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lIttebs 
 
 ON TH£ 
 
 CONDITION AND PROSPECTS 
 
 or 
 
 QUEEN'S COLLEGE, 
 
 ADDRESSED TO THE 
 
 HOI. WILLIAM MOREIS, 
 
 CHAIKMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. ROBERT MACGILL, 
 
 ONE OF THEIR NUMBER. 
 
 (, 
 
 VV.. 
 
 'ixn 
 
 WITH AN APPENDIX AND NOTES. 
 
 rniNTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE HAD A 
 SHARE IN ITS MANAGEMENT. 
 
 MONTREAL : 
 
 PRINTED BY ARMOUR AND RAMSAY, 
 
 St. Francois Xavkr Street. 
 
 I 
 
585. UcCrM 
 
 4 
 
 ,* 
 
 PRINTED B7 ARMOUR AND RAMSAY, MONTREAL, 
 
9 
 
 .* 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 Niagara, 24M May^ 184.2. 
 
 Mr Dear Sir, 
 
 Among several considerations which induced me to set 
 aside certain hindrances which would have justified my absence from 
 the late meeting of the Trustees of Queen's College, the hope of an 
 unrestrained and confidential conference with you on the condition 
 and prospects of that Institution was not the least powerful. Its 
 affairs, at this very momentous crisis in its history, require the most 
 careful and deliberate counsel on the part of those who are constituted 
 its le^l guardians. Permanent results for good or evil arc often con- 
 sequent on primary measures, and, as in my humble judgment the 
 Board has taken one or two falf^e steps from which inconvenience 
 and detriment may arise, I should have been glad of on opportunity to 
 have explained to you personally my objections, the remedies I would 
 propose, and the principles by which in my opinion we should be 
 guided in certain proceedings which must very shortly force them- 
 selves upon our attention. As the opportunity of a personal inter- 
 view was not afforded me, I am sure you will, with candii! considera- 
 tion, excuse me for troubling you with a written statement of my 
 views. 
 
 At the outset then, permit me the freedom to express my opinion, 
 and I do it with all deference and with great esteem and affection for 
 every individual composing it, — that the Board has been by much too 
 eager in hurrying on the commencement of the teaching department. 
 To open classes in the beginning of March, unexpectedly and with little 
 previous noti6cation, when the state of the roads and the interruption 
 of water communication rendered it impossible for young men at a 
 distance to proceed to Kingston, when no suitable apartments had 
 been provided for class-rooms, and no boarding accommodation for 
 the students, when no plan of the course of instruction had been fixed 
 upon or published, when even the ordinary class books could not be 
 
procured, when neither library nor apparatus existed, so essential to 
 instruction in the higher branches of education, when it was known 
 that with all these disadvantages the Session could not continue more 
 than three or four months, — with these circumstances be .".^re me, I 
 cannot help thinking the commencement we have made premature 
 and injudicious. Our ill-success justifies the conclusion. Prme 
 dozen of matriculated students, at stages of advancement so varied 
 that they cannot be classified, and a few boys who, with much 
 advantage to themselves and at less expense to their parents, might 
 have remained at the local schools in which they had been placed, 
 compose the first catalogue of the sucklings of Queen's — their Alma 
 Mater. Our proceedings in this matter, while they have entailed a 
 very considerable expense, without any equivalent advantage, are at 
 variance with resolutions that have previously been passed at full 
 Meetings of the Board, and which ought not to have been reversed 
 except by a meeting equally full, and after the most mature delibera- 
 tion. Constituted as ths Board is and depending upon public opinion 
 for support, nothing can be more deplorable than vacillation in its 
 measures. The loss of mutual confidence among its members must 
 be the result ; and the loss of public confidence will soon follow. 
 
 I would scarcely have ventured to advert to these circumstances, 
 were it not that I believe our future course of proceeding may be 
 injuriously affected by them, and that it is not too late to apply a 
 remedy. The Principal has declared to the Board that the requisite 
 classes cannot be conducted, unless two additional professors be 
 appointed, and ready to unite with him in October:— and this, he 
 says, at the very least is required to constitute any thing worthy of 
 the name ofaprofessorial staff. But to me it 5eems equally clear, 
 that neither in the present rented building, nor in any other likely to 
 be found in Kingston, can suitable apartments be found for four class- 
 rooms ; and unless the Board undertake the erection of a suitable 
 edifice that shall be completed by Octobei, the resumption of another 
 Session at that time will only pave the way for aggravated disappoint- 
 ment. But, Sir, we have not the funds to defray the salaries of two 
 jidditional Professors. When the instalments due in May are paid 
 
 I 
 
essential to 
 I was known 
 ontinue more 
 be ">re me, I 
 le premature [ 
 
 Bion. 
 
 ■me 
 
 nt 80 varied 
 with much 
 irents, might 
 )een placed, 
 —their Alma 
 e entailed a 
 itage, are at 
 issed at full 
 ;en reversed 
 ure delibera- 
 iblic opinion 
 nation in its 
 ambers must 
 follow, 
 cumstances, 
 ling may be 
 to apply a 
 the requisite 
 rofessors be 
 md this, he 
 g worthy of 
 qually clefir, 
 her likely to 
 )r four class- 
 f a suitable 
 n of another 
 I disappoint- 
 laries of two 
 ay are paid 
 
 ifl, we may perhaps be prepared to support one other, but by lakmg 
 this step, there will remain with the Treasurer not a fraction for build- 
 ing, for a Library and other requisites. In this state of affairs, I hum- 
 bly submit that we should pause. It would not be wise in the 
 Board to contract deb*, not only because the sources from which we 
 expect its liquidation are precarious, but the heavy rate of mterest 
 wculd drain away the revenue, and render us unable to meet the 
 necessary charges. In the prosecution of so great a work there .s no 
 dishonour in thus being called to halt until we acquire additional 
 resources for an onward movement. In the foundation of Colleges as 
 of cities, a breathing interval of years is often indispensable. Let me 
 then submit to you my judgment, that we ought not to contemplate 
 the opening of another Session in October next. 
 
 Were the Board to resolve upon this delay, the services of the 
 Principal and Professor Campbell might, during the suspension of 
 teaching, be turned to much better account than they are at present, 
 or than they are likely to be, even on the most favorable supposition, 
 during next winter. The former, on his return to Scotland, might 
 prolong his stay, and advocate our cause there, and in the Sister 
 Kingdoms, with much advantage to the ultimate prosperity of the 
 Institution. As the Head of Queen's College, provided he were at 
 liberty to devote himielf to this work for twelve or fifteen months, he 
 might succeed in awakening an interest in ^its favour, which would 
 issue in something more substantial than any aid we have yet obtain^ 
 ed from the parent Church. Possessed as he is of great tact and 
 energy, we might indulge the hope that he would bring back with 
 him not only such funds, as would, with the Provincial contributions, 
 enable us to provide for two additional Professors, but such a collec- 
 tion of Books and Instruments as the character of such an Institution 
 demands. Mr. C, m the meantime, might be employed with the same 
 object in Canada. Our subscriptions here have been sadly bungled 
 for want of an efficient Agent. Under Mr. C.'s management we 
 might look for such a replenishing of the exchequer^ as would enable 
 us to begin the Session of 1843 under belter auspices. 
 
6 
 
 The proposed delay, neccsaary, as I tliink, to avert from us the 
 change of proceeding without due ddiberation, and the discouragement 
 of a public exposure of our ilUsuccess, would moreover aflbrd us 
 leisure to bring some other suspended questions to a fair settlement. 
 To some of them I will invite your attention in my next letter. 
 I am, my dear Sir, 
 
 Your's with great respect, 
 
 „ „- ., . KOBERT McGlLL. 
 
 Hon. Wm. Morris. 
 
m us the 
 ragement 
 aflbrd us 
 ment. 
 ; letter. 
 
 GrILL. 
 
 LETTER H. 
 
