IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) y / O L<*/ :a Fa 1.0 I.I 1.25 m 1112.5 1^ 1^ ill 2.2 :^ u£ 12.0 1.4 1.6 ^^ % /y ^^ "" %. >s >.V V o 7 /A CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 Technic' Notes / Notes techniques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Physical features of this copy which may alter any of the images in the reproduction are checked below. L'Institut a microfilnid le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Certains d^fauts susceptibles de nuire d la quality de la reproduction sont notds ci-dessous. D D Coloured covers/ Couvertures de couleur Coloured maps/ Cartes g^ographiques en couleur D D Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Coloured plates/ Planches en couleur n Pagi>j discoloured, stained or foxed/ Pages ddcolor^es, tachetdes ou piqudes D Show through/ Transparence □ Tight binding (may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin)/ Reliure serrd (peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure) D Pages damaged/ Pages endommagdes n Additional comments/ Commentaires suppl6mentaires Bibliographic Notes / Notes bibiiographiques D Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible D Pagination incorrect/ Erreurs de pagination D Bound with other material/ Relid avec d'autres documents D Pages missing/ Oes pages manquent Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Plates missing/ Des planches manquent Additional comments/ Comm*"^ .^ires suppldmentaires D Maps missing/ Des cartes gdographiques manquent I 18 la The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol —ks»> (meaning CONTINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les images suivantes ont dt6 reproduites avec le plus grand sjin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetd de I'exemplaire film6, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de fili.iage. Un des symboies suivants apparaftra sur la der- nidre image de cheque microfiche, seion le cas: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". The original copy w as borrowed from, and filmed with, the kind consent of the following institution: National Library of Canada L'exemplaire filmd fut reproduit grdce d la g6n6rosit6 de I'dtablissement prdteur suivant : Bibliothdque nationale du Canada Maps or plates too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper Inft hand corner, left to right and top to bot^-om, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour 6tre reproduites en un seul clich6 sont filmdes d partir de Tangle supdrieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la m^thode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 '"^vl ML ^ ^*.«nS^ P^^l|*«!^fj^«ffie ' ' ^»*i«^i|»»«t*»w,i ^■it'^^mm tl^m^'^^Md^i^lisss^:^^^^ ^?^ 1 Oueit Amor Pat rrae ('^ A'\ HLST0I?10\1 SQCieTV, J>^iAOARA LIBRARY, ^ tSoo to 1820 PARLY SCHOOLS Of Niagara. !]\- anet Carnochan. If" T \ y Dticit Amor Patriae. NIAGAP/\ HLSTOI^ICAL SOCIETY, No. 6. I^IAQARA LIBRARY, 1800 to 1820. pARLY SCHOOLS of Niagara. HY Janet Carnochan, —^^^?^-^ei^- NI.^GARA TIMFS PHKSSKS, NIAOAKA HKH). UlflGARA HISTOI^IGflli SOCIETY. |TS objects are the encouragement of the . study ot Canadian History and Literature, tl,e collection and preservation of Canadian historical relics, the buildinj,^ up of Canadian lovalty and patriotism, and the preservation ot all historical landmarks in this vicinity. The annual fee is fifty cents The Society holds ei«:ht re-ular meeting-s durinj,. the year. The annual celebration is held on the 17th September and the annual meeting- on October 13th. The Society was formed in December 189s, and since Mav 1896 about twelve hundred articles have been -athe.ed in the Historical Room. OFFICERS 1899 - 1900. Patron~WM. KIRBY, F. R S. C President— MISS CARNOCHAN. Vice-President— HENRY PAFP\'\RD. Secretary- ALFED BALL. Treasurer— MRS. A. SERVOS. Curator— RUSSELL WILKINSON. COMIVIITTISE. REV. J. C. GARRETT, REV. N. SMITH, W. W. IRELAND, B.A., CHAS. HUNTER, MRS. T. F. BEST. HON. VICK-PRKSIOKNTS MRS. ROE. CHAS. F. BALL HONORARY VIElVTBKRs. DR. SCADDING, MAJOR HISCOTT REV. CANON BULL. Dr!^ JESSOP M P P COL. CRUIKSHANK. CAPT R O KONlVf P WM. GIBSON. M.P.. DAVID BOYIEPhD' JOHN ROSS ROBERTSON, M.P. ' " k I u PREFACE, THE only apolog-y made for the re-printing- of the two papers read before different societies, which form the sixth issue of our Society is that many requests have been made that these papers found in the bound vokimes of the Canadian Institute and the Educational Associat'on, and therefore seen by compara- tively few may be put ir "^rm more accessible to the g^eneral public, particularly as they a* in keepings with our work. The ac- count of historic houses in nu, .• five has been received with r,uch favor, 'ihat it has been resol ed that the next issue of our Society shall be in the same line, and form indeed a continuation of that number. Our thanks are due to Mr. St. John for his kindness in taking- kodak views of the houses of Mrs. M. Servos and Mr. Geo. Field for number five, and to Mr. W. H. Wylie for views for the present number and that to follow. It is to be regretted that no views can be found of many of the earliest buildings of this neigh- borhood, building's which now, alas, no longer exist, but efforts are being made to bring to light any such sketches, and ii is earnestly hoped that much may yet be discovered to re-vivify the past and explain many points that to us seems dark and uncertain. % THK Historical Ritom is open ovtMv Saturday afternoon from 3 to 5. The pamphlets issued by our society are : No. I. Taking of Fort George, with iiiustration of Niagara River, 27th May, 1813 by Col. Criiikshank, 20 cts. ■ (The edition is now exhausted.) No. 2. (With three illustrations.) Centennial poem by Mrs. Curzon, Fort Niagara by Canon Bull, Slave Rescue in Niagara, 1837, by Miss Carnochan. 20 cts. No. 3. Blockade of Fort George, with illustration o( Niagara, 1806, by Col. Cruikshank. 25 cts. No. 4. Memorial to United Empire Loyalists, by Jas. H. Coyne, President of Provincial Historical Society ; History taught by Museums, David Boyle, Curator ot Archaeological Museum, Toronto; Battle of Queenston Heights by Hon. J. G. Cunie ; Monuments by Janet Carnochan. 20 cts. No. 5. Sermon by Rev. Robert Addison ; History of Mrs. Jean Baptiste Rousseaux by Alexander Servos ; Historic Houses by Alexander Servos, Charles Taggart, Jessie McKenzie ; Palatine Hill and Evolution of an Historical Room by Janet Carnochan. 20 cts. No. 6. The present issue. 20 cts. I a. « 3 "J E o . V ^ i ^ . o c ~ ^' -I = i =A C r- X -- £ cc 0) 'J •. c /. ^ - •/. v^ f '- ? ?. i 5'^ /-£ -i^ J; 'J — ■"' '^ *- ^- T ^. - ^ "" ■r. II "H t ^- -^ ^ r - 'J - > "J o .- — C ^ Nliacjcira Library, 1500-1520. By Janet Carnochan. ' li : p'x C 4-1 ; -• <^ i I O • _ •— '/ 4-1 b/. y r ^^ • o ~ ■** u , — r- o ~t. ^ u.~i 'J ^ \- r" C ,. ll: i3 11 )~* •4-> r X _ ^ u — u 01 2 ^ 'J 0) r- ? - *« '7 = 3 - O » r^ 4-^ x '/ "Z* ^ — '■-•-« __^ ^ J-* o 1— r^ TJ • r^ .^ > r- -^ ■/. ^ ^ i- - "J ■r a» r". ^ ''• 3 r rt r^ Rend liij'ure (luiiadinn Institute (ilh January 1894. It says much for the members ot any comnumi*;y when \vc find them providing- rfadingot a hig^h literary order, and especial- ly would this be the case, at the beginning of this century, among^ a band of refugees just emerged from a great struggle, with the forest around them and everything speaking of a new country and all that is implied in this. When by the merest chance, some months ago, I laid my hands upon an old, brown, leather-covered Record Book, I had no idea of the rich treat it was to prove. To my astonishment, by dint of much patient study of its thick, yellow pages covered with writing, though large yet very dilficult to read, it was shown that in this old town of Niagara in those early days there was a most valuable public library well supported, tiie accounts showing- regu- lar payments and much interest, as evidenced by the money con- tributed and the regular records. To the boast made by Niaga- rians that hire was held the first parliament for Upper Canada, that here was published the first newspaper, that it contains al- most the oldest church records in Ontario, must now be added the honour of having had the first public library, and the first ag- ricultural society. The varied information to be gleaned from this book may be thus classified : ist, a list ot proprietors through the years from 1800 to 1820 ; 2nd. list of their payments and those of non-subscribers ; 3rd, catalogue of library with prices of books ; 4th, money expended ; 5th, rules and regulations ; 6th, accoupt of annual meetings, conting-ent meetings, etc ; 7th, list of books taken out arcl date of return ; Sth, alphabetical list of subscribers witb separate pni^c for entries for each durinj^f these years. When we Uiink of the vicissitudes of tiie years 1812, 1813, 1814, and of the stirzing- events whicii took place here, military occupation by friend and foe, of fire and sword alternately doinj^' their cruel work, we wonder iiow this lijirary uas preserved, for preserved in part at least it was, for the issue ot hooks s^'oes od, a new catalojjTue with spaces left perhaps for books missintj, and in the accounts sums are paid to replace particular books. It is in- teresting' to follow up the period of the war and in all these divis- sions ote the latest entry, and then following' an interval of two years without the break ot a line even left as sjiace between such deeds as the glorious deatli of the Hero of Upper Canada, the rattle of guns and roar of cannons, the (hght over frozen pl.'uns, watching- the smoking ruins of once happy iioines, sfill go on in the same handwriting, the payment of money the purchase of books, the annual meetings, etc It may be doubted if in this day of boasted enlightenment we are willing to pay so much for our reading. One thing at least is certain, against the proprietors of this library cannot be made the charge ol light reading now brought so justly against the frequenters of modjrn libraries. Nothing light or trashy can be founi on the list. Tiieology, his- tory, travel, biography, agriculture, a little poetry, and later, a small amount of fiction. We