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The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul clichd sont filmdes d partir de Tangle sup6rieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramme suiv&nt illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 iH t , - w.. #* 0^ 7 THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN, IN CONNECTION WITH McGILL UNIVERSITY. The letters reproduced in the following pages wore written under the pressure of what seemed an urgent necessity. I have always endeavoured to avoid controversy respecting the affairs of the University, though earnestly desirous to iceep the public accui-atelj'' informed as to all our pro- ceedings. In the present case, however, a new and important woi'lc, and one from its very nature delicate and liable to misapprehension, was attacked in a manner that seemed to indicate a determination to discredit it with our friends, and thereby to cause its entire or partial failure. It seemed therefore a public duty to lay the whole of the facts as clearly as possible before those likely to be interested in such questions. There is the more need for the republication of these letters, that the Editor of a city newspaper sent reporters to members of the Corporation of the University armed with a series of leading (or more properly misleading) questions, and has published the answei-s given to these. The gi'eater number of the gentlemen applied to very properly declined to answer the questions, and the answers given by othci-s show, as reported, some discrepancy both as to matters of fact and opinion. The}' should be taken in connection with the following general points in the history of the matter. (1) Up to September last, the University had ari'ived at no decision on the question. (2) The endowment of the IIonouraI)le Donald A. Smith was given expressly for separate education, at least in the junior years, and was accei)ted in that sense both by the Governors and Corporation. (3) The worlc has been going on, in good faith, as a special course in Arts, under that arrangement, ever since. (4) The methods to be employed in the third and fourth years remain for decision, after re})ort of the Faculty of Arts. All these mattei-s are more fully explained in the following pages, in which, however, f have avoided any reference to discussions in Coi'poration which are necessarily confidential. J. WM. DAWSON, Dec. 6, 1884. THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN, IN CONNECTION WITH McGILL UNIVERSITY, {From the Gazkttb.) So much that is inaccurate and, there- fore, mischievous in its tondoiicy, in relation to this important subject, has recently appeared in one of your con- temporaries, that it becomes necessary in the public interest to state as distinctly as possible the facts of the case. The criti- cisms in question proceed on certain as- sumptions, which we shall find as we pro- ceed, to be untoundetl. One of these is that the university is divided against itself on this question. I trust, however, that it will be found that though we may freely discuss matters of detail, we shall, as in the past, be found perfectly united against a common enemy, or in support of any great educa- tional enterprise. Another assumption is that the method of co-education of the sexes is superior to that ot separate classes pursued in all the large colleges for women on both sides of the Atlantic, or to that in- termediate method of separate classes in the junior years with mixed classes in the senior years which has the sanction of some of the greatest educational bodies in England. A third is that all of the young women who desire a higher education are d. - posed to accept the method of mixed educa- tion as the best — a supposition directly at variance with the statistics, and with the testimony which we have as to the feeling of the community. A further and most ridi- culous ■assumption is that co-education cau be carried on almost without expense, where- as, in our case at least, It would involve no little expense, and that of a kind condemned by our critics, namely, on rooms and build- ingVi, while they, in consistency with this assumption, give us no nope of pecuniary aid. We might admit that objections based even on such assumptions as these deserved con- sideration, if the means to be employed in prosecuting the work were those of the university itself, or of benefactors who had established foundations for the purpo-^es of general education ; but in the case of McGill university, the money employed is the in- come of an endowment voluntarily offered by a friend of the higlier education of women for the express purpose of educating women, and women alone. The terms of his letter addressed to the board of governors, were that the income of the fund was for «'a col- lege for women with classes for their educa- tion in collegiate studies," and on these terms it was accepted by the board ot gover- nors, with the proviso that the work was to be carried just so far as the means of the endowment would permit. Yet we are regarded as malefactors because we are will- ing to accept and use such an endowment, and even the benevolent and public-spirited donor of a large sum in promotion of one of