 Niagara, 26M Mat/t 1842. 
 
 hU D£AR Sib, 
 
 The actual result of our solicitations for support to 
 Queen's College, since iu claims were first brought before the public, 
 may enable us to judge, perhaps with tolerable accuracy, what shall 
 be the total success ot out first effort for its establishment. I say tho 
 first effort, for I hold that all that has . en done, and all that yet re- 
 mains to be done, in carrying the work of soliciting subscriptions over 
 such parts of the country m have not yet been visited, is no more than 
 a first effort for the accomplishment of ihis vast undertaking. Two 
 or three years must elapse are this first movement shall be completed, 
 and the fruits of it fully gathered :n ; and altho'the sura that may even 
 then be realized, come far short of what a few of the sanguine advo- 
 cates of this Institution anticipated, yet we are assured it will greatly 
 exceed the amount reckoned on by many who were disposed to very 
 sober and cautious calculations. That within the short space of two 
 years, and amidst the many difficulties under which this Province 
 was laboring, we should have collected £10,000, and have outstand- 
 ing subscriptions to nearly an equal amount, is certainly no doubtful 
 evidence of the hearty good-will and liberality of the friends of the 
 Collegc,-and should an efficient Agency be appointed both for Ca- 
 nada and Britain, such as I hinted at in my last letter, there is every 
 reason to hope that our subscriptions wilttin two or three years might 
 amount to £25,000. In venturing to express such a hope, I am 
 quite aware, Sir, that the large and wealthy cities upon which In such 
 undertakings we must always mainly depend, as Quebec for instance, 
 and Montreal, Kingston and Toronto, have already paid over large 
 sums, and that the instalments due in those places are pretty well 
 forestalled ; yet I remember that it was assigned as a rep«)n, to one 
 who made the remark, that we had few very large-subscriptions from 
 wealthy individuals in the cities,-that they declined contributing by 
 ingtalment8,-that they preferred handing over immediately a de- 
 finite sum, reserving to future applications, as the scheme advanced 
 
8 
 
 and itd necessitiea required, such farther donations as ihey might aee* 
 fit to give. Without being chargeable, therefore, with an unseeuily 
 importuniiy, I beheve that the Trustees may return again and again to 
 many of the wealthy contributors in these cities, and, provided we can 
 shew a judicious disbursement of fundb, and a proportionate attain- 
 ment of the grand object for which the Institution has oeen founded, 
 we shall not be sent empty away. In regard to the Parent Country, 
 I can scarcely form a conjecture what an efficient Agent might accom- 
 plish there. The perplexed state of ecclesiastical affairs, the depres- 
 sion of manufactures, the innumera'Me demands made on the benevo- 
 lent for local objects, very probably of a more pressing nature than 
 ours, together with our great distance and the little knowledge that is 
 diffused of the wants and claims of this Colony, might probably render 
 it difficult to call forth much ger.oial liberality in support of a College 
 in Canada; yet we might surely expect from the nuraerc js mercantile 
 housec, more immediately connected with this country, very consider- 
 able assistance. 
 
 A period, however, must be set to this first effort. It is not to be 
 imagined that those who have already contributed liberally, and per- 
 haps up to the extent of their means, will bear soon to be solicited 
 again for the same object : they have done their part. The second 
 effort must be left to a new generation, and perhaps we do not specify 
 too great an interval, when we say that it ought not to be attempted 
 within twenty years. When this cycle has revolved, there wiU be 
 another race in Canada and ampler resources. It is our duty mean- 
 while to manage wisely, for present necessities, the sum entrusted to 
 our disposal. If it should amount to ^625,000, of which £5000 may 
 possibly be transferred to us in the sha^ie of Books, je20,000 will be 
 available as a sourct of revenue, and for buildings : with this sum, 
 stated I fear at a maximum, we shall be required to carry on the 
 whole business of the University for the next twenty years. The 
 plan of College edifices, for which the Trustees awarded their highest 
 premium, cannot be executed at an expense less than je20,000, and 
 though it were deemed practicable to carry on the business of the 
 College for twenty years, with the erection of only one half of the pro- 
 
« 
 
 might see" 
 
 unseemly 
 d again to 
 ed we can 
 Ue attain- 
 t founded, 
 '. Country, 
 ht accom« 
 e depresi- 
 e bencvo- 
 ture than 
 ;e that ii 
 )Iy render 
 a College 
 lercantile 
 consider- 
 not to be 
 and per- 
 solicited 
 i second 
 t specify 
 Itempted 
 I will be 
 ' raean- 
 rusted to 
 too may 
 
 will be 
 lis sum, 
 T on the 
 J. The 
 
 highest 
 )0, and 
 I of the 
 he pro- 
 
 poseJ i>lan, even this would require an expenditure quite incompati> 
 ble with other necessary demands. It. supposing that the Assembly^!) 
 Committee shall continue to pay the jc^ancipars Salary for the period 
 specified, a condition for which we have no guarantee, the mainten- 
 ance of other three Professors, without whom, as the Principal states, 
 the objects of a University cannot be attained, would require an in- 
 vestment of at least £15,000; and should there be added to this a 
 farther investment of j£5000 for incidental charges, a sum certainly 
 not too large, the entire proceeds of our first effort will be ubsorbed by 
 our teaching department alone. But, unless there be /our Professors 
 besides the Principal, the College Senate cannot be ho constituted t.8 
 to confer degrees ; and, if it were declared that there is no prospect of 
 its being so constituted for twenty years to come, and that no degrees 
 i'ould be conferred on successful students du'ng tha» long period, I 
 tear, even though it be admitted that this is not a country in which 
 Academical honours are unduly estimated, that it would make our 
 halls but thinly attended. Students will geneiully prefer Institutions 
 where all the customary advantages and honours are enjoyed, while 
 the infani College, even though honored with a Royal charter, straitener^ 
 in its resources and struggling with difficulties, will be passed by, even 
 by such as sincerely wish it were in a more prosperous condition. 
 The abilities and learning of Professors, however eminent, are placed 
 in circum ances of extreme disadvantage, without buildings, books, 
 apparatus, museum, and whatever else is necessary to a seat of learn- 
 ing. But Queen's College is destitute of all these appliances, and 
 having no very certain or immediate prospect of obtaining there on a 
 suitable scale, it seems to me, as if it were beginning its career, like a 
 tender exc^tic exposed to the severest of our biting nouh-winds. 
 
 If these views of our financial prospects be correct, we could 
 have little claim to the merit of discretion were we to commence the 
 erection of College edifices. The only alternative,'therefore, remain- 
 ing, provided it were resolved on to bring the College into immediate 
 operation with four Professors, would be to make another attempt to 
 rent some building, umil the time for a second effort to enlarge uur 
 funds should have arrived. It does not appear, however, that any. 
 
 B 
 
10 
 
 li 
 
 building can Le found in Kingston at all adapteJ to our object. The 
 public Hospital, or the Archdeacon's house might perhaps have served 
 the purpose, could they have been obtained on a lease sufficienlly 
 favourable and extended ; but all hope of this in regard to both of these 
 buildings seems now to be abandoned' I confess I do not regret the 
 failure of the negociations to effect a lease of either of hese ouildings. 
 For 1 do. not see thsi at the end of three years, and this was the 
 longest period Aat the lessors would have granted a lease, we would 
 have been in any better condition to build than we are at this 
 moment ; and we should, on the expiry of the lease, have been at the 
 mercy of the landlord for a renewal, or have been constrained to seek 
 after some new tabernacle for the Muses, and the few disciples who- 
 might be inclined ta'follow them^ notwithstanding their houseless con- 
 dition. Besides, in the state of our funds, the abstraction of £300 
 annually for rent is quite out of Ull proportion to our income. It 
 would have obliged us to break in upon our capital, contrary to all the 
 pledges that have been held out to the public, I am sure, Sir, I fully 
 sympathize with the Trustees in their eagerness to bring Queen's 
 College into early operation. I acknowledge myself to have been one 
 of the sanguine projectors, who anticipated much greater things than 
 have been actually attained ; and I hare feebly endeavoured, in my 
 advocacy of this undertaking, to represent the sad evils resulting to 
 the best interests of this Province from the want of a University, at 
 which the youth destined for public and professional life might obtain 
 a liberal education, and I have constantly declared that, in so far as 
 my counsel had any weight, no unnecessary delay should be per- 
 mitted in bringing it into operation, — but in this, as happens in many 
 a human scheme, the course of events does not run according to ou? 
 wishes ; obstacles are found in the way that we cannot surmount j 
 and wisdom calls on us to search about for a practicable opening in 
 some new direction. 
 
 I am, my dear Sir,. 
 
 Your's with great esteem, 
 
 ROBIRT McGlLL. 
 
 Hon. Wm. Morrie. 
 
n 
 
 bjoct. The 
 have served 
 i sufficienlly 
 )oth of these 
 t regret the 
 ie ouildings. 
 bis was the 
 5, we would 
 
 are at this 
 
 been at the 
 ined toseek 
 sciplea who 
 useless con- 
 an of £300 
 income. It 
 ry to all the 
 , Sir, I fully 
 ng Queen's 
 ve been one 
 
 things than 
 ured^ in my 
 resulting to 
 niversity, at 
 [night obtain 
 
 in 30 far as 
 )uld be per- 
 ms in many 
 Jing to ou!C 
 
 surmount ; 
 
 opening in 
 
 cGiLL. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 Niagara, 30M Mai/, 184.2. 
 