in these days can almost envy the t eople of that time for the delight they must have experienced when "Guy Mannerlng" and "Waverly" appeared, for they knew that the Great Magician of th-^ North was still alive and was sending out regularly those delightful stories, while we can never again hope for such pleasure as the first reading of these bttoks evoked. In glancing over the list of subscribers we meet with names of many who played no insignific^'.nt part — the church, the army, the civil service, th^ yeomanry, are all represented. We find sev- eral names from Fort Niagara, U.S., and also several names of women. Were there nothing in this book but the list of names, this alone would be valuable. It seems strange to think that after all these years we can now take the name of a noted man of those days and follow i'. up through these pages, teli what style of rcad- 1 —7- inj^ tlicse 12, 1813, , military ely doing' MveJ, for oes on, a ^, and in It is in- ese divis- 'al of two leen such nada, the en ph'ins, I on in the of books, iiis day of •h for our '-rietors oi' din<^ now libraries. Oi;'v, his- 1 later, a envy the perienced hey knew and was can never 2se books h names ic army, iind sev- names of names, that after 1 of t liose lj of read- inj;' he preferred, when a particular book was taken oui\ when re- turned, how he paid his fees, when he attended the nieeting^s of manag'ers, and many other particulars. How little did tht^"^ think that tliev were thus providing for us a very interesting page of history now ! The first entry is : "Niagara Library, 8th June, i8go. Sens- ible how much we are at a loss in this new and remote country for every kind of useful knowledge, and convinced that nothing' would be of more use to diffuse knowledge amongst us and our offsoring than a library, sLipported by subscription in this town, we, whose names are hereunto subscribed hereby associate our- selves together for that purpose, and promise to pay annually a sum not exceeding four dollars to bo laid out on books as agreed upon by a majority of votes at a yearly meeting to be held by us at lliis tow n on the 15th August annually, when everythmg re- Sjiecting the library will be regulated by the majority of votes. Andrew Heron. John Kemp. Jol'.n Boyd. John Youii}?. •lolm McCk'llan. Joini P.nrtch. Iliijfli .McLaren. Wni. Dornian. :\hu'lin .McLellan. Thomas Kerr. John Young. Arch. Thomson. Thos. Otway Page. Win. Drake. Wni. Musgrove. Silvester Tiffany. Biu'goyni! Kemp. J«)hn Ilarroiil. Jolni Cliisholm. Jolin Hardy. John Heilley. ]'2bene/er Cavers. Peter Thomsoi!. Jolni Willson. Peter iNIcMicking. Georgi: Keefer. George Young. Jolin Smith. (J. Drake. Wm. Hodgkiiison. John Jones. .\le.K. Stuart, Peter Ten BroeU. Transfernjd to J.T.B. J. McFarhuul. John lllii, jr. Robert Addison. P>enjamin I'awling. ii.ibert Nelles,. Daniel Servos. John Deeow. J. Minrav. 41 subscribers at 24.S. each ;^49 4^-. , carried to accoimt ctu'- rcnt page B. 15 August, 1801." Of the original forty-one the names ot Duly four can now be found in the vicinity, though descendants o( several others may be found under other names. The fu'st t>n the list, Andrew Heioti, was the secretary ain.1 treasurer of nearly ah the period of twenty year.*.. Robert Addi- son was the first minister of St Mark's. Silvester TifTanv was the _8__ printer of the "Constellation," n'hich followed the "Upper Can- ada Gazette." Then follows another list, continued down to 1820, of thirty-four names makinj^ altog'elher seventy-five, in which we recoj^'nize other names. Geoi-gc Forsyth. IJobcrt Ki'rr. John Wall's. Chark'H Sulick. Colin McNabb. Will. Ward. T. Butler. Wni. .McCkllan. Alex. McKio. Win. Mann, (n'orgc llaveiiH, John .McEwan. John Powell. Kobert Weir. K. llaiiiiltou. Will. Dickson, A.C. Jas. Muirliead, A.C. Thomas Powis. Thomas Butler, A.C. Isaac Swayzie. Jno. Symington, A.C. Inrael Bnrtcli. John Ten lirook. John Silvcrthoru. John ]\icNabb. John Robertson. ( ie(jrge Read. llobiTt Mathews. Dr. West. J. P. Clement. James Secord. Wn) Musgrovo. R. C. Cockrcll. Tubal Parr. ICnsijju IJarnard. Will. Clans. In this list we find the familiar names of Butler, Claus, Dick- son, McNabb. That of Swsyzie has been made familiar in the name of a delicious russet apple only found in this vicinity and probably first grown on the farm ot this patron ot our library. Dr. West was from Fort Niaj^ara, and ten names on tl.is list are quite familiar to us yet. Now follows the account of the first annual muelinj^- held on 15th Auf^ust, 1800, when it was "Resolved, that Andrew Heron and Martin McClellan bg made commissioners to arranj^e the business of the society till the annual meeting" to collect the subscriptions and lay it out in books to the best advantage, and that they act by the following rules : lUI.K I. To receive from every subscriber three dollars and no more. lui.K n. As soon as thirty ilol!ai-s is collected to lay it out on books, none of winch shall be irreligious or iuinioral. HIU-E III. Every subscriber may, if he chooses, when ho ])ays his subscription, make the choice of a book not exceeding his subscription, which shall be -9— procured for him with all convenient speed, providing nothing irreligious or inunoral is contained in the same. RULE IV. As soon as a nutnher of books can be procured, not less than fifty volumes, every subscriber shall be entitled to receive any book that reniains in the library that he chooses, which he shall return in one month in good order. BULK V. No book shall be allowed to any of the subscribers unless they have first paid their subscription," Here follows a catalog'ue of books received into the library 2nd March, 1801, No. i to 80. It is remarkable that the first thirty volumes are all of a relig^- ious nature, volumes i, 2 and 3 beingf Blair's Sermons, and 4 and 5 Walker's Sermons, 9 and 10 Fordyce's Sermons to Younj;" Women ; the names of Watts, Bunyan, Boston, Newton, Dodd- rid>;"e, Wilberforce, Watson, Owen and Willison are seen. An attempt is even made to give proper guidance to young people in an important crisis of life — as No. 28 on the list is Religious Courtship. It is not till we reach No. 34 that we see any history, travel or poetry. This first purchase of eighty volumes, costing _;^'3i 17.S., furnished the young people in these forty homes in poetry only Ossian, Cowper's Task, Campbell's Pleasures of Hope, but they might revel in the Citizen of the World and the Rambler, Bruce's Travels or Robertson's History of Charles V., and it Religious Courtship pleased them not as No. 28, No. 70 is simply Letters on Courtship. The only work of a less specific gravity is No. 73, The Story Teller, which no doubt was popular with the children of those households. The catalogue goes on during the years, up to 937, and contains many expensive works; then follows a list of payments for books, and money received for dues, and several pages are then occupied with the account of the annual, always spelled Annuall, meetings. These always took place on the 15th August, and the record goes on without any break, except the year 181 3, when the town was in the hands of the American^, and 1814, when heaps of ruins replac- JO— ed happy liomcs ; also 1819 no mcctinj,"- was held The question as to lunv many o( ilic hooks were preserved and how they were saved is yet to me an unsolved prohlem. Of course a lar»^e num- her were in circulation in the houses of the town and township ; while some would be burnt others would be saved ; but it is cer- tain that a great many ot the books in the library were not burnt, as afterwards, from the issue of books, troin the numbers j^^iven as taken out and returned day after day, it may . seen what books were not destroyed. That many were destroyed or lost is certain, as in the accounts for next year the names of many books are {.fiven as to replace those lost. There is a new catalogue with spaces left. To resume the account of meetings. "Niagara Library Annuall Meeting, No. 2 hck' this i-,th day of August, 1801. Resolved, that in addition to the two trustees who have acted last year two others shall be chosen, to act joint- ly with them for the year ensuing, and in the next annuall meeting two others shall be cho.':en to act with these lour, and afterwards yearly two fresh ones shall be chosen, and the two oldest shall go out in such a manner as to have always six acting trustees, and at all meetings for transacting business the trustee present who shall be oldest on the list shall take the chair." Rev. R. Addison and Mr. John Young were the additional trustees this year. "Old members to pay $2, and new members $4." Members who lived out of town were allowed to take two books at once, the time of returning to be extended to six weeks to those in the township, and to those out of the township two months. "Members neglecting to return a book at the proper time to pay a fine of sixpence currency for every week of detention, also it any book be lost, the member to whom it was given shall pay for it at the original cost, if it belongs to a set the whole set to be paid for by the member who lost it, he being entitled to the remaining volumes. "Resolved, that all member.^ who shall not pay the two dol- lars above mentioned within six months from this day shall be - n The question liovv they were i a larj^^e niim- iiid township ; but it is cer- ere not burnt, nbors g-iven as Ml what books lost is certain, my books are ratalofjue with this j-,th day ; two trustees 1, to act joint- iiuiall incetiiij;;' nd afterwards Idest shall go [trustees, and present who he additional lew members 11 to take two to six weeks pwnship two [it the proper (of detention, \i Sf'^'t-'" shall he uhole set titled to the Ithe two dol- llay shall be I suspended. Resolved, that every member who shall withdraw from the Society shall have a power of giving his right to any other person approved of by the trustees. Resolved, that the trustees shall meet quarterly, viz., on the second day ot every Quarter Sessions of the Peace, and conting^ent meeting's shall be called by the chairman at the request of any two of the the trus- tees." "Quarterly meeting held at Niagara, 14th October 1801. Present, Martin McLellan, Rev. R. Addison, Jno. Young-. Ad- journed till the next quarterly meeting, held at Niagara. 