the most important educational interests of the community is treated as if he deserved censure for not spending his money as our critic would desire. rilOCEKDINMiS OK TIIK COIU'OUATION OF THE ONI- VKIISITV I.V SKl'T,, 1884. On till) uccoptuiico of the donation of till! II(jn. Mr. Smith, a spwiiil imct- inj? of tlic coiiuinition wuh tailed for tlie '20ti» of Ht'ptoml)er luist, and tiie letter of Mr. Smitli and tlie resolution of tlie gover- nurrf tliereon were submitted to tlie corpora- tion, which has the power of framing regula- tions relating to the educational aspect of such benefactions. A re.solution of thanks to Mr. Smith was passed unanimously, and a plan was submitted by the prnicipal for car- rying out tiie objects intended, along with an estimate that the income of the endowment would suffice for the educational work of the first and second years in arts, provided tliat no expense were incurred for rooms or buildings. The following arrangements were then agreed to for carrying on the work in the first year and preparing for the succeed- ing years : — I. The classes for wonicii under IIk." Doiuilp A. Sniitli endownifiu shall, lor the i)iesent, bt- eoiulueted as a Speinal Course in the Faculty of Arts, under chap. 7, section (i, ol'the statutes. -.That the faculty be rcciuesU'd lo prepare reguialions and make arraiijjeiui'iits for the said special eoiirsi'.reportiiif^ to the corporation al its meeting in Oetoljcr, but with iiower im- mediately to bef,'in tlu' classes for women, in so fai" as the liisL year's worli in the taculty of arts is coiu-erned. ;{. That tlie faculty be authorized to admit to the matriculaiion examination such women over 10 years of ;'t;e as may oiler themselves, and also to admit as partial students in the classes for women any who may bi- able to pro eet'tl with tlie classes in tlie hope of making good their standing at a laterdate. 4. That, with permission of the board of governors, the professors and lecturers of the university shall bo the instructors in such special course as far as possible, and that the Ijoard of governors be rcciuested to grant permission for this purpose and to provide such assistance as may be rcfpiired, the whole within the amount of the income of the said I'lidownient, or such proportion there- of as may be d'.-voted to tlie work of the first year. 5. That the principal be authorized to confer with the cxecutivi' committee of the fjadi<'s' association as to any co-opi-ratiou which imp- l)e pr«cticable, reporting to the corporation in Octoljer, but with pijwer to make temporary arraiigements with approval of the Faculty of A rts. II. That the chancellor and principal be autliori/.ed to c(-iifer with the trustees of the Tiatalgar Institute as to terms of co-operation or alliliallon, and to report to tlie corporation. 7. That the Normal Hchool committee ho re- (jui'sted to consider thi' iiuestion of the relation of the cliisses for women to the intenisl of teachers in training, and to report on the sub- ject if necessary. H. That the principal be authorized, with (Consent, of the board of governors, to procurt! the necessary class-rooms for such of I hi; classes for women as cannot be conveniently accommodated in the college building. It would be folly to believe that by those resolutions tiie corporation did not commit it- self to the idea of carrying out the work of education in the junior years in separate classes. Such a supposition would imply that tlie university accepted Mr. Smith's gift fraiKliilently and with intent to deceive. But, on the other hand, the university did not bind itself to spend on this object one penny of educational money beyond that which was placed ill its liands for the purpose, or com- mit itself to any method in relation to the third and fourth years. ACTION OF TIIK FACULTV OK AKT8. Wliiit, then, has been the action of tlie faculty under these provisions '! It promptly and unanimously issued an announcement stating the subjects of matriculation and study for the tirst year, and informing the public that a course for the second year will be announced for the session of 188u-G ; and in regard to the thiril and fourth years, that it IS "expected" thecorporation will be able to provide courses of study for those years, but wliether in separate or mixed classes is not stateil. Under this arrangement the clas.'es were opened, and liave noiv fourteen muhngraduate and partial students and thir- teen occasional. The instructors, ou whom the work of the tirst year devolves, have all cheerfully undertaken the labour recpiired of them, and the new class- rooms in the Peter Redpath museum Lave proved suiiicient to accommodate the classes without interference with the natural science teaching. The institution of the new classes has already encouraged the board of govern- ors to api)oint the long-desired assistant to the professor of classics, and to invite to this country an able graduate of an English uni- versity to fill that office. Already, therefore, the separate chvsses have done gooti nervice to the faculty of arts, and next year, or the year after, they may be the means of equally be- nefiting another important branch of study in connection with that facidty. The whole of the lecturers