 My Dear Sir, 
 
 At the commencement of this movement in which 
 Queen^s College has resulted, nothing more, I think, was contemplated 
 by the originators than the establishment of a Tlieological Seminary, to 
 nil up the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. The idea of founding 
 an institution that could be entitled to the name of a University ,'or that 
 could present all its advantages, was too magnificent to be entertained 
 by the cautious and practical men who took the first part in call- 
 ing attention to this subject. Such an undertaking, at least to those 
 who have formed their ideas of it upon European models, is fit only for 
 wealthy and ancient nationfi, and is quite beyond the reach of settlers 
 contending with all the difficulties of a recent colony — and far more 
 impracticable, if a fraction only of their number can, because of religi- 
 ous diversities, be induced to support the measure. For, even though 
 it be attempted on the smallest scale, a large capital must necessarily 
 be invested fur the purpose ; and in Canada, where capital is so limited, 
 where there are few individuals of great wealth from whom material 
 assistance could be obtained, where the Presbyterian community, upon 
 whom we mainly depend, is so widely scattered,that it is next to an im- 
 possibility to concentrate their liberality on one great object — if it were 
 t} succeed at all, it can only be after many long years of unusual sacri- 
 fice and laborious exertion. Yet, Sir, I am fully persuaded, and no 
 man can be a better judge of the ^act than yourself, that such a spirit 
 animates the Presbyterian community in this land, that were it not for 
 the continual demands made upon the surplus of their industry for 
 local objects, wo should have made a very close approximation, even 
 in our first effort, to the complete attainment of our wishes in the per- 
 manent foundation of a University. What are those continual de- 
 mands upon our people ? They must expend their labour for years, 
 and whatever capital they have brought hither, in clearing away these 
 nrimeval forests i they must constr' '"^t roads and bridsics i thev must 
 build houses and barns ; every little neighborhood n 
 
 com I 
 
12 
 
 the erection of a Bchool-house and maintenance of a teacher ; ia locaR- 
 ties more densely peopled, a church must be erected and a minister 
 supported, in almost every case at a charge very burdensome as com- 
 pared with the disposable means of the parties. These urgent and 
 local demands will aways lake the precedence of those made for o 
 distant and general object. It is jusj and right that it should be so f 
 and I advert to it in connection with this subject, merely because it is 
 one of the peculiar circumstances that increase the difficulty of our 
 general enterprise, and which was fully before us at its commencement. 
 From this consideration among others, the first originators of this mea- 
 sure, who had mainly in view the education of young men for the 
 Church, did not contemplate more than the establishment of a Theolo- 
 gical Seminary ; and that the funds that might be obtained from the 
 Christian public for this purpose, would, in addition to the expected 
 endowmentof a Theological chair in connection with our Church by 
 King's College, be subsidiary to the endowment of other chai a neces- 
 say to render that Faculty complete. We long cherished the hope 
 that the Council of King's College would be so constituted as to remove 
 every suspicion of an undue sectarian influence, and that its Literary 
 and Scientific departments would be available to our youth generally, 
 as well as to such young men as had the intention of entering into the 
 sacred office. These feelings and hopes pervaded all our early deliber- 
 ations on this question. But the protracted delay in bringing King^s 
 College into operation, the pertinacity with which its Council, support- 
 ed by the Executive Goverment, persevered in their exclusive regime^ 
 blighted all hope of a liberal accommodation with them, and turned us, 
 in our great anxiety to remove an evil pressing sorely upon the spirituaT 
 condition of our people, aside upon a new position, the attempt to 
 establish not merely a Theological Seminary, but also a Literary In- 
 stitution, which should furnish instruction in all the branches of a 
 liberal education. This gave rise to the Bill, in the framing of which 
 you gave so much attention, and which you conducted through the 
 Legislature with so much ability — the various provisions of which are 
 embodied in that Hoyal Charter which Her Majesty has been gracious* 
 ly pleased to confer upon Queen's College. 
 
 'it 
 
13 
 
 er ; ia locafi- 
 d a minister 
 ime as coni'^ 
 urgent and 
 made for a 
 ould be so ; 
 liecause it is 
 tsulty of our 
 mencement. 
 of this mea- 
 nen for the 
 jfaTheolo- 
 ed from the 
 e expected 
 Church by 
 liai a neces- 
 ?d the hope 
 as to remove 
 its Literary 
 h generally, 
 ing into the 
 arly deliber- 
 iging King'^8 
 cil, support- 
 live regimef 
 (I turned us, 
 the Bpirituat 
 attempt to 
 Literary In- 
 anches of a 
 ig of which 
 hrough the 
 r which are 
 in gracious* 
 
 Though we were thus constrained, as we thought, to change our 
 position in order to secure an immediate and unalloyed good, ;et the 
 greatest care was taken on every occasion to make known, that our at- 
 tempt to establish an independent Institution, should not be held as a 
 relinquishment of any right we possessed to the privilegesof the Provm- 
 cial Institution endowed at the public charge for the beneBt of all, and m 
 which neither our own interest, nor that of coming generations, could by 
 us be rightfully relinquished. The unsuccessful negotiation, accom^ 
 panied by so many mortifying circumstances, to transfer the long-pro- 
 mised endowment for a Theological professorship from King's College 
 to Queen's, did not involve any such relinquishment, except in so far 
 as Theology was concerned. On all other departments in that Insti- 
 tution,we held a common and undiminished claim. Had the negotiation, 
 however, been successful, it would have materially changed the aspect 
 of our affairs. The sum of £1000 annually, of which we had reason 
 to feel ourselves assured, would, under economical management, have 
 endowed the Theological Faculty, and have enabled the Trustees to 
 appropriate the interest of the contributions obtained in Canada, to- 
 gether with the aid received from Scotland, to maintain the Literary 
 and Scientific departments, and to provide, as necessity demanded, 
 suitable buildings ; and although, even on this contingency, our means 
 would have been very inadequate to so great an undertaking, we 
 might nevertheless have contributed our full share to the e-lucational 
 improvement of the Province. 
 
 But— 
 
 « The wisest schemes of mice and men," 
 « gang aft agee," 
 
 and the mice destroyed ours. 
 
 Upon the manosuvring displayed in this transaction, I at present 
 pass no judgment. My design in alluding to it is, to bring to your re- 
 membrance that the promise of this aid formed a very important ele- 
 ment in our calculations of success-that, amidst all the sanguine anti- 
 cipations that we cherished of the liberality of our body, we had suffi- 
 
 • -_A 1 ^^A^ «f iViovnotpPHH of our undertaking, to be fully aware 
 
 that we could not accoinplish it by voluntary contributions alone with- 
 
14 
 
 out public a^sistance-and on.he faith, as we supposed, of positive 
 pledges, we held out for the encouragement of our friends the sum stated 
 above, that would be obtained for our Theological Faculty. The denial 
 of the obligation to its full extent by the Executive Government, and 
 the manifest intention to resile from it entirely, have cast a very unex- 
 pected cloud over our prospect., and seem to me plainly to indicate 
 the necessity of a corresponding change in our proceedings. 
 
 With the additional light that two years' experience has shed 
 upon us, lam inclined to think that the frustration of our wishes in 
 this matter must lead us into a path that will promote not only our 
 own advantage, but the general interests of education and religon in the 
 Province. The spirit of monopoly and exclusion is less rampant, or at 
 least less presumptuous and powerful than it used to be ; a disposition 
 seems to be awakened among public men to prosecute measures of gene- 
 ral utility, and to overlook, perhaps to frown down, the rivalships of 
 sect and party j parties themselves are more under the influence of 
 the attractive power ; the legislation of the country has recently been 
 based on more enlightened and liberal principles j and considering the 
 heterogeneous character of our legislative As8emblies,and the perplex- 
 ities arising from our peculiar circumstances and the ancient misrule, 
 some progress has doubtless been made in the restoration of mutual 
 confidence. The recent attempt, though certainly very crude and 
 defective in many of its details, to establish a uniform system of com- 
 mon school education, is highly laudable, and, in connection with the 
 more liberal provisions made for district grammar schools, may lead us 
 to conclude that i.. highest interests of the people-their intellectual 
 and moral culture-will no longer be neglected. The prospect now 
 afforded of the early commencement of King's College serves to con- 
 firm these expectations. Are not these signs of a better era? 
 May we not safely reckon upon them, should it be deemed advisable 
 to change our co-rse ? It will surely be incompatible with the line of 
 policy out of which these improvements have grown, to permit the reign 
 of-exclusiveness in the only Literary Institution over which the Pub- 
 lic has contri ', Will an Institution, founded at the common charge, he 
 permitted to remain under the exclusive government of a party ? A 
 
 I 
 
15 
 
 Jtl, of positive 
 Ihe sum stated 
 ^ The denial 
 Jrnment, and 
 a very unex- 
 y to indicate 
 ;s. 
 
 tice has shed 
 iir wishes in 
 not only our 
 religon in the 
 simpant, or at 
 a disposition 
 lures of gene- 
 rivalships of 
 influence of 
 cently been 
 isidering the 
 the perplex- 
 ent misrule, 
 
 of mutual 
 crude and 
 »ra of com- 
 on with the 
 nay lead us 
 intellectual 
 >spect now 
 ^es to con- 
 etter era? 
 
 advisable 
 the line of 
 it the reign 
 li the Pub- 
 
 O.harao ha 
 __. .^. 
 