13th January 1802. Present, Andrew Heron, Martin McLellan, Rev. R, Addison, Jno. Young. Books in catalogue from 118 to 150 received at prices annexed, and that George Young shall make a case for the book«, for which he shall be paid a reasonable price.". This we find in the accounts to be £•:, 2s. At the quarterly meeting, April 14th, 1802, "Ordered that Mr. Tiffany print the laws of the Society, and be allowed three dollars for the same, and deliver not less than seventy copies to the trustees, one to be given to each subscriber, and that Mr, Murray be allowed one dollar more for Robertson's History ot Charles V." At the annuall meeting, August 14th, 1802, No. 3, "Robt. Kerr, Esq., and Mr. Jno. Hill, trustees added." A stringent law is passed that "that part of the fifth resolution of the second meeting of the Society wliich directs that every member who shall neglect to return thi books shall pay into the hands of some one of the trustees sixjjence currency for every week he continues to hold the same after the time limited is expired, be enforced by the librarian, he not being at liberty to let him have another book un- til that sum is paid, and that that be extended to every person, whether member or not." New members were this year to pay $5, and next year this was raised to $6. In 1804 comts the first payment to the librar- ian, and this is certainly a modest allowance. This library seems to have solved the difBculty of keeping down the expenses, as 1 J2-- llirou^Ii all these years there is no outlay for fircv.'t'enl meeting, Auj^ust ist, 1808 Andrew Heron havinj^- prepared a room tor the library and offers to perform the duties of librarian, and be answerable for the books that may be missMij'' as usual. Ordered, that his offer be cheerfully accepted. N.B. — Mr. Clench refusin},'- to jry, A. lay be mis- aii entirely 3k.s, for tlie on in the t have been id in a dif- 1 office. : new trus- n. Mem- ^e. "Re- Rev, Jno. be the two sased, John er from the is lenyth of inj^ it was Z of all the additional librarian, 'Resolved, hour, from s in every are James Crooks, Georyfe Rcid, Rev. John Burns, John Powell, James Muirhead and Martin McLellan. Shares are sold at $9 — $1 to be paid by each proprietor and $3 by others, or $1 a quarter. Annual meeting. No. 13, Au^'ust 15th, 181 2, Proprietors to pay $2 each. Hooks admitted at a conlinirent meetinjj 15th No- vember, 1812, shoitly after buri;il of Hrock ; books admitted 781 to 827. The next entry is 15th Auf^ust, 1815. What a different state of affairs from that of 1812, when war had been declared and Brock was marching' to Detroit ; or from 181 3 when an enemy held the town ; or 18 14, when the rubbish of bricks was being- taken to build Kort Mississagua ! But with inteprid courage our trustees meet and make arrangements for the work of the library going Lin as usual. The trustees were John Symington, George Young, James Crooks, John Burns, George Reid, Andrew Heron. Notwithstanding all the losses incurred by the townspeople, the charges are made somewhat higher, each proprietor to pay .^2.50. Shares to be sold at $9, and non-proprietors $4 a year, or $1 50 a quarter, or $1 a month. At a meeting, 22nd January, 1816, books admitted, 882 to 900. Annual meeting, No. 15, August 15, 1816. "Resolved that John Wray be librarian and clerk." Quarterly meeting, 9th October, 1816. FJooks admitted, 901 to 909. Annual meeting, No. 16, August 15th, 181 7. "Resolved, that the meeting being thin that no new trustees shall be chosen, and shall remain to act as last year. Shares to be sold at $10." There seems to have been some difficulty about books circulating too much, as witness the next : "Resolved that any proprietor or other person who receives books out of the library and allows any person to take them out of his house shall for every offence pay to the librarian jQi currency." jjs this year Annual meeting. No. 17, August 15, 1818. "Resolved, that I6-- tho inoctiiifj bcinj,' thinly :ittcndecl, no new trustees sliall he chos- en. All rei^iiliitioiis remain as last year." At a meelinj,'' of the trustees, held ot^ isl March, 1820, pre- sent, John Burns, Georije Voun^', James Crooks and .And. Heron. "Resolved, that whereas Andrew Heron ofTered U) take charg'e ot" the hooks helon<^ini^ to the library, that the book.s shall be trans- milted to his house with all convenient speed, and shall there be inspected by Andrew Heron and James Crooks as soon as can be conveniently done." Here is the record of the last meetin;:,'- of the trustees of this library. "Whereas the Niaj^ara library Iwis been j^reatly wasted, first by heint^' plundered by the army of the United States, and has since been greatly nejjflected, very few of the proprietors hav- ing' paid their quota to support the same, we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, hereby relinquish our claims on the same to Andrew Heron (who has now opened a library ot his own for the use of the public) in consideration of his allowing us the use of his library for three years ; this he engages to do to all those who have paid jp their yearly contributions to the year 181 7 inclusive ; to those who have not paid to that period he will allow according to their deficiency in those payments. We consider those propo- sitions as quite fair, and l\o thereto assent." J AS. Ckooks, J. MrninKAi), Jno. Svmington, Jno. WAttSTAKK, .John rowKM.. J.vo. McKwA.N, J. Bl'TI.KIl, (jeo. YorNG, .Jm>. GuiEK, In turning now to the account of money expended and receiv- ed, it tells something oi the love of books in those days that, from the year 1 801 to 181 8, there was expended on books for this li- brary about ;^500, the first outlay being ^46 17,?. on y\ugust 15th, 1800. The record book itself cost _;^i, and Mr. Tiffany re- ceived for printing ;^'i 4.y. In reading the rather monotonous account ot money paid yearly, monthly, or quarterly, we some- times meet with a pleasing variety, a.'s books sold by vendue, I "ihall hL» clios- h, 1820, pre- Aiid. Heron, ike charge ol" lall be trans- ■ihall there be on as can be istees of this iatly wasted, 1 States, and prietors hav- se names are the same to own for the MS the use of .11 those wiio 1 7 inclusive ; iw according' hose propo- ^, 1 and receiv- s that, from ;s for this li- . on August TilTany re- monotonous y, we some- I by vendue, I —17— spelled vandue, fine for detain ol books, money to replace a book lost, books and tracts presented, a book of sermons sold to some sermon reader, The list, scattered over many pages, of money expended for books is interesting. £. H. d. 18U1 4() 17 \mi 27 4 6 180;}-4 92 10 () 1«05 :54 8 1 1«()() ;{() 8 U 1807 20 15) ;} 1808-9 20 13 :} 1810 :!! 12 f) 1811 43 4 ;! 1812 21 1() (i 181') 24 4 (> 181() 15 5 (i 1817 43 7 1818 17 2 , but generally less than £,2, the whole payment to Librarian during these twenty years being ;^24, .so that his must indeed Iiave been a labour of love. In 1804 1805— •' 1806— " 1807— " 1808— " 1809— " 1810-25 1811— " 1812— " 1815— " 1817—12^ 1818—25 12^> piT cent, on 11 " II i( 11 ks missin}^, but I have now concluded that the numbers ^'iven represent books bou^'-ht to replace the old ones burnt or lost, as very often the prices are different from the first cataloj^ue, and that the spaces represent books either in the library or if lost not renlaced, as in the list of issues of books after the war many num- bers occur representin}.;- books in these spaces. It may be worth recording, as torminj^ another link in the history of our library, a stranjje coincidence which occurred while writing- this paper, by which one of the books was heard from. So far, I had not met a single person who had even heard of the existence of the library, but calling on an old lady a resident of the town, to inquire about it, a postal card was produced received that day from Ancaster with this question, "Can you tell me any- thing of a public library in Niagara when the town was burnt, as I have a book which was the only one saved from the fire." I have since ther. seen the book. It is number 51 in the catalogue. Blossoms of Morality, or Blossom on Morality, and !s remembnr- ed by the owner as charred with fire ; but these burnt leaves are now torn away, and on an inner page is written, "This book was saved by my father, who was an officer in the British army when the town was burnt, December, 181 3, The only book saved from the library. Thomas Taylor." As a matter of fact it is the only book in existence of which we know auything, but it might be worth inquiry if other books can be found belonging to the library, or what became of the library after it came into the hands of Mr. Heron. We know that he kept a bookstore and published the 19- nany books the time of carried out It is likely, ,' more non- »()oks, there fhich mij^'ht iived, beinj,' saved from Jiulred with represented nhers ^'iveii or lost, as iloj^ue, atul if lost not many num- link in the urred while leard from, card of the resident of ed received 2II me any- s burnt, as fire." I catalojii^ue, remember- : leaves are > book was army when saved from is the only : mig-ht be the library, nds of Mr. blished the [Gleaner newspaper, bound copies of which for the year 1818 arc in homes in the town. Also a copy of Mavor's spelling'-book printed by him, with catechism of Church of Enj^land at the end, second edition, date not plain, but some time after 1800. On an- other sheet of the record book, headed subscription paper number two, the exact words of the first page of book are copied and the names John Wagstaff, Richard Cockrell, James Hyslop, Wm. Miisgrove, Lewis Clement, Wm. Ball, Wm. Forsyth, Wm. Rob- ertson, Alex. Rogers, Andrew Brady, Jas. Patterson, i6th August, i'ricultural Society, although in report for 1892 Hon. Joh • Dryden said the first Agricultural So- ciety was formed in 1825. Hume's History of England, continued by Smollet, 21 vol- umes ;^"7 4.y. ; Bruce's Travels eight volumes, ^y 45., alsj Cook's and Anson's Voyages. The library was especially rich in v/or!;s of travel and in magazines ; regularly every year are cata- logued, luiropean