BANQUET TO GRADUATES OF McGILL. 
 
 Friday, April 2nd, 1880. 
 
 «— ■ 
 
 This social reunion was not inten^led to be pnblic, but wa;« 
 merely a private entertainment given by the Principal, T)r. r>iiW8on, 
 on occasion of tlie 25th year of his term of office ; with the view. a,< 
 stated in his card of invitation, of renewing old association.*, of bring- 
 ing before the members and frien<ls of the Universit\' the results ot" 
 their labours, of encouraging new efforts and securing more complete 
 unity and co-operation. There are however .some features of it in 
 which the members of the University who werp not so f<i»rtunate a.>^ 
 to be present and the public generally may tak^^an interest, and whi<h 
 do not fall within the request made that the proceedings should not b«' 
 re{)orted , 
 
 The invitations were of necessity limited to gentlemen o»i rhc 
 lists of the University, and to a few representatives of other institution.** 
 of learning Eight hundr^'d and fifty cards of invitation were issiK-d, 
 beside those to the Graduating (Mass, abi>ut seventy in number. The 
 result was that three hundred and sixty gi-ntlempn sat down to a re 
 past, provided by Mr. Alexander, at six long tables, filling the whole 
 of the William Molson Hall, with the ixeP})tion of a jiallery prepand 
 for ladies. The Hall had previously bt^-n decorated by the graduatt'^ 
 and students for the Founder's Festival ; and these decorations, with 
 some siiirht ehanjies, remained, while the tables were liKrallv ad- 
 onied with flowers. The guests assembleil in the library, and w<'r«? 
 marshalled to the hall in order of University rank and of date of gra- 
 duation, and when all were seated, the scene presented was one both 
 novel and imposing. 
 
 Grace ha\ing been said by the I>ight Revd Dr. Bond, the 
 Bi.^hop of Montreal, and sufficient time having been allowed for par- 
 taking of the refreshments furnished, and for eonver.'ation. I)r. 
 Dawson addressed some words of welcome to his guest-*. The usual 
 toast*; were then duly honoured, including that of " the Lieutenant- 
 Governor," who responded very cordially, and addresses were delivered 
 
(0,5 } 
 
 by representatives of the different bodies and interests connected with 
 the University, and by representative of sister institutions. The 
 t«ipics were naturally those connected with the past history and present 
 state of the University ; and the part which its Governors, Principal 
 and Fellows, its Benefactors and its Graduates, had taken in elevating 
 it to its present condition, and in advancing the interests of Education. 
 As to the future, the evening was signalised by the announcoment of 
 the intention of Peter Redpath, Esq., one of the governors, to erect a 
 costly and capacious museum building on the (College grounds, and 
 that of the Principal to place therein as a gift to the University his 
 own large geological collections, and the further aimouncement that 
 the Graduates propose to commemorate the twenty-fii"th year of the 
 Principal's tenure of office by the creation of a University fund or the 
 erection of a University building to bear his name. 
 
 The speakers on points more directly relating to McGill, were 
 the Hon. Judge Day, Chancellor; Mr. P. Redpath, Hon. Judge 
 Dunkin, Dr. E. T. Meredith, Dr. Campbell, Prof. Trenholme, Dr. 
 Johnson, Prof. Bovey, Mr. R. A. Ramsay, Dr. Cbamberlin, Hon. 
 Dr. Church, and Hon. Mr. Lynch. The addresses of these gentlemen 
 were replete with reminiscences of the olden time, new to many of the 
 younger auditors, as well as with auguries and projects for the future. 
 
 Of the original Board of Governors, under the New Charter, 
 only four members now survive. One of them, Mr. Davidson, has 
 resigned his office, having removed to Scotland. The three others 
 were present; namely, the Chancellor, Hon. Senator Ferrier, and Hon. 
 Judge Dunkin. Of these the senior in appointment is Mr. Ferrier, 
 who was a member of the Board of Royal Institution under the Old 
 Charter, and is consequently the oldest member of the governing body 
 of the University. Rev. Archdeacon Leach, the senior member of the 
 corps of Instructors, was prevented by illness from being present. 
 
 Of the graduates present nearly one hundred came from 
 different parts of Canada and the United States to be present at the 
 entertainment, while hundreds of others, unable to leave their homes 
 sent letters breathing a spirit of warm affection for their alma muter. 
 Among those present there were many who have attained to high 
 jwsitions in public and professional life. The Lieutenant Governor, 
 Dr. Robitaille, is a medical graduate of 1858. The Hon. Mr. 
 Lynch, his Solicitor General, is a Bachelor of Civil Law and Gold 
 Medallist of 1868. The Hon. Dr. Church, late Treasurer of the 
 province, and President of the Graduates' Society, is a medical gra- 
 duate of 1857. A large number of other names might be mentioned 
 
of men who in public and professional life, as ministers of religion, 
 members of Parliament and other public bodies, professors and lec- 
 turers in McGill College and other institutes of hi<;;her learninij;, emi- 
 nent physicians ami lawyers, workers in practical science and literature. 
 have alread}' made their mark and taken high pc)sition?. In loukine 
 around on the assemblage, and mentally noting what the men com- 
 posing it are and have done, it was impossible not be impressed with 
 the evidence presented of the value and importance of the higher 
 education ; and this independently of what was spoken, was sufticient 
 to give to the gathering a great value and significance. 
 
 Besides those more immediately connected with McGill, there 
 were present the Rev. Dr. Cook, the llev. Dr. MacVicar, the Rev. 
 Dr. Wilkes, the Rev. Canon Henderson, as Principals of four of th^" 
 Affiliated Colleges, on behalf of which Dr. Cook resp(tnded. The 
 University of Bishop's College was represented by its Principal, the 
 Rev. Dr. Lobky. Laval University was represented by the Hon. Dr. 
 Chauveau ; and the University of Toronto by Dr. Wilson. All of these 
 gentlemen spoke in terms of friendly greeting on btfhalf of their respec- 
 tive universities. 
 
 The Visitor of the University sent the exprccsion of his re- 
 gret that he was unable to be present, and the Honourable the Su|>er- 
 intendent of Education also intimated his good will and his regret 
 that he was unable to attend. 
 
 Among the older and more eminent graduates who were unable 
 to attend and sent cordial letters of apology, were Dr. Workman, of 
 Toronto. a medical graduate of 18H5 ; the Honorable Alexander Morris, 
 a graduate in arts of 184'J, and formerly one of the governors of the 
 College; the Honorable J. J. C.Abbott and the Rev. Dr. Douglas. 
 
 It was stated that the session of 1882':-J will be tiie fiftivtl; 
 year of the existence of McGill University, and it is proposed to cele- 
 brate this anniver.siiry, and to prepare in connection with it a sketch 
 of the history of the College, for circulation among its friends and gra- 
 duates. 
 
 The evening was enlivened with college songs admirably sung 
 by a choir of graduates. Two of the songs were original compositions ; 
 and through the kindness of Mr. (r. B. Purland, copies printed on ele- 
 gantly illuminated cards were supplied U) all the guests. 
 
 — Montreal Witness.