engaged report moHt favorably of the progress of th« clasH, and it is hoped that the students will make a good appearance in the Christmas examina- tions, though it must be borne in mind that owing to the shortness of notice many ot them were not so well prepared as they might otherwise have been. It will be observed that the classes for women constitute a " special course " in the faculty of arts. It was one of the wise provi- sions ot the fiamers of our statutes that they arranged for special courses in arts. Our present faculty of applied science began in this way, and so continued till it could stand alone. The advantages of the arrange- ment are, that a special course c»mes at once under the operation of all theraachinery of the faculty. Its regulations are all ready made, and the appliances for carrying on its ordin- ary work are at hand, so that means being provided, a new branch of the university may at once start into existence with no derange- ment of the other work. It is an eminent advantage (^f McGill that its organization is so perfect that it can with a promptitude not usual in institutions of higher education thus enter on any new field of usefulness opened to it. It is easy to sneer at the smallness of our staff in arts, but a small body of able and earnest men thoroughly competent and well appointed, may be worth many times the number of mere irregulars and stragglers. In this re- spect the faculty of arts of McGill may claim special h(>nour for what it has shown itself willing and able to do in orgaHizing so suc- cessfully and without the slightest incon- venience our classes for women. So far we have gone, and can go through this session and the next, without touching any of the gtuieral revenue of the university, and with the advantage of securing an assist- ant in classics whose salary will be shared in due proportion by the Donald A. Smith endowment. Let it be observed here, that all the proceedings above re- ferred to were arranged for in September, and before the appearance of my report on the subj'ict of the higher education of women. PllOCKEUINOS OF TUB COllPOKATIoN IN OCTOUEK, 1884. We may now consider the aspect which the matter presented at the regular meeting of tlie corporation in October. At this meeting report was made by the Faculty of Arts of the regulations which it had framed, and the arrangements already referred to in rf^lation to the classes for women. The principal then presented the report which he had prepared by request of the corporation, and which had been previously submitted to the committee appointed to obtain facts and statistics, which committee had completed its labours by requesting that the report should be printed for the information of the corporation. After the reading of the report and discussion of the matters contained in it, in their bearing both on the action already taken and the work to be done in the future, it was finally suggested that, as the classes of the junior years were now under the man- agement of the Faculty of Arts as a special course, the preliminary consideration of the steps to be taken and regulations required for completing this course belonged of right to that faculty, and should be referred to it. It was accordingly resolved that the corpora- tion, being desirous to continue the education of the women who had entered its classes, up to the final examinations, "the Faculty of Arts be requested as soon as possi- ble to report on the best methods of effecting this, either in separate or mixed classes." There was nothing special or unusual or in 6 any way Kubversive of the prerogatives of the corponition in thiH dt-ciNion. It wan merely the ordinary and proper proceeding in Buch caKCK. ho long as tiie mutter remained a mere Kubjeet of diKcuwKioii in corporation, or of enquiry l)y a committee of that body, which wan itn condition until the meeting of Sept«'mber, the FacultieK of the University had no special concern with it, unless asked to give an opinion by the corporation, or unless they had thought proi)er of their own motion to initiate anything respecting it. But so soon as the corporation had con- stituted the classes for women a special course under the Faculty ot Arts, the rela- tion of these classes to the corporation as- sumed a new aspect. The statute in the case is the following, (chapter vi., section 5):- "The tevcral faculties shall from time to time frame rcf^ulations, as occasion may re- quire, toueiiing the di*l ails of the cour.se of study and toachhifr in their respective dejart- ments of the university,— tlie number, times and modes of all examinations thereto apper- tain Ingr-the admission of students, whether to tlie regular course of siudy thereof, or to anj' special course of study connected ihere- wllh, or to instruction in any particular branch of such study,— the amount and mode of payment of all fees therein,— and the discip- line and internal government thereof; and shall duly enforce such regulations, and may alter or repeal the same or any of them; and shall hear and determine all complaints as to the violation thereof. Provided always, that such regulations, or such alteration or repeal thereof, be first approved by the corporation ; and that such