Magazine, Edinburgh Magazine, FJinburgh Review, Scot's Magazine, Lady's Magazine, British Critic, An- nual-Register. The British Theatre, 25 volumes, ;^ii, might cause some of our book committees to hesitate in these days, though it staggered not mir brave proprietors of those early times. Altogether vVe think we have much reason to congratulate the.se pioneers of civilization in this peninsula that such a taste was shown for reading of such a high order, and express the hope that the libraries of the future may be as well selected, that the piii-)lic may make as great sacrifices and support as liberally these aids to culture, and that many such secretaries and treasurers may he found willing to give time and faithful service to secure good litera'ure, not only for the present but to hand down to those to come. A few words may be pardoned in relation to other libraries in the town. A mosL interesting and valuable collection of books is lo he found in the rectory of St. Mark's Church, consisting of about a thousand volumes, with many folio editions quite rare. These were formerly the property of Rev. Robert Addison, sent out by S.P.G. Days — nay, months — might be pleasantly spent in loving examination of these rare editions from Leyden, Oxford, Geneva. Well was it that they were not in any house in town in December, 1813, but being at Lake Lodge (about three miles out in a log house, part of wliich may yet be seen) they were saved. They were lately in possession of Dr. Stevenson, hut by the zeal of the Venerable .Vrchdeacon McMurray they were procured and placed in the rectory. Every book has placed in it this in- II -22 - scrlptjon : "Presented to St. Mark's church by the heirs of Rev. Robert Addison, to l:e the property of that church in perpetuity." There are altog-ether fi; 'y-three folio volumes, many of them beinf*- specialy interesting". One of these, the complete works of Gejrge Buchanan, 171 5, poems, Latin Works, History of Scotland, a Satyr on Laird of Lyding-ton, printed 1570, all in one volume, Hooker's Ecclesiar.tical Polity, 1598. One folio has been well or ratlier much used ; it is Historical, Geog'raphical and Poetical Dictionary, 1694. No doubt many came, allowed by the kind old man, to consult its pajjfes. On the first leaf, these words show that there were in those days restrictions on the publications of books (these were not removed till the time of William HL); "Whitehall, 2Sth Jrnuary, 1691/2. I do allow this work to be printed. Sydney." Jeremy Taylor, Polemical and Moral Dis- courses, 1657 ; Burneton, 39 articles 1700; Machiavelli's Works, 1680 ; Spottiswood's History of Scotland, 1666 ; Fuller's Holy State, 1642 ; Montag-je's Essays, 1632 ; Fiddes' Life of Cardinal Wolsey, 1724, with copper plates, one being View of Kitchen ot Cardinal's Cottage, Christ Church. Another volume is Historical Collection, Rushvvorth, 1659, with strange picture of James L, and the awe-inspiring- legend "Touch not mine anointed" bringing- up thoughts of the length to which this doctrine was carried by that unhappy race. A prayerbook. Breeches Bible, 1599, in Black letter, and Psalms, version of Sternhold and John Hopkins, all bound together. In the prayer book is the prayer offered "That it may please thee to bless and preserve our Most Gracious Soverign Queen Mary, Prince Charles, and the rest of the Royal Progcnie" This book has been rebound in vellum. Other works are Xenophon's Cyrus, 1713 ; Virgil, 1576 ; Quintillion, Oxford, 1692 ; Tillotson, 1675 '■> Poli, Synopsis Lon- don (Poole's), 1669 ; five volumes, folio, Matthew's Commentar- ies, Plutarch's Morals, 1603 ; Xenophon's Cyrus, Cictro's works in Latin. A few others at random — Shakespeare, 1771 ; Specta- tor, 1726; Jonathan Edwards, 1699; Cicero's Orations, 1590; Lord Clarendon's, 1676; Latin Funeral Orations, 161 1 ; Creek Grammar, 1683 : Pope's Iliad, 1721 ; Erasmus, Rotterdam, 1526; New Testament (French), Geneva, 1577 ; Pliny's Epistles, 1640 ; 1 -23- i heirs of Rev. in perpetuity." r of them being- orks of Ge..)rg-e of Scotland, a 11 one volume, as been well or il and Poetical by the kind old !se words show lie publications "William III.); this work to be md Moral Dis- rivelli's Works, Fuller's Holy ^ife of Cardinal .V of Kitchen ot ne is Historical e of James I., nted" bring-ing- was carried by 1599, in Black in Hopkins, all offered "That Most Gracious st of the Royal Virgfil, 1576 ; Synopsis Lon- *s Commentar- Cictro's Works 1771 ; Specta- )rations, 1590 ; 161 1 ; Greek tterdam, 1526; ipistles, 1640 ; Stillingfleet. 1681 ; Jeremy Taylor, 1676; Virgil, 1613 ; Plutarch's Morals, 1603 ; St. Augustus' City of God, 1610. Another library, that of St. Andrew's church, singularly enough also numbering about 1,000 volumes as the two already referred to, came into existence Aug. 26th, 1833, and here we sf,e the name of Andrew Heron in the issue of books. There is an index with refei'ence to pages, 214 names, from 1833 to 1869, up to folio 274. Up to 1836 there are 120 names, showing th-\t a large number of families attended St. Andrew's church. There was a catalogue costing 7)^^. in 1835, and memorandum of cop- ies sold up to 1843. The catalogue numbers 919 books. The only names on the list now attending the church are McFarland, Elliot, Davidson Blake, Wynn, Carnochan. The first name is, as in Niagara Public Library, Andrew Heron. In 1836 occurs the name of one who afterwards became one of the Fathers of Confederation, Archibald McKellar. He attended the Niagara District Grammar School, was married by Rev. Dr. McGill ; there are only two books marked against his name. Many memories of the past are brought up by the names Barr, Lockhart, Crooks, Stocking, Whitelaw, Eaglesum, Wag- staff, Miller, Malcolmson, McMicking, Many books were pre- sented by triends in Scotland, hut there are only a few old or rare hooks. The Harper's Library Series seem to have been well read. It may be recorded as worthy of notice that in the old record book of St. Andrew's church, dating from 1794, many of the names of the supporters are also found in the list of proprietors of the Niagara Library, 1800, showing the !ove of reading always re- marked of the nationality most found in the Presbyterian Church. The successor to these libraries is the Ningara Mechanics' In- stitute, having been in existence since October 24th, 1848, as a copy of the constitution and by-laws, printed by F. M. Whitelaw. with names of members, one hundred and one, shows ; Pres. W. H. Dickson, M.P.P. ; Vice-President. E. C.Campbell ; Secretary, Dr. Melville ; Tr^iasurer and Librarian, W. F, G. Downs. Among the committee are Thos. Eedson, John Simpson, Jas. Boulton, J. D. Latouche, B. A., Sam. Risiey, Jno. Whitelaw. There is also a catalogue printed hy Wm. Kirby in 1861, then I -24 niimberinj^ iiboul 1,000 volumes. The library has ^one throuf^h many vicissitudes ; being closed tor some time, it was j^reatly re- vived throuj^h the exertions of Dr. Withrow while a resident of Niagara, and has always owed much to the i^reat interest s lown in it by Wm. Kirby, F.R.S.C. It now numbers 4,000 vo'nmes and has received much praise for its judii;iou.s selection of b.)oks. When we think of the influence in any community of a i(ood Library, of the pleasure and profit derived, we think of the words of Ruskin. "We may have in our bookcases the company o' the g^ood, the noble, the wise, Here is an entree to the best society. Do you ask to be the companions of nobles, make yourself noble ; you must rise to the level of their thoughts, to enter this court with its society, wide as the world, multitudinous as its days ; the chosen and the mighty of every place and tiine, here you may al- ways enter, Into this select company no wealth will bribe no name overawe ; you must fit yourself by labour aiul merit to ini- derstand the thoughts of these great minds. You must love I hem and become like them." judge, then, how mucli the people of this vicinity owe to the propri=itors of the Niagara Public Library, furnishing to the young people of so m^ny households reading of so high an order, fitting them to fight mantully tlie great battle of life. The following notes have been added : Martin McLellan was killed at the taking of tho town, 27th April, 1813 ; Robert Nelles lived at "The Forty," now Grimsby ; Dan.el Servos was one of Butler's Rangers ; Thomas Butler was the son of Col. John Butler ; R. C. Cockrell was perhaps the first Grammar School teacher in Niagara; John Wray was the Clerk of St. Mark's for fifty years as told on his tombstone. Much could he written of other names m the list. In connection with the Agri- cultural society we find that Gov. Simcoe contributed 10 guineas in 1793 ; in the diary of Col. Clark, in possession of his son Dr. Clark, St. Catharines, is mentioned, that at the monthly dinner the great silver snufF box, ornamented with the horn of plenty, remained with the housekeeper who had to supply the next month- ly dinner to the Agricultural Societ}' and was the property of the President pro tent for the year, and then passed into the hands of M i 1 -25- ♦i I the next President. Qwery : Where is it now ? Since this paper was written a book has been found which is now in the possession of the Niag-.ira Historical Society, with the label "Niag-ara Library, No. 8i." It is Matthew Henry's Com- municant's Companion, 1799, and is found in the catalogue thus described. Had the label been destroyed the book to us would have been of no value as a relic of the Library. In Niaj^'ara Gleaner, 1819 we find an advertisement rejjarding a circulating library, very severe rules are given, dire penalties to be levied on those who turned a leaf down, defaced or lost a book, It is like- ly that the books were sold at the death of Mr. Heron and thus dispersed. The Niagaia Public Library celebrated the fiftieth Anniver- sary in Ivec. 1898. It was then found that Mr. Henry Paffard had been Treasurer for thirty-three years and Mr. Kirby, Presi- dent for twenty-five years, such length of service is a unique cir- cumstance in the history of the Public Libraries of the country. The portraits of these gentlemen were placed on the walls of the Library. CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. Jleceivedinto Library Jnd March, ISUl — 1 to 80. 