my dear friends, let me once again thank you for your kindness. There is nothing I value so highly as the good

opinion of my countrymen, nor anything I more anxiously desire than their welfare and happiness.”

The patent of knighthood was publicly presented to Sir Jamshedji Jijibhai by Sir George Anderson, Governor of Bombay at the time, in the following appropriate terms. He said :—

“Str JAMSHEDJI Jis1BHaI—Her most Gracious Majesty the Queen having been graciously pleased to confer upon you the dignity of knighthood of the United Kingdom, the patent has been transmitted to me to present to you; and both Lord Fitzgerald, the President of the Board of Control, and the Honourable the Court of Directors, in transmitting this instrument to me for this purpose, have expressed their high gratification at your haying received this distinguished honour.

“The dignity of knighthood has ever, amongst the natives of Europe, been considered as most honourable. To attain this distinction has continually been the ambition of the highest minds and noblest spirits, either by deeds of most daring valour or by the exercise of the most eminent talent.