regulations shall be further sub- ject to alteration or repeal by the corporation." It is evident that, under this statute, the faculty, having received authority lo estab- lish a special course for the education of women, had a right to claim the supervision of that course, and that, unless under very exceptional circumstances, proposals for new regulations should emanate from it. In this position the matter now remains. The ques- tion as to the best methods of pursuing the studies of women in the third and fourth years is before the faculty of arts, which may possibly be prepared to report on it at the January meeting, or at furthest in April. In the meantime neither the governors nor cor- poration have any occasion to meddle with it, unless any new feature, as for instance an additional endowment, should develop itself, in which case the matter of such new endow- ment would primarily belong to the board of governors. It would be an insult to the knowledge and good sense of the members of the corporation to suppose that they were not aware that this was the legitimate elfect of their action in September ; and if so, they were bound to act as they did in October, un- less they were prepared to rescind their pre- vious resolutions, to advise the governors to return Mr. Smith's money, and to require the Faculty of Arts to dismiss the class it had advertised for, or to oblige it to enter on mixed lectures. The corporation is, however, a large body, meeting infrequently, and many of whose members have little time to give to educational subjects, while its scope of action, though wide, does not include financial matters and appointments, which be- long to the board of governors, or details of administration and management, which belong to the principal and faculties. It is, there- fore, not unlikely that to some of its members the organization of the classes for women may seem to have gone on with undue rapidity. But the reasons for urgency m the case were very fully explained at both of the meetings of last autumn, and will be noticed in my next letter. POSSIBLE MISCONCEPTIONS IN THE PUBLIC MIND. It is, of course, not easy to determine to what extent the state of mind, aptly charac- terized in the following extract from a recent number of an evening paper, as " confusion of ideas, ' ' may have existed in the case of the public : — " The discussion of this question has brought to light that the corporation of the university H iH divided oil f ho matler of Noparute or <'o-fdu- catlon ; that It has not yot come tu a declNlon ; and that meanwhile an attempt Im bchiK madu to crt-ato a set of clrcumHianci's by whioli It will havo virtually '(III fit'd' into a syslcm of separatt; cducatioii. Wholhur thero has ht'eti any Interference with Usprlvlk'Kos.or whether the promoters of co-education are themHelves to blame for the present confusion of Ideas as to its whereabouts on the tiueslion, it Is Impos- sible to tell. 8ir William Dawson and his assertion of the willingness of the university to take the public into conlldeuce notwllh- standiu);, there is no authoritative report of its proceedings to which an appeal can be made." That such miscuncuptionu should exist no one can regret more than I. In so far as the university is concerned, liowever, I may plead tliat our statutes are the property of the public ; that my report states substantially what I have said above ; that our advertise- inent of the classes was very full ; that in- tormation was given to rei)orters of the press, and thut our printed announcement of the special course was widely distributed. Fur- ther, I had stated the facts of the case very plainly a few days previously in the same newspaper from which the extract is taken, and the writer might have had access to per- sonal sources of information if he still failed to comprehend the situation. Before leaving this writer, however, and before dealing with the questions as to our classes for women which remain for the decision of the Faculty of Arts, I must refer for a moment to another statement which seriously affects the question in hand, and the general interests of the university as well. He says : — " While the work in the junior classes of the Arts Faculty does not rise above the level of a good High School, it would be absurd to run the risk of its standard being fur- ther reduced by saddling the teachers with the additional duties of a Ladies' College." To the latter part of this it is sufficient to reply that those more immediately concerned are probably best qualified to judge as to what they can undertake, and as the question is now before those gentlemen as a faculty, we may be content to await their decision. Thr public may in any case rest assured that they will do nothing to jeopard- ize that college course which it has been the work of their liveii to build up, and of whose integrity in all its parts they are most jealous. But when a writer, living in the city of Montreal, and having access to the calendar and examination papers uf the university, ventures to say that our junior classes, or one- half of our whole course in Arts, docs not rise above the level of a high school, he can scarcely plead the excuse of ignorance. 