1,2, ;]— Blair's Sermons. 4, 5— Walker's Sorinons. 0, 7, H— Divine CEononiy. 9, 10— Foidyce's Sermons, 11— Newton's Prophecy. 12— Smitli's Prophecy. 13— Watt on Son of God. 14— " Improvement of Mind. L5— " Memoirs. 10- " Holy War. 17— Dyer's 18 — Willison on the Sabbath. 19 -lioston's (Character. 20-- " Ret^eneratioM. 21- 22- 23- 24- 25- 2()- 27- 28- 29- ;u)- 31- 32- 33- -Anderson on Psalmody. ■Cloud of Witnesses. -Scott's Essays. -Wilberforce's View. -Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul. -Watson's .Vpology for Bible. " " Christianity -Religions Courtship. -Owen on Trinity. -Brown's Christian Journal. -Burton's Feeling. -Mnirhead's Differentiation. -Brown's Oracles. i! l\ • ! I 1*1 ',' I 26- ( .'Jl— liobertHOii'rt History oi SuMt.li Aiuuricii, €l 1-V. 3">, IiG— Itubertsoii's lliHlury oi South AiiRiricii. Stanton's Eiubiiasy to Cliina. RuHidt-'Ucu ill Fnincu. Morse's (icof^rapiiy. Brace's Trawls. Citizen of the World. Ussiiin's I'oenis, Ciiuipbcll's Narration. Crokcir on •>i- ■M, IV.t- 40, 41- 42- 4;{, 44- 4o, 40 47 4«, 40- 50 51- 52- rv.i, 54 55 50- 57- 58- -00- 61- (>2 -05 tRi, 07- 08 00 70- 71 73 74- -77- 78- 70- 80 81- 82- -80- iK) yi- 92- m, 94- 95- 90- 97- "99 100- 101-2- in America. 10;5— iJaniel and llevelatiou. 104 — Uospel its Own Witness. 105— Duty (jf Female Hex. 100-17— Rollins' History, £2 8s. 118-19-20— Edinburgii ^higazine, i;;i iSs. o9— Omitted in its place and car- ied to paije 13, act. curniiit, Boston's Memoirs. 121— Snoilgrass' Ht'V\-lation. 122-24 Oillies' Greece, £2 i2s. -Caroline Lichtleld. (replaced 125-20— Moore's Letters. ni .') V(j1s.) — Blossoms of -Morality. —Pleasures of Hope. —Mirror. —Mental Improvement. —Lady's Library. -Cowper's Task. -Marvellous Miigaziue. -Beunet's Lectures. —History of .Jacobinism, £2. — iiepcjsitory. -The Rambler, £1 48. -Letters on Courtship. - Story Teller. -Emperor Charles V. -Burk's Revolution. -Mcintosh's Revolution. -A letter to Burk. Ad- 127-28— " Journal. 129 -;!0 -Fuller, l.'Jl ~ Ray's Discourses. 1 32 — Tapli n ' s Far rie r y . 133 — Female Complaints. 134 -37— Wi'lls' (ieography. 138-39-40-41— History of British mirals, £2. 142-43 — Knox on Education. 144— I'aradise Regained. 145— World Depths. 140 -47— Boderick's Travels. 148— Constitution U. S. 149 -Tracts presented by Andrew Heron. 150— History of Barbary. To— more allowed for History of Charles. 151 -52— Beat tie's Essays. Communicant's Companion. 153 -54— Leland's Life of Philip. Pope's Works, £2 los. 155-515— Bloody Tribunal. Milton's Works. 157— Bishop Burnet's History of Brydon's Tour. His Own Times. Indian Concert. 158-59— Quintius Curtius' History oi Burnet's Theory of Earth, £2. Alexander. 100 — MendrilTs Journey from Al- eppo to Jerusalem. 101— Judah Restoi'ed. 102-03- Hervey's Metlitation. 1()4— (.ioldsniith's Rome. 10.5— Adam's Views. -Robertson's Proofs. -Young" 8 Essays. -Robertson's History of Scot- land. -History of War in Asia. Burk's Euro^x-an Settlement ,v —27- J\V )rv (il Al- ll)0— New Pilgrim. ^T'A-yC)- 1<)7— Moiiil JU'pository. 277- 12s. Edinburgh Revii-w. 315- ■Johnson's Lives. 31(5-18- Shakespc^are's Works. .^2 12s. 319-20- I^ryden's Virgil. ;521-2;5 - Silver Devil. :524-25- (lonsalvo of Cordova. 32(1-27- .Toseph .Vndrews. :528-29- Humphrey Clinker. 330-33- Roderick Random. 3:54-3(5- John Bull. ■'5:57- Park's Travels. ;5:5S British Touri.^ts, £■> J 7s. 3:59-42 Heron's .lourncv. :543 218 219 220 22 1 -22 223-28 229-:5;5 2:}4-:5() 2:57-40 241-48 24— Brnce's Travels, £7 4s. 4(t()-()9 — Blackstone's Conunentaries. 470 - Grant's Voyages to N.S. \\ ales 471-72— Cyrus' Travels. 473 -McIIinnenk's Tour. 474-79-Plutarclrs Lives, £l i:5s. 480 - Peyrmsis' Voyages. 481-89— Witherspoon's Works^, ^2 8s. 490— Sir II. Moncrieff's Sermons 491— Chatham's Letters. 492— Mallory's Memoirs. 493 — Masson's Cookery. 494- -Lavat(!r's Physiognomy. 495-98— Don Quixote, £1 i8s. 499-502-Arabian Nights. 503-05 -p:dgeworth\s TaU>s. 50(>-10— Tales of the Castle. 51 1-4 — Peregrine Pickle. 515— Estelie. 510 — Devil upon Two Sticks. 51 7-18 — Excessive Sensibility. 519— Man of Feeling. 520-22— Rsunsay's Works. 524— Tuckey's Voyjiges, N.S.Wales. 525 -Edwards on Baptism. 452-53 — European Magazine, omitted. 52()-28— Plains. 529-31— History of France. 532 -Musical Repasitory. » —29— on. (prt'- Mox. L;i\v. lie. OS. Vales nons /■ales. itk'd. r),'5r5~Sp('('C'Jily on the Vine, 5:54— Selkirk on Kmigratinn. 5.'{r) - Fisher'rt Travels in Spain. 5;>() — Bigland's Modern Europe. 5;i7— MicliavoiH Travels. o;}.S— Scot'.s Magazine. .");}! (-40— lOuropean .Magazine. 041— Lady's .Magaziin'. 542-45— lOdinljurgI I Review. 54(J— Jackson on llu; Mediterran- ean. 547-lIincliley's Fall of Venice. 54S-4!)— llepton's Odd VVliinis. 550-51— Fallier's (iit't. 552-55— (/iiildn^n of the Abbey. 55(i— Luciis on Dnelling. 557 l>ravo of ViMnce. 558-()0 —Count de Valinont. 5t}l-()'J — Men and Women. 5()4 — of Seduction. 5(}5-()(;— Tour of 5(»7— Sermons. 5(i8-7U— Henry's History of (Jreat Britain, ^(» 15s. 5S()-S;5 -Edinburgh Revii>\v. 5S4-S5 — Scotch .Magazine. oHO-SS— Annals of (ireat Britain. oHiMm-Dick's Selections. 5!»1 — Cook on tlTc Resurrection. 5<.)2-5t;> — Robertson on Atmosphere. 594-97 Trevanion. 59S -Hi.story of Masonry. 5<)9-()()l-Kaines' Sketches. (i()2-;>— Malthus on Topidation. (5()4-n— Goldsmitli's Animated Na- ture, £■>. 615-14 -Statv of the Times. 615— Scotch Magazine. 016-17— Europ(\an Magazine. (ilH -Lady's Magazine. 619-20 British Critic, £2 8s. 621-2;> Eilinburgh Revitnv. ()24-26 -Smith's Wealth of Nations. 627-29 Ferguson's Lectures. 6.')0-38— Sinclair on Longevity. 6;54-;i6— IMckard's West Indies. 6o7— I'ublic Cliaract<.'rH. 1809-10. 6;58-40— Lou nger. 641 -Lives of British Naval Heroes. (542— Stewart's l*hilt»iophy of Mind. (;4:{-4(;-(iil Bias. 647-49— Owen on the Sj)irit. (150-51 (dlpin's lAwa of Reformers. 052-59— British Plutarch. 600 -.Mason on Self-Knowledge. ()01— New Picture of Edinburgh. 6(52— Sterne's Sentimental Jour- ney. 00:5— Spirit of the English Wits. ()64—Savi lie's Dissertation. 665 —Pilgrim's Progress. 6()()— The Mountain Bartl. 667-70— IMedical Journal, £,?, lis. ()71-75 — Fool of Quality. 67(i— Chesterfield's.' 677— Scotch Magazine, 18t)9. 678-79— European ]\higazine. ()80— Lady's .Magazine. 681 -82- British Critic. ()8.S-8()— Edinburgh Review. 087 t<) 71 1-British Theatre, 25 vols.. £\\. 712-15— Cutorell's (lazetteer, ^5. 716 -General Atlas, £2 5s. 717-18- Craig's S(M-mons. 719— .Aloore's Tales. 720-21 -Thornton's Turkey. 722-29— Enfield's F^ncyclopa'dia. 7;M)-:il Count Fathom. 71^2- Vince on .\theism. 7.'5;}-;)4 - .More's T'tojiia. 71)5 ( 'ottagers of ( ilenhurnie. 7'i()- .\dventiu'es of |) . 7;)7-4() " a (iuinea. 741-4:! Belinda, ^1 2s. (id. 744-45- Caroline of —30- 74<'.- 747— LetUTH from a Loyulint. 748-lIiir8Lifeof Dr. Blair. 74U— Life of liuciianan. 750-51— ClarkHon on the Slave Trade. 752 - ResourcuH of HriUiia. 753 Scotch Magazine. 754-55 — European '■ 75() Ladyn '• 757-58— British Critic, £2 8h. 759-G2— Edinburgh litniew. 7().'M54 — Portttous' SennouH. 7(55— Moorehead'H Discoursos. 7<)()— CI ray's Letti'rH. 7(}7-()8- History of Chili. 760 — Trotter on Drunkenness. 770-72— Letterd from the Mountains. 773— •' of Swedish Court. 774 Twin Sisters. 775-82 Clarissa Harlowe. £2 14s. 783— Man of the World. 784 - Paul and Virginia. 785-86— History of St. Helena. 787-89 -Edgeworth's Tales of Fash- ionable Life, £1 8s. (is. 75)0 -History of Charles XH. 791— Scotch Magazine. 792-93— European " 794— Lady's 795-96— British Critic. 797-8()0-Edinburgh Review. 801-2 New Annual Register. 803-8 - Gifford's.Life of Pitt, £iS 6s. 805M3 -Camilla, £,\ 14s. 814— Description of 300 Animals. 815-17 — West's Letters to Young Men. 818 -Park's Rudiments of Chem- istry. 819-20— Tolney's Travels. 821-22— Walker's Sermons. 823— Lady of the Lake. 824 — Island of Jamaica. 825-27 — Tristram Shandy. 828-'t')— Edgeworth's Moral Tales. 836-37— British Critic, £2. H;W-39— British Critic, 1813, £2. 840-41 —Edinburgh Annual liegister. 842-43- '■ " '' £2. 844 -Scotch . lagazine, 1812. 845-47- '• •• 1813, 1814. 848-49 — European Mivgsi/.ine. 8.50 -Lady's 851-53 — Edinburgh Review. 854 British Critic. 8.55-56 -Annual Register, 1811. S57-()l— Edinburgh Register. 862-63 -(loldsmith's 8m-67 — Modern (teography. S68 — Savage New Zi'aland. 869-70— Miigazine. 871— Castle of Otranto. 872 - History of Otaheiti\ 873-74— " the War. 875-77 — Edinburgh Review. 878-79— Gordon's Ireland. 880-81 -Edinburgh Register. 882-85— Young Philosopher. 886-87 — Peregrine Proteus. 888-90 -The Jesuit. 891-95— Scottish Chiefs, ^^3 4s. i)06-8-Waverly. 909— E. Annual "Regi-ster. 910 -Scotch Magazine, 1814. 911-12- •' " 1815. 91 .">— Clark's Life of Nelson. 914— Colonial Policy. 915-16— Life of Wellington, £;l. 917— European Magazine, 918-20 -Scot's Magazine. 18l(>. 921— Lady's Magazine. 922-27 — Edinburgh Review. 928— Annual Register. 929- •' '• 1815. 930-31 — European Magazi ne. 932-33 — Edi n burgh Magazi ne. 934 - - Lady ' s Magaz i ne. 9;tt-37 — Edin bu rgh Review. jr. ^2. — I ^ -= 5 ^ r- — z. _!: K ^ J^ ■^ w. C = iA ^ ■/. _2 ^ '^ - - M '-^ I ;' I - '■ 1, -r. n .^ - 'I .- 'I . ^ s o - := X ^ -"So"'/, r ^ 2i -J ?i 5 -^ ^ .2^ I •/ 'i. '^ 5. "J C. a! — - " _^ ~ >,.-: I 'V ■- ■'• E ?^ - f. 