 arty ? A 
 
 stranger, in reading the account of the late ceremony of laying the 
 foundation stone, would naturally conclude this mual be an Episcopal 
 Institution,— that the mitre will be on all its pinnacles, and the youth 
 of every name, who are invited to entei- it, will be dazzled with its glit- 
 tering horns. Now, to this supraposition of the mitre the people of 
 Canada could have no reasonable objections, provided King's College 
 were endowed by the voluntary contributions of the Episcopal Church, 
 or had the Royal munificence been specially designed for its advantage 
 alone. Associations of individuals may manage their own as they 
 please— but it ought not to be so with public property. King's College 
 is no more an Episcopal Institution, than it is a Presbyterian, or a Me- 
 thodist, or a Roman Catholic one. It h public property, not private j 
 it is Canadian, not sectarian j it h designed for the benefit of all, and 
 every class, so far as it may be entitled by its numbers and can furnish 
 representatives suitably qualified, should have a voice in its Council j 
 and if it were restricted, as it ought to be, to objects purely literary 
 and scientific, there could be no just fear of a discordant or misdirected 
 management. Trojan and Tyrian here occupy the same ground, and 
 can act with perfect unanimity. Literature and science is the common 
 inheritance both of the Jew and of the Greek, both can cordially unite 
 m transmitf'ng it to their children, and in such a matter there can be 
 no fair pretext for the Greek's lording it over the Jew. We have heard 
 it stated, that it was the intention of the late lamented Governor, whose 
 melancholy and untimely death cast so deep a gloom over this Province, 
 80 to remodel the Council of King's College, as to remove every cause 
 of dissatisfaction arising from the undue influence of party in its man- 
 agement : and that no part of its revenues should be applied to any 
 other than literary and scientific purposes. To extend its usefulness,- 
 and to draw to it the youth of every dienomination, it was further said 
 to be part ot his scheme, to favour the erection of Theological Semina- 
 ries around it, but to be maintained at the charge of the respective re- 
 ligious bodies founding them, and to be of course whoily under their 
 own control, while the heads of these denouiu ational establishments 
 might be admitted to a seal in ihe Council of the University, vvhich 
 should bs common to them all. Such a scheme, worthy of the com- 
 
16 
 
 prehensi ve views which this eminent statesman formed o.: all great ques- 
 tions, is well adapted to the circumstances of the Colony, and if carried 
 oul by his Successor and the Legislature, would prevent some fruitless 
 and impracticable undertakings, and ultimately contribute, beyond all 
 other means, to unite the people of this land in the support of religion 
 and order. This country ought not to waste its educational resources 
 in multiplying, as ihey 'h in the United States, half-finished buildings 
 under the name of Colleges, where one or two teachers of no name 
 dole out, amidst sordidnesa and privation, their scanty stores of learning 
 to the few lads, that, by a forced patronage, are gathered from the paltry 
 villages by which they have been erected. C&..ada, in its present 
 8tate,will not furnish students for more than one University ; and if more 
 than one be esiablished, there will not only be a waste of capital^ but 
 such institutions, according to their number, wUl emaciate and destroy 
 each other. The learned professions here do not afford numerous 
 openings j they offer no premium to the cultivation of refined and ab- 
 struse learning ; and so long as merchandise, and agricultwe, and the 
 mechanical arts lead to wealth and independence, while the highest 
 abilities in professional life will scarcely suffice to raise their possessor 
 in these respects above the humblest level, wo must not expect 
 that parents will very readily run into expense that can bring no very 
 profitable return, in order to procure a liberal education for their sons. 
 If, therefore, the frustration of our views in our negotiation for the 
 transference of funds for the endowment of a Theological professorship 
 from King's to Queen's CoHege, shall prevent us, for the present, from 
 proceeding in a work not required by the circumstances of the country, 
 and shall arouse our people to assert their claims upon all the privileges 
 of the former Royal Institution, both we and the general community 
 will have reason to congratulate ourselves on the result. 
 I am, my clear Sir, 
 
 Your's with high esteem, 
 
 Robert McGill, 
 Hon. Wm. Morris. 
 
w 
 
 : all great quds' 
 )&nd if carried 
 : some fruitless 
 ;e, bejond all 
 oti of religion 
 )nal resources 
 shed buildings 
 9 of no name 
 res of learning 
 rom the paltry 
 n its present 
 f'f and if more 
 f capital) but 
 te and destroy 
 trd numerous 
 fined and ab- 
 Itiu-e, and the 
 e the highest 
 heir possessor 
 t not expect 
 )ring no very 
 for their sons, 
 ation for the 
 professorship 
 present, from 
 f the country, 
 the privileges 
 1 community 
 
 IcGiLL. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 Niagara, 1st June 184*2; 
 My Dr,\u Sir: 
 
 According to my recollection of the various reports and 
 discussions that preceded the amendment of the charter of Ki ng's College^ 
 and ofthe well known opinions of those by whose untiring energy this im- 
 portant measure was effected, it was evidently the intention ofthe Legis- 
 lature to divest it entirely of a theological character. In looking at the 
 special changes in the atnended charter, it appears to me that this 
 intention has been fully embodied in it, and that King's College cannot 
 now be viewed with any propriety as a theological institution, but is 
 limited to literary and scientific objects. No particular religious de- 
 nomination has any special claim upon it for the establishment of a 
 theological chair in which its own peculiar dogmas shall be taught ; no 
 subscription to any articles of religion is required from any professor — 
 a provision that seems plainly to imply that there shall be no professors 
 of theology acting under the charter in that University and supported 
 from its endowments. If this opinion be correct, and it seems to be 
 in conformity with that entertained by the Commissioners, • all of them 
 members ofthe Church of England, who drew up the Report on Educa- 
 tion presented to the Legislature in 1840, it would be quite incompetent 
 
 * The following is an extract from the report : — It is their conyiction that it 
 would be wholly •ubversiye ofthe order and well being of an Unirersity, to hare 
 Within its walls, chairs for the Professors of different dejiominations of religion. Butj 
 although they would for this reason suggest, that the Unirersity in this Faculty^ 
 should be assimilated to those of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, they would also 
 recommend that provision should be made for affording to the students for the Min« 
 istry in other denominations of Christianity, the advantages of academic education. 
 They therefore submit the only plan by which it appears to them the important object 
 of instruction for Theological Students can be obtained, without exciting angry 
 and jealous feelings through the Province, or endangering the peace and harmony 
 of the University. They would recommend that Theological Seminaries should b« 
 established (either all in one, or each in a different part of the Province) one for each 
 denomination that might appear to require such an establishment, for the educatioa 
 of their Clergy. On finishing the course of instruction there, the student should re- 
 ceive a diploma, certifying that he had completed the requisite course of Theologica* 
 study, which might be an essential in the requisites for such titles or degrees in 
 Divinity, as the authorities cf each Theological Seminary might be empowered to 
 
 confer. 
 
 C 
 
It 
 
 ill 
 
 !! : 
 
 for the Council of King's College to establish a chair of theology on the 
 funds of Ihe University, since, except under the authority of its own by- 
 laws, the Council could have no control or jurisdiction over it. If, as 
 has on several occasions been reconimended and proposed, « a theologi- 
 cal professor of the church of Scotiand should be established in addition 
 to that for the church of England, whose lectures the candidates for 
 
 holy orders in the respective churches should be required to attend" 
 
 it would certainly create much dissatisfaction, and would manifestly be 
 at variance with that line of policy which the Government has for some 
 time followed in ecclesiastical matters, and would infringe that equality 
 of privilege which the amended charter was designed to confer. I 
 do not scruple, therefore, to declare my humble judgment, that it would 
 be belter far for these two churches to relinquish what they have long 
 maintained as their peculiar claims— to forget past promises— to 
 ask nothing from the funds of King's College for any object that pecu- 
 liarly belongs to them as distinct religious societies— and to combine, 
 on the same conditions with all classes, for the maintenance and im- 
 provement of that education which is common to all. Even on the 
 ground of a free competition, they need fear no rivals, or that aught of 
 their proper influence and just superiority will be diminished, when 
 they cease to bolster them up on the basis of prescriptive enactments. 
 The Bill for the disposal of the Clergy Reserves has levelled all distinc- 
 tions among religious sects, as to the support granted to them by the 
 State, and it would be sadly unwise and impolitic to persevere in an 
 invidious claim, unsanctioned by positive law, and maintained, if at 
 all, by the accidental circumstance that a najority happened to be in its 
 favour— a circumstance that would soon be reversed, if the indignation 
 of the country should be aroused by their exclusive and partial proceed- 
 ings. Nor would the risk of popular dissatisfation be much diminish- 
 ed,on the supposition that our Synod obtained the endowment of a chair 
 in that University, or what has been promised to us in lieu of it— a sum 
 equivalent to its charge transferred to Queen's College for that object. 
 For what then should hinder any other denomination from demanding a 
 similar advantage ? And thus new causes of discontent and agitation 
 would arise, which, working upon old reniembran'—-' " ^"''' ^" •■ ' -" .'e. 
 
id 
 
 heology on the 
 of its own by- 
 over it. If, as 
 d, "atheologi- 
 hedin addition 
 candidatea for 
 i to attend"— 
 i manifestly be 
 nt has for some 
 ^e that equality 
 to confer. I 
 t, that it would 
 liey have long 
 promises — to 
 ject that pecu- 
 d to combine, 
 lance and im- 
 Even on the 
 r that aught of 
 inished, when 
 } enactments, 
 led all distinc- 
 ) them by the 
 jrsevere in an 
 intained, if at 
 nedtobelnits 
 be indignation 
 irtial proceed- 
 uch diminish- 
 lent of a chair 
 lofit — a sum 
 )r that object, 
 demanding a 
 and agitation 
 
 :^ anew tiie strife of parties and convulae the fabric of society. Even 
 though our claim were much more indubitable than I think it is, wo 
 had belter relinquish it. Little is lost, and much may be gained. The 
 resources available for the purposes of general science will then be more 
 ample ; the different churches being called on to support their ovvn 
 theological halls, will regard them wi»h a more affeciioiiale interest j 
 the clamour of sectarian favouritism vvili be silenced ; and religious men 
 will be saved the necessity of asking the support of scoffing politi- 
 cians to a cause which they may regard with indifference, and some- 
 times treat with hatred and scorn. 
 