1 need only say in opposition tosuch u statementthat of the young women now in ourclasses several have been educated at the girls' high school of Montreal, one of the best schools of its class in the Dominion, and they are yet, with one brilliant exception, only barely at the educa- tional level of our examination for entrance into the tiist year. Is it conceivable that after two year's training under seven or eight of our professors, they will not have built much on this foundation? We who know the diiierence between the school and the college, and the extent and variety of the studies of our two junior years, believe that the young man or young woman who has passed the intermediate ex- amination has laid a good foundation of solid learning, and has attained to a standard which represents two years of hard work and skilful training, added to what he may have learned in school. Owing to the want of special preparation, there can be no question that some of the members of our clatses tor women have advanced farther than was ne- cessary for entrance on some of the subjects, while deficient in others ; but this affords the opportunity to allow them to give more at- tention to the subjects in which they have been less perfectly prepared, and constitutes no just ground for disparaging remarks as to the course of study of our first year. THE PLAN OF HIGHER EDUCATION KOR WOMEN AS PRESENTED IN THE REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL. In further evidence of the definiteness of 8 our plan, allow me to quote the following BentencuH from my report of October liiKt' which I thiuli plainly foroHiiiwlow wliat has actually been ho far accomplisiied : — "The arrauKomenlH for thlH ncHHlon rofor only to the work of the first year In Arts, and are In every respect similar to those for male students of that year, except that women are allowed to take German as e(|iilvalent to Greek. Three students, however, have entered for Greek, and It Is likely that In subsequent years the proportion may bo larijer. We have been enabled to use for the present the new class-rooms in the Peter Redpath Museum, which are sufncicnt to accommodate the classes, and will thus avoid any expense for rooms. These arrangements, and the provis- ional regulations passed by the Faculty of Arts under the resolutions of the corporation aeceptlng Mr. Smith's benefaction, will Hufflce for the second year. Our stu- dents will then be able to enter for the intermediate examinations and those for Senior A8soclat(; in Arts; and tlie question will remoinliow many desire to go on for the Degree examlnatlans, and in what way the work of the third and fourtli years will be provided for. Thet^e questions will have to en- gage the attention of tlie governors and corpor- ation, and the manner of their solution must depend on tlio means whlcli may be placed at the disposal of the university for tlie work to be done. Provided that no additional endow- ment can be secured. It will be necessary to open some of our present classes in the ad- vanced years to women, and even this will in- volve some expense in the provision of proper waiting rooms and probably of a lady superin- tendent of the classes, will le It is not impossi- ble that a portion of the students may decline to go on under these conditions. If, on the other baud, an additional endowment should .>e pro- vided, separate provision can be made for the ordinary work, and at least for some of tlie honour studies, so that, as in p]nglaiid, a choice may be offered of separate and mixed classes." This brings us back to the question — What is to be done in the advanced years of the course ; and though here it is necessary to speak with some reserve and to be content with the consideration of possible alterna- tives, it may still he useful to state for the information of our friends the leading condi- tions of the case and the means at disposal of the univeralty for Mtisfying them under the ditl'urent methods which have been pro- posed. HKTUOSPKCT Oil* PK0CEEOINU8 UP TO 188-1. In order to explain more fully the position of the university and to foreshadow the provision to be made for women in the senior years of the college course, it will be neces- sary to glance at the previous history of the question, and tlie causes which determined the action of the university latt autumn, art well as my own action. Since 1870, when the higher education of women was brought under the notice ©f the friends of the univer- sity by the Uev. Dr. Wilkes, the subject lia» never been altogether absent from our minds, and all those concerned in the management ot the university have earnestly desired to share in this great work. But we felt that, except in so far as we could act in connection with the Ladies' educational association or by opening our examinations to women, we were unable, without special endowments, to do rnucn good. Ho cautious did we feel it necessary to be in the matter, that, unlike our sister university in Ontario, we did not style our examinations for women matricula- tion examinations, but gave them a special title, lest they might be supposed, as in On- tario, to give a legal right to force an entrance into our classes. Latterly, and more especial- ly after tlie bequest of Miss