'J IV " ' The Early Schools of Niagara. J2 = Rtad before the Ontario Educational Association, April 1897, My subject is the Early Schools of Niagara, but for that term I would claim a broader meaning- than that generally accepted. Hugh Miller in his "Schools and Schoolmasters" goes far beyond iheschoolhouse and its pedagogue, as does also Dr. Hodgins in his "Documenlaiy History of Education," We read of the school of adversity which gives a training found in no other school, and we all know what useful inventions have been produced by the school of necessity. Perhaps no place in Ontario has in its early history given greater scope for development of character from the pecul- iar surroundings, than Niagara. The most of those who came here were people of fixed ideas, who had suffered and were ready to suffer to maintain their opinions, subjected to a life of toil, war with the soil, with forest-enemies both man and brute, and as the many influences which served to make Hugh Miller, the stalwart, honorable, thinking man into which he developed we may claim for the early inhabitants of the town and their children, peculiar influences which no doubt heloed to develop certain traits of char- acter. To conquer difficulties, to be obliged to be alert, watch- ful, ou guard, to know that the soil we tread h.is been watereil with the blood of our forefathers, that every turf may be or has been a "soldier's sepulchre," to rebuild the ruined homes, to siec returning prosperity torn from our grasp, and stagnation again, all these have told, as well as the scholastic institutions of the town. Other educative influences may be referred to later on. To ^o back a period of a hundred years ought not to be so diificult a task, but in this case it presents al- most as insuperable difficulties as trying to piece out the I —32-- personal life of the ji;-reat dramatist. How stranj^-e that while ot min.y Romans wlio hved 2000 years aj^o, as ot Pliiiy, we have letters and personal descriptions, ot on<: who lived scarce three hundred years aj,''o we iiave noi a letter and only one, to him, and yet millions ol people kn^w him by his works, and so we hnd it dillicult to obtain accounts of some of our early educators, so many records havinj^ been burnt in llie war, so shiftiiii,'- has the populatio'i been from the many vicissitudes of the town, but by dint of newspaper items, here and there an ex- tract from the Archives of Canada, some valuable old letters and documents, account books, the tales of the "oldt;;t inhabitant'' who tells the story of his father, we are able to piece out .1 tol- erably correct sketch oi' our Schools and Sclioolmasters, it must be confessed with ^aps here and there which it is hoped may be yet filled, now that our Historical Societies have really set to work ni earnest. There were private schools, g-arrison schools, the dis- trict grammar school and'the district school, church schools, separ- ate schools, ladies' school^, classical schools, night schools, boarding schools, schools for colored children, dames' schools, the Fort school and many others. In the diary of Col. Clarke, father of Dr. Clarke of St. Catharines, he speaks of attending the g-arrison School at Fort Niagara in 1787; the fort was not given up to the Americans till 1796. When he came to the British «ide of the river, the best teacher he went to was Richard Cockerell, an I'lng- lishman, who we read opened a school at Niag.ua in 1797. In the newspaper of that date he advertises an Evening School, writing, arithmetic, book-keeping taught at four shillings a week. For teaching any branch of practical or speculative mathematics, eight dollars, hours from six to eight in the evening. In 1799 he removed to Ancaster, and in resigning thanks the public tor their support, and recommends the Rev. Mr. Arthur, who teaches Latin and Greek, and will take a few youn^^; gentlemen to board. The first provision made for Grammar School education in Upper Canada was by the Duke ot Portland in 1797, but we find that sufTicient credit has not been given to Governor Simcoe for the noble part he played in providing educational advantages for this new country. In different letters from Navy Hall, Niagara, 33— he had thought on the subjet:t, and what strenuous efforts were made by him for this end. On 23rd Nov., 1792, in a letter to Secretary Dundas he speaks of a provision for the education of the rising generation and in 1793 to the Bishop of Quebec in ask- ing for clergymen says that in his progress through the country he is told that the Sabbath is becoming unknown to their children, who are searching for amusements on the Lord's Day. Again in 1795 he urges the Duke of Portland thus : "In Niagara the want of a school is most visible. The Rev. Addison is willing to un- dertake It on >ame terms as Mr. Stuart at Kingston. In the reply of Portland, fancy the feelings of those asking for a school for their children, being told that the payment for a teacher ought to be very moderate, and tiiat all the subjects necessary :;re reading, writing, accounts and mensuration, that those wishing to study Greek and Latin may ^o to Montreal, or Quebec or Nova Scotia. Were his ideas of tiie topography of Canada as hazy as those of some of our neighbors of the present day ? In 1797 Mr. Jas. Bl.'yney advertises a school in Niagara, and in 1798 the liouse of Mr. D. W. Smith is offered for sale for a free Giammar School for Home district, with four acres as endowment. Recommended in letter from Russel at York. This drags on, as in 1800 he offers a reduction of $4,000 in price, and to take wild land in payment. The plan is opposed by Gov- ernor Hunter, one reason being given that the house is opposite Fort Niagara, and being in range of the guns from F. N., is in too exposed a position. In 1S02 Mr. and Mrs. Tyler, between Niagara and Queenston advertise a regular day and night school, "children from four, both sexes, price in prttportion to the kind of instruction, reading, writing and arithmetic taught, for young ladies all that is necessary for their sex to appear decently and bo useful in the world and in all that concerns lunisekccping. Mr>. Tyler, having been bred in the line of mantua making, will receive a?id do her endeavors to execute her work in the neatest manner;" f»n advertisement really mor ; comprehensive than at first sight il appears. In the record book of St. Andre.v's Church, commenc- ing 30th Sept., 1794, there are frequent references to teachers in connection with the church, thus: "Sept. 2nd, 1S02, the Rev. Jiut. -34— Younj;', from the city ot Montreal, \Tas cii'jag'cd at one hundred pounds, Halifax currency, and a dwellint,'- house, also to have the teachin^^ of a school exclusive of his salary as a preacher of the g^ospel." On 13th April, 1805, resolved, "that this meetin^' do tully authorize and empower the persons that may be nominated as aforesaid to offer as a salary for three years to a preacher, the sum of seventy-five pounds of lawful money of Upper Canada, provided he may be induced to teach thirteen scholars in the Latin, Greek and Mathematics." Why thirteen we do not know. In 1802 it is proposed to erect an Academy in the town, and in 1803 we read that R. Cockrell had an excellent mathematical sch0.1l at Niagara. E. A. Talbot, who writes on State of Education, in 1818 says there are only two schools of any note in Upper Can- ada, that of Strachan and Cockerell, which is hi^h praise for the latter. !n a letter from Simcoe to Dundas, April 28, 1792 written from Quebec, he proposes two school masters at ;^ioo each, one at Kingston and the other at Niagara, this before he had reached his future capital, and while living there planned for schools in the province. In 1797 steps were taken in Parliament to establish four Grammar Schools and a University, the schools to be at Cornwall, Kingston, Newark, Sandwich, and the University at York, now Toronto. By an act passed in 1807, ;^ioo was to be allowed for each district. Niagara is the fourth oldest High School in the province, having been founded in 1808, the three fir«t being Cornwall, Kingston and York, founded in 1807. It has been called by different names, first, the Niaj^.ira District Grammar School ; next, Niagara Coi'.nty Grammar School ; next, Senior County Grammar School, on this the Rev, T. Philipps al- ways insisted, then Niagara High School. The seal has these words : Niagara County Grammar School, established 1808, in- corporated 1853, and has on it the figures of a globe, telescope, qu'!! pen, inkbottle, bell. It may be said that in later days, in a certain sense the existence of many of the small High Schools, de- pended on the Niagara High School, as when a bill was about to pass through the legislature which would have swept many ot them out of existence, the Hon. S. H, Richards who was in the i —35— ty at to be IIii,rh Cabinet, and was the member for Niaijara, seeing- that his constit- uency would lose its Hig-h School, had such chang^es made in the bill as would prevent this, and thus many others were saved, "Honor to whom honor is due." It is believed the Rev. Jno. Burns, Presbyterian minister, was the first tea'-her. He preached in St. Andrew's Church and sometimes at Stamford, from 1805 to 1818, at intervals, as his name appears on the record book in 1805, 9i '''» ^'' '6, 17, 18. Till lately there were several living- who were his pupils both before and after the war of 1812. He was taken prisoner and it is said preached to his captors. A ser- mon preached by him on tlie 3rd January, 1814, on a day pro- claimed by the Governor as Thanks^'-iving, in Stamford church shows powers of reasoning^, a sturdy loyalty, sound scholar- ship and deep christian feeliii*^. In the sermon, the text of which :s Prov. 14, 21, he quotes the brave words of Nehemiah, "Be not afraid of them, remember the Lord who is great and terrible, and fiifht for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houfjes." To the Lundy's Lane Historical Society we are indebted for this, as they have reprinted it as one of their pamplilets. The late Judge Burns was the son of this old Niagara teacher and preacher. Now comes, as miglit be expected, almost a blank of several years. We learn that during the war the schools were closed and while it is easy to see that in 1813 when tiie town was in the hands of the Americans, the British around in a circle, skirmishis occurred frequently, and in 1814 the people scatterd in all direc- tions, when a heap of ruins represented the homes j'rom which had gone forth the children to the schools referred to, the records were lost and several years must elapse before schools would again be in operation. The Rev. Thos. Creen came in 1820, open- ed a private school, and afterwards the Niagara District Ciram- mar School, next becoming the Rector of St. Mark's, but first the assistant to Rev. R. Addison. He was an excellent classical scholar, an Irishman, but educated at Gla^gow University. He was also at a later date a trustee and an examiner of teachers. He taught many who afterwards became distinguished men, as Miles O Reilley, Jndg-e Burns, Judge Miller, Senator Dickson, Thos. I —36 and W. Fuller, several of these pupils placed a liaiulsoine tablet to his memory in St. Mark's Church. In the yea. 1823 there were eig'hty-five names on Lht rejj;"ister of the school, while in 1827 from tlie existence of two rival schc ols and t'.