 The came reasons which discountenance the appropriation of any 
 part of the funds of King's College to theological purposes, will also, in 
 the peculair circumstances of this country, frown upon the appropria- 
 tion of any part of the public revenue for these objects. I would not, 
 by this statement, be understood to mean that it is wrong in the State to 
 maintain religion, and as one means to this end, to endow theological 
 schools, for this I hold to be the highest and most sacred duty of every 
 Christian common-wealth ; but ecclesiastical affairs may sometimes 
 be involved in such perplexity, as to render public grants in any form, 
 for the support of religion, inexpedient and impracticable. When a 
 nation is divided into numerous conflicting sects, when the balance of 
 parties is such, that it is impossible to grant State assistance to truth 
 without granting an equivalent aid to error, I am inclined to think, that 
 the Christian statesman should not procure State support for truth by 
 such a compromise, and rather than lend any aid to the dissemination 
 of error, he should leave truth to be maintained by the voluntary con- 
 tributions of its friends. Without entering upon any particular illustra- 
 tion of the morality of this principle, allow me to say that our Canadian 
 statesmen will soon find themselves involved in no small embarrass- 
 ment, if once they should establish a precedent for conferring public 
 grants in aid of every religious denomination that may petition for it, to 
 enable them to carry out Bome sectarian project. Even were they to 
 restrict their donations — a restriction that could not be safely attempted 
 
 in ih'ia Vrn-iTinoo (n evanorpl'irnl Prn<pR<nnt9 who are agreed in the 
 
 fundamental articles of their creed, and who may each be doing some 
 
20 
 
 m 
 
 service to the great cause of truth and morality — I should nevertheless be 
 in doubt, whether more evil than good might not in the end result from a 
 promiscuous liberality in support of permanent and, in some reepects, 
 rival institutions. What is the duty of every Christian is pre-eminently 
 the duty of the Christian statesman, to attempt to heal the divisions that 
 have arisen iii the church, and consequently to favour no measure that 
 would build up sectarian divisions in a more distinct form, and give 
 them a better chance ofperpetuity. I should not like to see in the an- 
 nual budget of our Chancellor of the Exchequer, a list of donations to 
 colleges that might l)e set up by the nun'crous sects in this country — 
 even though he were a sound orthodox theologian, and had rejected 
 the worst of them, and disbursed to the rest the State munificence to 
 the minutest fraction in proportion to their numbers. Jn my judgment, 
 such a policy would be as much at variance with enlightened states- 
 manship as with true piety, and every year would aggravate its mis- 
 chiefs. Nor could it materially diminish those evils, were such grants 
 bestowed upon sectarian institutions, under the colour that they would 
 be exclusively applied to the literary departments within them. Even 
 though this were faithfully done, I still deem it impolitic to commit any 
 portion of the public funds to exclusive and sectarian management, over 
 which the general public, from which these funds were derived, could 
 have no direct control. If the State, as is its duty, has sufficiently pro- 
 vided for the higher departments of education in the country, why 
 countenance voluntary erections by public grants ? and why should any 
 party feel inclined to retire from the public seminaries, and to support 
 one of a sectarian order ? Such seminaries, unless they are given up 
 to the State, and incorporated under its general scheme, must interfere 
 with it, and be either hostile or unnecessary, and therefore they shonid 
 be left to their own resources. 
 
 Many advantages would arise to the general interests of education 
 by the establishment of only one University, having such a control over 
 all subordinate district and classical grammar schools as would render 
 them subservient to it. In these higher classical schools, students must 
 be prepared for the University. Should there be two or more indepen- 
 dent Universities in the country, different in their courses, using dif- 
 
 :ii': 
 
21 
 
 evertlieless be 
 i result from a 
 lome respects, 
 pre-eminently 
 divisions that 
 measure that 
 rm, and give 
 see in the an^ 
 f donations to 
 lis country — 
 had rejected 
 lunificence to 
 my judgment, 
 itened states- 
 ivate its mis- 
 re such grants 
 at they would 
 them. Even 
 
 commit any 
 3gement, over 
 Jerived, could 
 ifficiently pro- 
 sou ntry, why 
 |jy should any 
 ind to support 
 ' are given up 
 must interfere 
 e they should 
 
 1 of education 
 a control over 
 would render 
 students must 
 lore indenen- 
 es, using dif- 
 
 ferent elementary books, or differing even in 80 Irivirl u matter ai the 
 pronunciation of the ancient languages, no small inco ivenience might 
 arise to all the classical schools in the country. Stude its themselves, 
 us well as their parents, will most usually wish, that thev shall be taught 
 in the classical schools at which they are placed, in those grammars 
 and forms which are known to be approved by the University to which 
 they are to be sent— and thus a very serious difficulty is thrown in the 
 way of the classical master. He must either use different elementary 
 books, according as the prospects of his pupils may require, or if he 
 should insist that all musi use the same, the result will be that many 
 of his pupils will make their first appearance at the University under 
 great disadvantages— and may perhaps find it necessary to learn anew 
 technical formula and definitions,whicl. at their stage contribute nothing 
 to their improvement. The question what elementary books shall be 
 used in the district school, creates not only serious difficulties to tho 
 io^fher, but threatens to create mischievous division among the trustees, 
 who happen to have different predilections on the point. Were there 
 only one University, cordially supported by the country, a uniform sys- 
 tem of instruction could be more easily introduced into grammar schools, 
 a circumstance that would contribute not a little to their greater 
 efficiency ; whereas were different Universities established, in which 
 the rivalship of distinct sects and nationalities might prevail, this uni- 
 formity mighi not so easily be attained. 
 
 The application which the entire argument is intended to have, in 
 reference to our own proceedings as Trustees of Queen's College, is 
 this : that if no part of the funds of King's College be legitimately ap- 
 plicable to the establiahment of theological chairs for any sect, even 
 within that University, we ought no longer to prosecute our claim for 
 the fulfilment of promises that were made to us, when other views were 
 entertained of an endowment for a chair of theology in connection with 
 the church of Scotland ; that, as the State has made sufficient pro- 
 vision for the departments of science and literature in King's College, 
 it would be altogether impolitic and unnecessary to grant additional 
 public funda for this object ; and until the increasing necessities of the 
 community require it, we should decline any application for aid from 
 
 ^» 
 
22 
 
 1^1 
 
 ai 
 
 riie Legislature in itcUaW of Queen's College, and make no attempt to 
 carry into eiTectat present this part of our ch.ir'er, bui should restrict 
 ourielved to the carrying out of that part only which was contemplated 
 in the origmal design,— the establishment of the Theological Faculty. 
 The tinrve will perhaps arrive when the growing wants of Canada 
 will require the establishment of another University, and no better lo- 
 cality could be selected for it than that which we have chosen, now 
 and probably then, the provincial me.ropolis; and when our Sovereign 
 —may it be the gracious Queen who has granted it the honour of her 
 royal name— and the Legislature will feel warranted, in their patriotic 
 concern fur the public welfare, to grant it a permanent endowment,eve^ 
 more ample than her Royal grandfather, of pious memory, granted to the 
 University at Toronto. Should you. Sir, and I, then have the honour of 
 a seat at the Board of Queen's College, and should that millenium not 
 have arrived, which some of our brethren are ^aid to look for, when 
 the whole world shall have become very staunch Presbyterians— if 
 Canada should then unhappily present the same aspect of religiouy 
 division that it does now, I will be ready to second your motion for a 
 petition to the Queen for an amended charter, in which every hard- 
 lined Presbyterian peculiarity shall be expunged, and our theological 
 chairs being turned out to the bare rock on the bleak side of the north 
 wall, it shall be agreed that all the comforts within shall be devoted to 
 the science which is common to all. 
 