Scott to the Trafalgar Institute, we began to entertnui the hope that this institution might provide the means of bringing women up to the standard of our senior associi.ce in arts, and the venerable Archdeacon Leach and myself, as members of the Trafalgar trust, did what we could in aid of the imme- diate usefulness of the Institute. To Dr. Murray belongs the credit of obliging the corporation to enter on the discussion of the question from a point of view which I con- fess many of us had wished to avoid as long as possible — that of mixed education of the sexes. The introduction of this principle .1 .1 waH plni tly conti'mpliitcd by hiH roNoliition I of ()(,l«i' IT jr), IMHJ, wliicli was to (lif flk'it that ' tliu mtiK-atioiial udvantagcH of the, Fiic'.lty of ArtH hIiomIiI be tlirown open to till (tcrsoiis, witlioiit sider itself called on to make any detinite recommendation, and the information ii had collected amounted tu little more than that those colleges which had mixed classes did not report that any evil consequen- ces resulted from tliese. So far the report might be considered favourable to co-education, but it was evident thai in- fornuition collected by correspontlence of this klnil must be unsatisfactory, and we were especially in uncert^iinty respecting the exact naturuofthe metiiods in use in Ureati3ri- tain, which there was reason to believe were in some respects best suited to the social con- dition of this country. In these circum- stances, and as 1 was about to proceed to England, 1 otlered to spend some time when there in visiting colleges for women, or in which women were educated, and in obtain- ing information as to their methods. It was understood that further discussion of the subject was to be deferred till my return. KKKOKT TO PUoVU)E INSTRUCTION KOlt WOME.V IN THE SriU.NH OK 1«84. I returned to Canada in June, but was not prepared to report at the June meeting of the corporation, which took place only a few days after my arrival. I made only an oral report, and promised to report fully in time for tlio October meeting. Had T known bo« f«)re-hand the tacts that were soon to develop tliemselves, I slioiiM have written my leport in Kngland or on the steamer, and shoidd have presented it to tlie June meeting. In my absence an event intexampled in oim- pre- vious ex|)erieni • had occurred in connection with the schoo; xaminations of the univer- sities. Two young ladies from the girls' higli school of Montreal had taken the higli- est places on the list of associates in arts, one of them with remark- ably high marks. I had heard of the fact, but its possible consecjuences did not at first occur to me. These developed them- selves, however, in a short time after my return, when u deputation of hidy associatus in Arts called on me and represented their earnest wish to proceed to the title of senior associate in Arts, and if po.ssible to the exam- inatiovis for the degree, if means of ejuca- tion could be provided. Here wa« an actual demaiul for higher education, and this from those who had the greatest claims on our consideration as having done well in the ex- aminations to which they had been subjected. I told them that the university had not de- cided lo admit women to its classes in arts nor to its final fcxaminations, but that, since women were admis- sible to the examinations for senior associate in arts, I considered it a proper thing to promote in any way in my power their attaining to preparation for that examination. The time was an unfavourable one, as we were in the bustle of preparation for the meeting of the Britisli Association, but before the date of the meeting, with the aid of the Rev. Canon Norman, to whom, as represeatinsr Bishops' College in the joint ex- aminations for senior associate in Arts, I had mentioned the circumstances, and with the advice and co-operation of several of the professors in the Faculty of Arts, sufficient progress had been made to enable us to issue a circular to ladies of the Educational Asso- 10 n^ ciiilion and others, inviting tlieir aid toward tiio ostiiblisiiiaiint of classes for tlie young ladios wlio iiiid applied, and wlio at tlmt time were eigiit in number. I may add tliat sev- eral of tlie professors, indeed all those con- cerned in the work of the first year in Arts, signilied to rae their willingness to give all the assistance in their power, that Canon Norman entered very heartily into the pro- ject, and that the Ilev. Dr. Wilkes and a number of ladies of influence, several of them connected with the Ladies' Associiition, were also most earnest in desiring to adv^ loe the interests of the candidates for higher educa- tion. Let it observed that there was nothing in these proceedings to commit eitlier McGiU or Bishop's College to any course with refer- ence to separate o..' mixed education for wo- men. The object was merely to urovide for the candidates actually desirous for education, till the universities or one of tiiem should undertake the work in any way that might be detc mined on. THE ENDOWMENT OP THE HON. DONALD A. SMITH. During the meeting of tlie British Asso- ciation I dismissed the matter from my mind, intending to give it attention when the meeting should be over. But one