^ ._.aoval of a tej^i- ment, the number was only eig^htee.i. In the Nias^ara Lileaner, June 23rd, 1823, appears the following item, Niajjara District Gram- mar School Examination. The following" trustees were pre- sent and expressed their approval of the manner in which tlie dif- ferent branches were tau^'ht, the increasing- number of pupils and the progress made : Wm, Dickson, Rev. Robt. Addison, Rev, VV. Leeming, Robt. Ker, J. Muirhead, Ralfe Clench. The school was to re-ooen on 7th July, we thus see that the holidays lasted little over two weeks, and through the sultry days of July and Augfust the school work went on. On July 3rd, 1824, there is an account ot an examination, at which the same trustees were present with the addition of Rev. Turuey, (Army Chaplain) and Hon. Wm. Claus, and pleasure is expressed at the progress made. The number of pupils was forty, of wMiom four were studying Xeno^hon; five, Horace and Cicero; three, Virgil and Sallust ; ei;^liteen, his- tory and Geography ; twelve, grammar and arithmetic ; and three reading and writing. The Latin classes were put through their drill by the Rev, Robert Addison, who seemed quite at home. He must then have been an old man. In 1J24 Rev. T. Creen 'appears as Secretary of Coinmon School Trustees. In 1823 had appeared a petition of the Common School teachers of the Niagara District, complaining of want of payment of their salaries, and the proceedings in the Legislature in consequence are recorded. In the Gleaner for 1826, Aug 12th, is tliis notice. "We have been requested by the Rev. Thos. Creen to state to the public that his school would be o^"en for the instruction of youth, on Monday. 14th August. In the same paper there is the advertisement of Rev. Mr. Hancock, A.B., graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, informing the public that he had opened an Academy for the instruction of youth in Greek, Latin, etc., at Butler's Barracks. He was Assistant Chaplain to the forces at Niagara. Besides this, in the next year there is an advertise- -Z7— tablet 3 there in 1827 a lejji- 1823, Gram- jre pre- tlie clit- )ils aiul i^ev, W. lool was ted little I Auyfust account ieiit with 111. Wm. e. The enOj.hon; een, his- c ; and throiij4"h quite at Rev. T. ees. In Hchers of t of their sequence notice, o state to ruction of ere is the f Trinity pcned an n. etc., at forces at advertise- is ment by Rev. (as. Fraser, mhiister of the Presbyterian congrega- tion that he oroposes to open a ch.ss for the vario. . branches per- taining to the Literary professions, It would seem from this that there mast have baen at that late three schools in Niagara, where the study of classics was pursued. We who remember the day when mathematics was f/ie important study, and who also remem- ber that in the words quoted by our President, "a king arose who knew not Joseph," and English was given a more important place, recall with interest the days when Homer and Horace reigned supreme. In 1823 in an advertisement, "Mr. Creen, District School, speaks of the prosperous condition and is about to employ an as- sistant, teaches Latin, Greek, Hebrew, English Grammar, Geo- graphy, Mathematics. A few pupils genteelly accommodated with boarding. Jan., 1823, report of Niagara District School, hopes in rather grandiloquent style "that literatures at once the blessing and ornament of society will flourish here wiili increasing bloom and shine in its generous lustre." To open 7th July. We also find some excellent rules by Board of Education for Niagara Schools, Barron's 500 questions on New Testament are used in the Sunday School, and also in the District Grammar School. Leaving this school we now turn to some other schools in the town. Besides tliat institution taught by Mr. Cockerell (which was at one time in a block house, the charge be- ing one dollar a month) who is described as being very strict and who taught till 1806, and was succeeded by Mr. Hughes, there was a school taught by Mr. John Wray, described as a little old man by those who remember him, he died in 1846 at an advanced age, having been the clerk ot St. Mark's Church for forty years. There was a school taught by Mr. McKie who was a classical scholar, this was a private school after the war, and his wife taught fancy work. The school in connection with St. Andrew's church was continued till 1843. An advertisement in the Gleaner, Dec. 1717, reads thus : "Saturday, 3rd day of January next is the day appointed for tlie annual meeting o( the Presbyterian congre- i 38 >!!' jjatioii in the town, to he lield in the scliool house .'it 12 o'clock. At the same time will be proiluced the accounts ot monies receiv- ed and expended in buildinj,'- the schoolhouse. This buildint;' seems to have been used before the war as a school house, and after the u^ar, on Sunday for divine worship, and for Sunday school, and on week days for a school, the upptr part at one time havinj^ been used for the colored children. In 1840, at the annual meeting of the conj^-rei^ation, ' Resolved, that the trustees and members of the Kirk Session be the committee for the manaj^e- ment of the school kept by Mr. Jas. Weiister, in the school house on cliurch lots." On Jan. ist, 1842, the Rev. Robert McGill made some statement reg'ardini^ the act passed at the late session of the Provincial legislative, and pointed out the manner in which the trustees ot the school in connection with the church nii*;ht avail themselves of its provisions. Resolved, "that it is desirable to maintain the school under the manag^ement of the church trustees, Mr. Heron was appointed to wait upon Mr. Webster to ascertain how far he is disposed to put himself in dependence upon the pro- visions for common schools." And now we turn, to what we can find of the backbone of our educational system. There have been several references to the Common School before. On the 9th Sept., 1826, there is a letter in the Gleaner stronj^ly advocatinj^' the erection of a Public School house, as the population of the town then was 1,200, and they had an able teacher in Mr. Thom- son. In 1827 the province had been divided into eleven Districts, with provision for a classical school in each, and for schools in each Township. On June 2nd, 1827, appears the followinj^ certi ficate, sig^ned by Thos. Creen, and Thos. Hancock, A.B. ' We have great pleasure in testifying to the ability and fitness, etc., of the teacher ot the Niagara Common School, Mr. David Thom- son. These are the classes. Writing, Arithmetic, Grammar, four, Orthography, Reading, Writing, eight, Orthography Reading, six, Book Keeping, two, total twenty-five, and that Messrs. Heron, Kay and Varey had been duly elected Trustees of the District Common School. The fees were, after March 28th, Reading and Orthography 2s. 6c/., or 50c., with writing added 62;4cts., and I ^tfeiiWJIiili^ ■ -39- I of tlie hom- tricts, ools in certi ' We ic, of lioin- four, ^, six, leroii, istrict [,'■ and ., and with arithmetic 75cts. per month. A sparkle of color is given to these dry recorUs, which pleases us much. Feb. 23rd, 1827, ac- count of a collection that had been taken up from the pupils of Mr. Thomson's school in aid of the distressed Greeks, amount raised, i is. ly^d. This it will be remembered was the year of the battle of Navarino, and now after seventy years, the generous deed ot these Niagara school children is recalled, as we are send- ing away our contributions to the Armenians, oppressed and bar- barously treated by the same unspeakable Turk, but now the na- tions do not rise up as then to help the weak. The teacher refer- red to was the same David Thompson who wrote a history of the war of 181 2, Captain Thompson of the King's 8th, who fought in the war. Among the names of early teachers are those of Mr. Rolston and Crombie. An account of some of the punishments of those days would make our present pupils stare in wonder and amaze. It is recorded of one teacher of the town that he struck a boy cNi the head with a round ruler, one inch in diameter. The boy fell to the floor insensible, and was carried out to the snow to revive. It is pleasing to know that the big boys of the school then did what so rejoiced the heart of the honest Yorkshireman, when Nicholas Nickleby so effectually "bate the schoolmeaster." The teacher then removed to Stamford, where his next feat was as a punishment, to shut up a little girl in the oven, and was sent away in consequence. At a later day still, in another school, a pupil on his return fromschool was asked the question so frequent in those days, where you whipped to-day? "Yes, I was whipped, but Mary (his sister) whs kissed." The teacher had left the room leaving a monitor to give the names of all who spoke, and the teacher com- ing to Uie little girl whose name had been given, inste.'id of the dreaded tawse, stooped down and kissed the astonished child. At this time it was customary to grant scholarships to the Grammar school, which were given for three years to the best pu- pils in the Common and Separate Schools, the latter having at this time a very able teacher : one o'i the cleverest pupils sent was the late Father John Kennedv who was drowned some years ago. A circular issued seems to demand what we would now con- I ! 