 Tn my next I hope to be able to show that the interests of true 
 religion and the church of Christ will suffer nothing in such circum* 
 stances by such exposure, and that in the meantime the Trustees of 
 Queen's College may adapt their measures to their means without 
 either dishonour or detriment. 
 
 I am, my dear Sir, 
 
 Your's with great respect, 
 
 Robert McGill. 
 Hon. Win. Morris. 
 
 §1 
 
S8 
 
 attempt to 
 lould restrict 
 contemplated 
 al Facultv. 
 
 
 
 ja of Canuda 
 10 better lo- 
 ;hosen, novif 
 L:r Sovereign 
 onour of her 
 leir patriotic 
 wment,everv 
 ranted to the 
 le honour of 
 llenium not 
 k for, when 
 yterianB — if 
 of religiouu 
 notion for a 
 every hard- 
 theological 
 of the north 
 3 devoted to 
 
 rests of true 
 sh circum* 
 Frustees of 
 ins without 
 
 ^CGILL. 
 
 LliTTER V. 
 
 Niagara, 7tk June, 1842. 
 
 MvDiiiAR Sir: 
 
 The friends of general education, and in this class we 
 may charitably comprehend the great body of the people, would be 
 disposed to rejoice in the exclusive appropriation of the funds of King's 
 College to that department ; nor w juld those be more than sufficient td 
 provide in the best style for its several b -nnches. For not to mention 
 the cha'rs of Philology, and of Mental, Moral, and Political Science, it 
 »eem to meth"t in a country like this. Natural and Mechanical Science, 
 upon which oar prosperity is so immediately dependent, should be fos- 
 tered with a liberality which they have not shared in some of the older 
 seats of learning in Britain, founded under the patronage of the Church, 
 and chiefly for ecclesiastical purposes. It might be desirable to estab- 
 lish not fewer than six distinct chairs for this object, viz.— for Mathe- 
 matics, pure and mixed ; for Physics ; for Natural History and its 
 cognates ; for Chemistry and its cognates ; for Engineering in all its 
 branches ; for Botany and Agriculture. Some of these chairs, it is 
 true, might for a time be united, and the duties discharged by one 
 professor ; but it should never be forgotten that it belongs to learned 
 men in Universities, not only to teach what is known in their respective 
 departments, but to push on in the career of discovery and to extend 
 their boundaries. For this a division of iabour is necessary, and any 
 proposal, which offers an enlargement of means for this object, should 
 not hasiily be rejected. My main der " however, in this letter, is not 
 to prove the obvious proposition, that the cause of general education 
 will be a gainer by the appropriation of larger funds for its support ; 
 but to show that the interests of true religion, in the circumstances 
 of tins Province, will suffer nothing, by requiring the different religious 
 denominations within it, to make provision for the theological education 
 of the young men among them designed for the ministry, in the man- 
 ner that may be most agreeable to their own order and views of duty. 
 
 In presuming to offer a suggestion of this nature, I trust I shall 
 not incur the charge of even wishing to divest the University of its 
 religious character, or to place Divine science, — so essential to the 
 
present and eternal well being of man, in the back-ground. Religion, 
 in my estimation, is the first and most important interest of man. 
 Nothing must be allowed to take the precedence of it ; and any system 
 of education not based upon its principles, and any seat of learning not 
 pervaded by its influence, will never receive the blessing of God, 
 without which no human scheme can prosper. I have never heard of 
 a literary institution from which religion was formally excluded, save 
 one, and the failure that has attended it, may be pointed to as a beacort 
 to admonish against a similar impiety. Religion should preside every 
 where, and, above all, in the sanctuaries of leammg. Unless it shed its 
 blessings upon them, all human science will prove as the waters of 
 bitterness. But while this is freely admitted, it surely is not essential 
 that religion should be patronised and paraded under any sectarian cos- 
 tume in halls consecrated to the study of science. Has true piety not 
 a substantial reality, a distinct spirit, that may be seen and felt, and ex- 
 press its divinity, whatever its possessor's notions may be on many 
 points respecting which theologians have keenly debated? Men of 
 extensive erudition and profound science indeed, an-^ such only 
 should be honoured with offices in an University, are not f'ae most likely 
 persons to attach an undue importance to minute and doubtful things j 
 and the reformers of the charter of King's College have done well in 
 requiring no precise confessions from them. To whatever denomina- 
 tion of Christians they belong, if they be Christians in reality, their 
 spirit and example will have a salutary influence upon their students ; 
 and it will detract nothing from the excellence of a demonstration in' 
 mathematics, though the teacher in that chair should entertain, like 
 Pascal, a superstitious reverence for the Pope ; nor would it mar any 
 prelection or experiment in physics, should the lecturer, like Brewster, 
 have leanings towards Presbytery. The religion of such men will be 
 acknowledged, though marked with none of the peculiarities of the par- 
 ticular church with which they are connected, in circumstances at least 
 where any display of such peculiarities would be altogether gratiutous 
 and irrelevant. While, therefore, it, is right that the best guarantees 
 should be demanded, which the nature of che case admits of, that profes- 
 sors in arts and science be sincere believers in the Christian faith and 
 
 1 
 
25 
 
 nd. Religion^ 
 Jrest oC man. 
 nd any system 
 of learning not 
 3sing of God, 
 never heard of 
 xcluded, save 
 
 as a beacon 
 preside every 
 less it shed its 
 the waters of 
 3 not essential 
 sectarian cos- 
 ;rue piety not 
 
 felt, and ex- 
 be on many 
 I? Men of 
 1*^ such only 
 e most lilcely 
 btful things ; 
 done well in 
 sr denomina- 
 reality, their 
 eir students ; 
 mstration in 
 tertain, like 
 
 1 it mar any 
 te Brewster, 
 men will be 
 8 of the par- 
 nces at least 
 5r gratuitous 
 
 guarantees 
 that profes- 
 n faith and 
 
 i 
 
 exemplary in their lives, it is enough thai ihey he eminently qualified lor 
 the departments to which they have been preferred. Religion will never 
 be thrust out of its proper place in any Institution over which religious 
 men -^reside. 
 
 But if any one be inclined to maintain that proper homage is paid 
 to religion only when the peculiar forms and customs of his own de- 
 nomination are introduced, though the University be frequented by 
 youth, th greater part of whom are of a different persuasion, I should 
 dissent fro ti his opinion. Where such forms are expressly enjoined by 
 divine authority, the exclusion of them would be tantamount to the 
 Exclusion of all religion, and the observance of them would be a dutiful 
 homagt ; but should there be no divine authority claimed for them, 
 should it be admitted that an acceptable worship may be presented unto 
 God in other forms, and should it happen that many may have objec- 
 tions to them on what they deem scriptural and conscientious grounds, 
 then the obtruding of such forms could not with any propriety be call- 
 ed a doing homage to religion. But apart from these considerations, 
 such a measure might be objected to, on the grounds both of justice 
 and expediency. If King's College were the only University in Canada, 
 and, in so far as pubUc endowment is concerned, it is, and were the 
 students attending it nearly in the ratio of the various denbminations 
 respectively, and should it be carried that the forms of the Episcopal 
 Church must be observed there as a fundamental part of its order and 
 discipline, it is clear that a sort of violence would be done to the religious 
 feelings of at least one half of the College, by which parents, and the 
 religious denominations to which they severally belong, would in some 
 degree be affected, and n the resenting of which, they could scarcely 
 fail to take a part. If conformity were imperative, it would be tanta- 
 mount to the converting of King's College into an Episcopal institution^ 
 and to the exclusion of all but Episcopalians : and even though atten- 
 dance and conformity were not indispensable and imperative, it is not 
 unlikely that the religious guardians of the youth connected with other 
 denominations, might feel it to be their duly to fortify them with such 
 warnings, and instructions,as would have no favourable bearing upon the 
 religious forms adopted in the College, and the more so^ if, as it might 
 
2« 
 
 be deemed, the measure xvere a mere usurpation on the part of the 
 Council. There are better modes of doing homage to religion in a scat 
 of learning designed for the benefit of all, than by the establishment 
 of religious worship in any one of its sectarian forms. This may 
 api>ear in the sequel. 
 
 The amended charter, however, evidently contemplates the pos- 
 sibility that the professors and officers in this University, as well as the 
 students, may not be adherents of the same church, and it would clear- 
 ly be inconsistent with its just and liberal spirit to enforce or counten- 
 ance any sectarian mode of worship within it ; and since, as I view 
 the case, no portion of its funds can now be rightfully appropriated to 
 Theology, the perplexity that might have arisen from the conflicting 
 pretensions of the different sects is removed oat of the way. Science 
 is left in possession of the property. Theology can look for no more 
 than perhaps the permission to squat within the enclosures. Inhospi- 
 table as this may seem to a branch of science more important than all 
 the rest, if may be shown that, in the present circumstances of the 
 church among us, some advantages may result from it. 
 