morning, while I was in the geological sec- tion, I was told that a gentleman desired to see me, and on going out I found my friend the Hon. Mr. Smith, who asked if it was de- sired to establish collegiate classes for women, and stated that in that case he was prepared to give the sum of $50,000 to- ward the object, on conditions which he would state in a letter which he proposed to write. I confess that the coincidence of the demand for higher education made by those who had so great claims upon us, and the ofl'er of so 'iberal a benefaction by a gentle- man to whom no application for aid had been made on my part, seemed to me to constitute one of those rare opportunities for good which occur but seldom to any mau, and which are to be accepted with thankfulness and followed up with earnest effort. From tliat time to the meeting of tieptember 20th — whose results have already been stated — the subject occupied m_y closest attention as to the measures which might be taken, not now as an e.xtra-academical effort, but under the statutes and regulations of Hie university, to provide with the least possible delay the educational privileges desired by the intend- ing students, so that they might begin their work at the opening of tlie present session. 1 was not a co-educationist, but, had I been so, I am sure that I should have acted in the same way, and had the endowment been offered for co-education, I sliould have ac- cepted it as a providential indication in the case, at wliatever sacrifice to myself. This completes the history of our effort for the higher education of women up to the point at which I introduced it in my first letter ; and I thank God that we have been able to do what we have done up to this time, and desire also to express mv- sincere gratitude to the many friends and mem- bers of the university, from the chancellor downward, who have taken part in the work, or have diminished its labours and anxieties by their advice and sympathy. I have introduced this little history deli- beiately at this point, because it enables us to contemplate with more hopefulness the difficulties which still lie before us and which I do not desire to underrate. POSSIBLE PROVISION FOR THE WORK OF THE THIRD AND FOURTH YEARS. In the third and fourth years our classes require to be conducted in a diti'erent manner from that which applies to those of the first and second years. Up to the intermediate examination all students take the same curri- culum ; but beyond this point they are al- lowed to select to a certain extent the sub- jects "hey shall study, and this causes our classes to divide in the senior years into se- veral distinct lines of educational work. The n^ St) 11 primary diHtinction is that of Ordinary and Honour subjects, tlio former implying a con- tiiuiation of a somewhat broad general edu- cation, the latter u riore speciii! devotion to higlier studies of specialties. Tlie ordinary student is required in the third and fourth years to take two or three subjects as imper- ative, and is allowed his choice with respect to otliers, but must take four in all, along with some special work known as an "additional department'' The lionour student is required to take only three ordinary subjects in the tliird year and two in the fourth, and may devote all the rest of his time to tliat in whicli lie is a can- didate for iionours. Tlie honour classes are small — from two or tlu'ee to six or seven men — yet a large amount of time has to be given to them, and it would scarcely be possible to duplicate these lectures. For this reason there seems no alternative in the case of lady candidates for honours, except attendance in the same classes with men. In the ordinary work, on the otlier hand, it would be i)ossible to provide separate lectures in some of the subjects, probably not in others, unless by the aid of additional teacliers. It so happens also that some of our professors are disposed to try the experiment of mixed classes, while others would much prefer separate classes. In these circumstances it may be well to aim at certain ordinary clasbses for women leading up to the final examina- tions, leaving others to be taken as mi.'ced classes. This approaches to the method of the older English universities. Should we be unable to give any choice in the matter, I should dread the responsibility involved, as in that case this would certainly prove very onerous auil might become disastrous ; but if there were a choice, so that it might be said to any lady student: — "You are free to pursue your whole education in sepa- rate classes, but free also in other subjects to take mixed classes," i should feel that the weight of social and moral r-isponsibility would be greatly diminished, and I think this is also the feeling of the greater nninber of my colleagues. I confess that m case of any faux, pas or m<' salliance such as wc sometimes hear of in connection with mixed education, I should, in the case of compulsori/ co-educa- tion, f-iel myself morally disgraced, and that is a risk which I do not propose to incur on any consideration whatever. As to the question of expense, there is something to be said on both sides. If we i»re to have mixed classes in the honour sub- jects only, in