1, -40 sider a work of supererogation, it is a system of Bible distribution by the teachers of the Niay^ara District, 1817, a circuhir of direc- tion so paternal that it would be opposed now, siyfned by Ralfe Clench, to inquire by gi^'nj^ from house to house if the settlers posse's a Bible and in what condition, if not able to pay, name to '">ii sent to Samuel Street, at the Falls Mills, Sec, of Niagara Bible Society. Also form of report of Trustees and Teacher's Cer- tificate to receive salary, very different from that of to-day, merely that he has taug'lu t!.c school for six inonths, is a British subject, had not less than twenty scholars and hn-i demeaned hinself to our satisfaction. Sij^-ned by throe Trustees and direcletl to the Treasurer of the District of Nia.ifjtra. There are also rules for government ot Common Schools in District of Niaj^ara, ten in number, as succinctly said by Dr. Hodi^^ins, compared with the comprehensiveness and elaborateness of today those of eighty years at^o make up for their lack in this respect, by their clearness and brevity. No. I. The master to commence the labors oi the day by a short prayer. No. 4. Corporeal punishment seldom necessary except for bad habits learned at home, lyinji;-, disobedience, obstinacy, these sometimes require chastisement, but j^enileness even in these cases would do better with most children. No. 5. All other offences arising chiefly from liveliness and inattention are better corrected by shame, such as g-audy caps, placing- the culprits by themselves, not admitting any one to play with thein for a day or days, detaining- them after school hours or during- a play afternoon and by ridicule. No. 7. The forenoon of Wednesday and Saturday to be aCt apart for Religious Instruction, to render it agreeable, the school should be furnished with at least ten copies of Barron's Questions on the New Testament. The teacher to have one copy of the Key to these questions for his own use. No. 8. The afternoon of Wednesday and Saturday to be al- lowed for play. No. 9. Every day to close with reading publicly a few verses of the New Testament, proceeding regularly through the gospels «agwBWWwa 4r these these ess and caps, o piay 11 rs or be net school estions of the be al- The propriety of rule five would be called in ques- tion at our Training Schools ol to-day ; certainly the framers of the rules do not seem to have had much faith in the scriptuml knowledge of their teachers. Unfortunately the Secretary's records of the Niagara Schools in early days can not be found, but just lately in an old trunk was discovered a document containing interesting information relating to the Dictrict School in 1832-.^. It appears from this that His Excellency the Lieut-Governor, then Lord Colborne, appointed the Trustees and advised with them as to appointment of teachers. At a meeting of the Trustees just appointed by him, viz : Rev. Thos. Creen, Rev. R. McGill, Jas. Muirhead, Robt. Melville G. M. McCormack, R. Dickson, Wm. Clarke, W. D Miller, Geo. Ball, nineteen resolutions were passed with regard to building of Seminary, large enough for apartments for masters and a large number of boarders, ;^5oo had been gninted by Trustees of Mar- ket Square, and j^2^o additional obtained. The teacher was to be selected for literary and moral qualification without regard to det^omination. The Governor had granted five acres near Fort Mississagua, the school was then held near the Market Buildings. Permission was asked to appoint another teacher, and the Gover- nor says it will not be necessary to go to the Mother Countrv as proposed, but that a competent teacher may be found in Canada. It is singular, that though difTerent attempts were thus made from 1798 to secure a building, that no permanent building was obtain- ed till iH5j for the Public School, and 1875 for the High School. The oldest building now standing which served as a school house in Niagara was lately the property of Mr. Ibson. Herein 1827, and for many years, Miss Voung taught a large Private School. The old fashioned fire-place with its cranf^ may still be seen. The stone barracks, now the Masonic Hall, Rogers brick building, the brick building owned by the late Dr. Ker have all been used by the High or Public School in past years. Among the teachers of Niagara ^-eihaps the most strikmg personality is Dr. John Whittlaw, who taught (he Grammar School from 1830 to 1851. He was a good classical ^ Ifii 42 scholar and from the impressit>ii rcroivcd from talkiii},' with some of his old pupils, must have hoen an able teaclier and a christian fCentlcman. His son John was al one time his assistant, a younj;' man of ^reat promise, who died at an early a},''e, the lectures he delivered on Chemistry, and the experiments in which he was as- sisted by his pupils are yet remembered. It is one of my eaily recollections, seeinj^ nitrous oxiile or lauj^hinj;" f^as, administercil by him in the lecture room, and tlie disastious ellects in one case. The love of science must have been sliareil by the father and son, for we find that I>r. Whitelaw taught in Kini^ston in 1S14, and gave lectures in Chemistry, Mineral(.)j,''y and (.ieolo{.;^y while master ot the Kinj^ston Cirammar School. Junius, in Kinj^ston Gazette, deplores the loss to King^slon boys, ami mentions equations, ^'^eometry, trij^onomclry, l^atin and ClreeU, a course of thirty - six lectures, three every week, admission three {jfuineas for tiic course. In 18 19 his successor is spoken of, and we knc^w from, an address of Sir Oliver Movvat, that he practiced medicine in Kinj^ston, havinj^- been I he medical adviser of his father's family. Here is a reminiscence from an oUI scholar: "when nrennan was handed at the Niaj^ara jail we b>ys did not know any better than to i^'ct up a petition for a holiday, one boy wrote it, from the dictation of another, while a third pre- sented it. Such a lecture we received, I shall never forj^et, our conduct was a sure proof of total depravity and ori^rinal sin. The next day we went to school but the old doctor was ill, whether he had taken our conduct so to heart we did not know, we had the coveted holiday, but I question if any of us went to see the execu- tion. He was very particular in, as he called it, j^ivinj^ us a "lhorouj,^h j^rounding" in Latin and iireck, sometimes attained by painful methods. The same old pupil describes the room as havinj^ a wooden partition, one stove which very imperfectly heated the room be- ini*' half in one room, half in the other. There were about forty scholars, many of them from the reg'iment stationed here. There were morning and evening prayers. The liible was read in both Common and Grammar Schools by the pupils. The Rev. T. Philipps taught the Grammar School from 185? 43— to 1 86 1, and had a larpc board! njj school forminR- quite a proces- sion marching to St. Mark's on Suiulay morning'. Rev. T. D. Philipps of Chicag-o, his son the famous cricket player, was his as- sistant. The pupils were very successful in passinj^ University Examinations. The buildinfi-s in which the school has been held have been as various as the teachers. In early days the block house, the sti'»no barracks and many others before the present brick buildin*,'' was erected, not without a lonj^ strufjj^'le for the result of which (he late Rev. Chas. Campbell of Toronto deserves much creJit. I'our of the teachers have had a lonj^ term of olTice, Rev. Jr.o. lUirns, Dr. Whitclaw, Rev. T. Philipps and Mr. Andrews. Amon^ the pur)ishments was one which may be con- siiiered quest ioiiable now, viz : to commit to memory a chapter of the Bible, another law was thai when detained after school with wv>rk to be done, the teacher sometimes leaving' the room, if one b-ave leader r.in away, all the others might go, and the one who left first, alone was punished. Ic was considered a brave self sacrificing thing to do, by subjecting oneself to severe punish- ment, thus procuring the freedom of the others, and he who did it was a son of hero. A reminiscence given by a colored woman of her school life in Ni:igar;i mj'Jt not be forgt.tten. "The first .-.chool I went to was to a yellow man^called Herbert Holmes — Hubbard Holmes our people called him, oh, he was severe, they were then you know, but he was a fine man, hail been educated by a gentleman in Nova Scotia. He used to drill the boys and when holiilay time came he would m.irch us all in twos to a grocery kept by a black woman and ireat us all to bull's eyes anu gingerbre.ul. Holidays were not two irionths as they are now, but two weeks, I went to a black man upstairs in the schoolhouse of the Scotch Church, the room was full, full of cliildren, the^benches were slabs with the flat side up and the bark of the tree down, with round stick.^ put in slanting for legs. The children all studied aloud and the one that made the most noise was the best scholar in those days. Then I went to a Miss Broi>k.< from Oberlin College in i.S38-g. She was sickly and died ol' consumption, oh wh;it h.iid times she had with some o\ the boys, bad, rmigh ones. Hut Herbert Ir ys may havj had some result, tis a company of black men from Niajjfara was formed and was on duty at the Falls dnriii}^ the Rel^oilion, aidinj;- the j^overnment which had i,»-iven them a refuge. In the Niag'ara Clironicle, jan 1847, is told, "ihal tlie census just taken jjives a p.ipulation o( 3058, there are 792 chiLlren be- tween 5 anc' 15, of these 300 attend the five comm.ni schools, respectively ducted by Mr. Shaw, Mr. Thomson, Miss liledson, Miss M. A. - .^n and Mrs. Wilson. There is a dissentin^f com- mon school established by our fellow townsmen oi' the R.mian Catholic taith, the att MiUance of which must be larg'e. In addi- tion to these there ai ^nree institutions for a hij^-her order of learnintf, viz.. the District Grammar School, conducted by Dr. Whitelaw, assisted by Mr. Loijan ; the classical school of Rev. Dr. Lundy, and the Ladies' School of the Misses Burg-ess, also the flourishing private elementary school of Miss Read. An assistant is now engaged for the junior branches in Mr. Shaw's school. This was Mr. jas. Dunn who afterwards became Principal, arul also a highly successful High School teacher in Elora, Welland, etc., and must not be forgotten. Mr. J no. Crooks who taught an early Sunday School, and as a Sunday School library had tracts carefully coyered and distributed. This Sunday School was the first in town and was between the yearr 1820 and his death in 1833. Another educator deserves honorable mention, and I have the less hesitation in referring to him since Dr. Hcdgins in his Documentary History of Education in Upper Canada does so. 1 45 iin from jr 1 liave ;re. An itlioriiies , but the 1 colored It. For llolinos prisoner ave haJ ! forinei.1 my; the i oeiisu'^ .Ire II be- "ichools, li)ed>