 The first of these respects the appointment of the Professors of 
 Divinity. Had the Council possessed the power of endowing theological 
 chairs, it would probably, as the custom is in such cases, have claimed 
 the right of presenting to them. Now the right of appointment, or at 
 least of nomination, ought undoubtedly to rest with the spiritual au- 
 thorities in each church, and not in any council over which the church 
 can have no control ; and for this there will be the stronger reason 
 should the council be composed of persons belonging to different deno- 
 minations, of whom there maybe now and then a few who have no 
 religious character at all. The right of nomination and of supervision 
 of the Professors of Theology would be esteemed, I think, by the 
 Bishops of the Church of England, and I am sure it would be held by 
 the Synod of Canada and the Methodist Conference, a thing that could 
 not be surrendered on any conditions. The piety, the orthodoxy, the 
 fidelity of such office-bearers, must have so much influence upon the 
 well-being of the church that has entrusted to their care the training of 
 young men for the sacred office, that not to watch over them with u 
 
the part of the 
 ehgion in a scat 
 le establishment 
 IS. "This may 
 
 plates the pos- 
 , as well as the 
 it would clear- 
 'ce orcounten- 
 ice, as I view 
 appropriated to 
 the conflicting 
 vay. Science 
 k for no more 
 res. Inhospi- 
 ortant than all 
 stances of the 
 
 Professors of 
 ing theological 
 have claimed 
 ntment, or at 
 spiritual au- 
 ch the churcii 
 onger reason 
 ifferent deno- 
 vho have no 
 !* supervision 
 link, by the 
 Id be held by 
 ig that could 
 thodoxy, the 
 ice upon the 
 ; training of 
 lem with u 
 
 27 
 
 vigilant eye, might soon bring into peril the most valuable interests. 
 When each denomination is left to provide for its own theological pro- 
 fessors, no difficulty is likely to arise respecting their appointment and 
 supervision. 
 
 Another benefit would result from this independence of the theolo- 
 gical faculty,— each church would be at perfect liberty to direct the 
 course of study in that science. The Presbyterian Church has always 
 claimed, and it seems to me the inalienable right of every church, to 
 prescribe the extent and course of study to be pursued by candidates 
 for the ministry, and professors of divinity are required to conform to 
 these regulations. But I see nothing in the constitution of King's Col- 
 lege to guarantee this right to any religious body, not even to the 
 Church of England. If the Council for the time being were obsequi- 
 ous to the prelates, such an authority might perhaps in courtesy be 
 conceded : but it could not rest on any sure or constitutional right. The 
 body that holds the purse-strings might on some important occasion set 
 at nought ecclesiastical authority. Were the professors of theology ap- 
 pointed and maintained each by their own body, and made subject to 
 its jurisdiction alone, such an evil could never possibly occur, or might 
 speedily be remedied. 
 
 Further, it is held to be indispensable that students in divinity, 
 throughout their entire course,shall be under the immediate superinten- 
 dence of the church. It claims the right of prescribing the standard 
 of literary attainment that must be reached previous to entering upon the 
 course of theological studies ; of examining eve»y applicant previous 
 to his admission into the Divinity Hall ; and at any time afterwards, to 
 inquire into his proficiency, and whether his conduct be suitable to iiis 
 views. Such a power would scarcely be acknowledged in any depart- 
 ment not under the entire control of ecclesiastical authority. College 
 corporations have always manifested a very sensitive jealousy of 
 foreign interference. In the Scottish Universities, which are of 
 ecclesiastical origin, tlie supervision of the established church is secured 
 by law. But is the origin of King's College the same, and would any 
 supervision, not secured by-law, be granted to one church or more, out 
 of courtesy ? I doubt it ; no one could safely trust in the courtesy. 
 
28 
 
 I discover, moreover, very serious objections, should the Faculty 
 of King's College, as it may possibly be constituted, go beyond its pro- 
 vince, and so far intermeddle with theology as to grant degrees in that 
 faculty. There is a vast deal of absurdity in the proceedings of our 
 Scottish Universities, and I presunje many others are equally absurd, 
 in this particular. Some dozen of professors constitute the College 
 Senate, only two or three of whom belong to the department of theology, 
 the rest not knowing, some of them not caring, much about the matter. 
 One of them wishing to procure a clerical title for a friend, diligently 
 canvasses the rest ; their consent is obtained, and in due time the said 
 friend is pronounced a Doctor of Divinity. Now even let us make 
 the large supposition, that such an honour is never conferred upon an un- 
 worthy person, we may nevertheless gravely question the authority of 
 the persons presuming to confer it. The chairs of these Collegiate 
 Institutions, be it remembered, at their first foundation, and so long as 
 Romanism was the established religion, were all filled with churchmen 
 and divines, and there was no incongruity in a senate so composed 
 conferring degrees in divinity ; for individually they were ecclesiastics, 
 and corporately they belonged to the prevailing church and were sub- 
 ordinate to it. But, in Scotland, in modern times, the case is very differ-r 
 ent. With the exception of the professors of theology, the members 
 of the College Senate may be very loosely connected with the church, 
 and may even entertain sentiments very much at variance with the 
 establishe-i standards of orthodoxy. For such a body to confer such a 
 title upon an officebearer in the house of God — a title which is sup- 
 posed to be conferred by the best judges only upon persons highly dis- 
 tinguished for their knowledge of sacred learning— is a bold and pre. 
 posterous intrusion into a province not rigntfully submitted to them. 
 Now, Sir, are not the same absurdities likely to rise up in King's Col- 
 lege, should its Faculty not be restricted to the department of art and 
 science ? It is not required by the statute that the professors in this 
 department should be very minutely orthodox,— that they should all 
 be ecclesiastics of one order, or ecclesiastics at all ;— even should the old 
 system of exclusion be persevered in under the reformed charter, there 
 will not be more than tvvo or three iiiembei-s of the theological facuiiy in 
 
 1^ 
 
 4 
 
29 
 
 Id the Faculty 
 leyond its pro- 
 iegrees in that 
 ecfings «jif our 
 jualJy absurd, 
 ; the College 
 (it of theology, 
 ut the matter, 
 snd, diligently 
 time the said 
 1 let us make 
 d upon an un- 
 5 authority of 
 5se Collegiate 
 ind so long as 
 h churchmen 
 so composed 
 ecclesiastics, 
 nd were sub- 
 is very differ-^ 
 the members 
 h the church, 
 ice with the 
 confer such a 
 ^hich is sup- 
 18 highly dis- 
 3old and pre_ 
 ted to them. 
 1 King's Col- 
 nt of art and 
 ssors in this 
 3y should all 
 hould the old 
 barter, there 
 cat facuiiy in 
 
 the Senate, who may \>e high-church or low-church, Puseyiie,or anti- 
 Puseyite ; and why should it be thought desirable to commit to such 
 hands the disposal of ecclesiastical honour 1 The most enlightened 
 members of the Episcopal church would surely wish it otherwise, and 
 in this wish all other denominations would heartily join, for no beam 
 of academical honour would ever shine on them, and if it did, they could 
 not consistently esteem it of any value. In short, Sir, to remove the 
 possibility of such an absurdity, and the evils that might arise out of it, 
 a Senate so constituted should have no power to confer degrees, excei)t 
 in Art3,leaving to the Faculties of Theology and Medicine the distribution 
 of honors to their own alumni. It is, however, with degrees in divini- 
 ty that I am at present chiefly concerned ; and I fancy that I can dis- 
 cover in the establishment of distinct ecclesiastical schools by the dif- 
 ferent religious denominations, a method of granting degrees in divinity 
 more consistent with reason and the holy Scriptures. The office of 
 Doctor or teacher in the church is of divine institution, and the church 
 alone has authority to confer it. The custom of Colleges conferring th» 
 title as a mark of honour, we owe, I suppose, to the Church of Rome ; 
 and if it should be thought necessary to preserve the c-.istom, we might 
 with some advantage consult His Holiness the Pope, or the Col- 
 lege of Cardinals, as to the particular rules by which thj custom should 
 be governed ; and I apprehend we might find authority for thus ex- 
 pressing them :— « The conferring of degrees in theology belongs ex- 
 clusively to the Faculty of Theology ; this should be composed of ec- 
 clesiastics alone, and be directly under the authority of the church, and 
 only with its consent, expressed or implied, can this honour be lawfully 
 conferred," Were such the practice, I am persuaded the degree would 
 have far more value attached to it ; and it would really be more signi- 
 ficant of its true object, were it never bestowed except on the recom- 
 mendation of the spiritual rulers, founded on the peculiar eminence and 
 merit of the candidate. By the adoption of such a rule, every church 
 would act independently through its spiritual rulers and its theological 
 faculty. We should then have denominational doctorships, which 
 would be respectively estimated for so much as they were worth. This 
 