the third and fourth years, the expense for these will be inconsideialile. If we are to have mixed classes in ihe ordinary subjects, or several of them, it would be greater. We shall require larger and better rooms for several of the classes, proper wait- iug rooms, and a salary for a lady superin- tendent. As to this last requirement, I may state here that in the conduct of the classes so far, we have been much indebted to the kindness of tiie honorary secrettiry and sec- retary of the Ladies' Educational associa- ciation, who have given us the benefit of their presence and of their guidance in many matters of some consequence to the comfort and convenience of the students, and that vv are also indebted to the forethought of Mr. Uedpath, who provided si)ecial retir- ing rooms tor lady students in the museum. My estimate is tliat a sum of ls)'2a,000 would enable the board of governors to provide for the mixed classes, and I wish to oiler to zealous co-educationists the opportunity to present us with this sum in the I'ourse of next year. It certainly cannot be afforded out of the general funds of the universitv On the other hand, to furnish the means to can-)- forward to the degree such of the stu- dents as may desire separate classen, will re- quire ail', filer endowment ot SjO,000, and to do t'.ie whole of the ordinary work in that way i, somewhat larger sum might be profit- ably used. I may add, however, that either of these expenditures, wliether for rooms or 12 work, would react bonoficially on the inter- ests of the malt stiiicnts, in iraprovinfj; their class-rooms on the one hand, and in giving assistance to the professors on the otlier. PEUSONAIi OPINION OF TIIK WUITEH ON THE GENEHAIi SUBJECT. In conclusion I desire to express, as a matter of personal opinion, ray entire sym- pathy with ray friend Dr. Wilson, of Toronto, in the able and elofpiont appeal on belialt of the higher education of woiucmi wliioh was quoted in tiio Gazktte some tirao ago. We should aim at a culture for woman iiiglier, more reSniug and better suited for her nature than that which we provide for men ; and I feci convinced that even when the course of study is the sarae with that for men, this result is to some e.xteat secured it the classes are separate. What 1 have seen abroad, what I have witnessed in our classes here, and my own experience in lecturing to classes of ladies, convince me that this is the case. I feel certain that every true teacher will sympathize with me in saying that his lectures assume a dilferentand higher tone when delivered to a class of women or to a class in wiiich women are the groat majority, as compared with a class of men, or one in which the male element pre- dominates. It is in this way, and not m a mtne co-education mixturi;, that the refining influence of woman is to be felt in education. If the cost of separate classes were vastly greater than it is, it would, in my judgment, on this ground alone, be well repaid. Every one who has had experience in the matter must also admit that a few women in a large class of men cannot enjoy the same ad- vantages as in a class of their own 8ex, unless they are prepared to assert themselves in an unwomanly manner, and it is not just or ex- pedient tiiat any such disability should be inflicted on them. It is further to be observed that in so far as any justification can be given of the gibes of the thoughtless against the higher education of women, as producing an offensive "strong- mindedness," this is to be sought only in the masculine and aggressive spirit cultivated by co-education, especially in large junior clas.ses. In women, as in men, true educa- tion, under proper methods, will produce, not pedantry and self-assertion, but humility, breath of view, and capacity for varied useful- ness. N'otc. — I have not entered, except incidentally, into the question of the relative success of methods of mixed and separate education of the sexes in collejjiate studies. The following statistics from tlie Report of the U. S. Bureau of Education for 1882 may be interesting. It is stated that the number of women in mixed and separate Col- leges stood tlius : Mixed 3,305 Separate 14,088 But as the compiler of the table has placed in the first list several institutions which are really separate, as Vassar College, for example, merely because they send up stu- dents for examination to the University of New York, the actual proportion is: — Mixed 2,493 Separate 14,900 or nearly in the proportion of one to seven. It is further stated in the Report that the number in mixed classes in the Eastern and Southern States is very small, co-education being principally in the Western States ; and further that it is not gaining ground in the East and South. These facts, with the small number of students attending those Canadian Colleges which have oi)ened their classes to woiiien along with men, would seem to indicate that this method may be expected to provide for about one seventh of those desirous of higher education, leaving the rest without any educational advantages, and this evil can be remedied hero, as in the United States, only by the endowment of well-appointed colleges for women in opposition to those practising co-education.