„rouna lUe rountai«s of academical honour ; it wohU leave it in Ac 
 power of religious boJies, aeeorJing to the .tan.lar,l they might adopt, 
 to affi-c their own value to their own degrees j and what would prove 
 . sun more substatttial teneCt, it would probably unite more perfeeUy 
 ihe title with the qualiOeation. For these reasons I should prefer the 
 establishment of theologicM seminaries for the different religious deno- 
 minations, to be under their own jurisdietion, and to be maintamed at 
 .beir own charge, either out of their proportion of the Clergy Reserve 
 fund, or from the voluntary contributions of their respective adherents. 
 To draw ft-om this scheme, however, its full advantage both to 
 literature and tlteology.it is necessary that all the theological seminanes 
 should be in the immediau^ vicinity of King's Colle8=. Were th,s the 
 ease, all scruples and suspicions would he amoved fi.m persons of 
 different Christian denominations sending their sons th.ther, stnce the 
 duty of spiritud guardianship over them might be eommilted to the pro- 
 feesor. in their own Theological Institution ; and were proi>erboardmg. 
 houses established under the general supervision of the professors and 
 ,he more direct and personal superintendance of the advanced students 
 of divinitv, as Tutors, the evils that often arise in such places mtght be 
 prevented, and the literary and moral improvement of thejun.or stu- 
 dents gready promoted. It is very clear that, ,n the present state of 
 «„cie.y in our larg. towns, it would be quite impossible to procure, at 
 any moderate charge, I trding for five or six hundred young men m 
 private houses, and 1 very much doubt whe.her.even if it were prac- 
 Lble, gt^ater evils might not be generated dtan those wh.ch have 
 «,„,eti,nes arisen, where young men are collected in numbers ,n the 
 ^me edifies. However this may be, there seems .0 be no alternauve, 
 and, in my opinion, a measure thus rendered necessarj- may eve,, 1« 
 ,„,.„edtoadvau,age. By appointing U.e advanced students of d,vm,t> to 
 .ct as Tuto,^ in these boarding establishments, disorder and .rregulanty 
 ,„av be p,.vented,and ,ho junior students assisted in their private stud- 
 ies,' whde an opportunity may 1« olfered .0 parents who possess lar^r 
 means, .0 obtain ch,u,b.-,. in the eJiOce for their sons for whom he> 
 :, .v^ ,..:-k .-.. ."»« the entire services of a Tutor ol the 
 highest qualification,. With such conveniences, it might be e..«etea 
 
31 
 
 „„„,d avail *em«Wes of *e »*" '^^^^,.^,^, „,, „„ac, so liberal 
 
 .HeU.ve,..y.ana ^^^^^^^^Zn. ^^^ ^^^ -"=' "" 
 a„ aamimslrauon, neither me ._^ ,„„, 
 
 .Hose raised from pnva« "«-'•' :^'„7„, p«.„. object to s«e 
 But it is more closely co„nec«=d wuh J^ ^^, „„„ „. 
 
 ., opinion „fthe^.e.le^;'jfj^^:r u mi.. ^r.ap,.. 
 commendeJ upon the study »' »"^* „f Aeolopcal semm- 
 
 .Houghthazardous by someto favour the «^^^,^^^„g,„ 
 
 ,,esbydi<fe«ntdeno.;.nations,,nv^|^^M-^ ^^^^^^ .„, .,eir 
 
 „„d angry controversies '''"^ "^ Lngendered. as unsuita- 
 disciples, from which heats and st„fesn^.h,^,„p.^ 
 
 Metothecuiet of academic ro--*J ^ ^ ,,„ded on d„. 
 
 „„.H. To affirm that '^^ ,^^ ^^^, ^,„, »„ instructive lesson 
 ,„arter, would be to ^-^ > *e ^ ^ _^ .^ ^^ ,,„^„ „f 
 
 p„.nted in the h,stor.es of "»™'^ , „^^ele in the e«cu. 
 
 such a ™^""*-;7;:rtrinal symbols of the leadin,^™- 
 uon of the proposed plan Tin ^^„,ially the same : and rt 
 
 «^„. denominations '" '^-"""^^nal denomination appointedt. 
 
 :::i:— -- r -ttrtx^r-thttie ».. 
 
 .his happen in any P'"-"^" "^ My was displayed. But while we 
 .enUon beyond the HaU where the fo^ w P^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ 
 
 ,^ at the hazard, let us »» <-;::J ™;„l,„ectual e„er«- of the 
 Litdeis gained to thecause °f ";*; " ,y eoncealingthe objec- 
 
 in^uirer.by limi.ng ^^"^'^^^^^^ ^.ject always in thesame 
 ,„„s«f an adversary, or "^.^^^^.^..^for students,at leastm 
 ^ct;andIshoulddeem.n^-» j;.,^^^„^,,^ 
 
 U.e higher stages of *«'' «^"^' ^p' HiU andChalme,.,Wardlaw 
 .ctionsof.hechurch,asPa.ey«^^^^' ^^„_,,^„„d eachthei 
 
 a„d Smith, Booth »»" """'f !^^^„, „rfer i and I W-e that m 
 peculiar vie^vs of doctnne and «^^'^^„,^„„,^„efi,t«i. Nay.Sir, 
 
32 
 
 teachers., but if an opportunity presented itself of listening to a lecture 
 from the ghost of Peter Dens, or some learned doctor of the Sorbonne, I 
 think it mighi probably be turned to good account both in their private 
 studies and public ministrations. In some cases they would gain more by 
 listening an hour to such men, than by a month's reading on the same 
 subject. Moreover, Sir, I do not imagine that the evil would overba- 
 lance the good,were the disciples of Maynooth and Queen's to pitch their 
 tents on the opposite sides of a quadrangle in the College Avenue, and 
 come out kily, Sundays excepted. Upon the intermediate area to try 
 which had the best in argument. Among generous youth, such contests 
 might neither be bitter nor unseemly ; and even though truth for a 
 tiaie should make few proselytes, the extremes of error would be 
 moderated in a region of free discussion, and intolerance and supersti- 
 tion would become less pernicious in the near neighborhood of liberality 
 and evangelism. My chief hope of success, however, rests on the 
 character of the men who should be appointed to teach in these theolo- 
 gical seminaries. Should the evangelical professors be men of exten- 
 sive erudition and eminent ability, of enlightened and scriptural views, 
 heartily disposed to a mutual submersion of dogmas, doubtful and unim- 
 portant, and sincerely desirous of promoting the unity of the church, 
 they might, by affectionate conferencte, and united prayei*, and hallowed 
 investigation, attain to such a harmony of judgment, and of feeling in 
 sacred things, as, in its communication to their respective dasses, and 
 by them to the congregations of which they may become the spiritual 
 guides, would prepare the way for the healing of those divisions which 
 are the reproach of our Common Faith, and a sore hindrance to our reli- 
 gious and political well being. When we contemplate the mighty influ- 
 ence which one or two men holding an exalted station in an university 
 may exert upon the ministry of the church, and through it upon all its 
 members, the hope that I have ventured to express ought not to be de- 
 nounced as chimerical and delusive. It would not be easy to estimate 
 the effect which the labours of the late venerable professor of divinity 
 in the University of Glasgow, or of the present celebrated professor of 
 divinity in the University of Edinburgh,had in reviving a more evangelical 
 temper in the ministers of the Church, of Scotiand ; and from the result 
 
forevil may r«. «UU one md,vd«al. If,m » J ^^^^ 
 
 ,„eh a n>a„, fro. h. learned .pntaucn on e «- ^^^^^ ^^ 
 
 fo^aUon ror .hich we have so .any -;»' "J J,,,, „Hgm- 
 „«,oftheremartab.e»hUn,,*a.haveren.4eChu-h ,^ 
 
 ..ed W,* .he learned, and in sea« o learn.n^, wMooU ^ 
 
 ,„ar.er fo, *e .nsttumen^ .ha. shall heal '^HiZl^r^i.^.r^eu., 
 
 I pe*c.lyjo-,ned.o^.heHn *«;;—!'*; ,i ;.„d I 
 
 we shall probably ^um.y among fto«*a .,„ 
 
 „„«. likelv way of accomphshmg this, man uj i e 
 
 can see no more useiy way ii-wersitv, the moat learned 
 
 .endly i^-'-^roXr- y^ r dW>ne science, 
 and pious men of all part.es, oev ,.,.. „f™8Kry .hat they 
 
 „ko may toother occasionally '«""- ^,^' ^^.^u J,, to dis- 
 eanno.fathom.define*epo,„.^o«.— ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^___ ^„ ,,, 
 
 pu«, and agree .0 '^«^; ;„, ^^ ^„ ,, *. revela.io„ of 
 sure and common ground clearly prepare 
 
 '^'^- .. ,«•■ ..mueee on .he one hand, and Ae several 
 
 WeretheCounciofKmg.M geon ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ 
 
 „lig,ous denominanon. on the oAer, '"".^^ ^ , he inherit- 
 views, the cause of general education w-lOl^ a game y ^^_^^^ ^^^_^^^ 
 
 flourish more under the care oi 
 
 X am, my dear Sir, 
 
 Your'a with high esteem, 
 
 Robert McGill. 
 
 Hon. Wm. Morris. 
 
34 
 
 LETTER Vf. 
 
 Niagara, 13M June, 1842. 
 
 My Dear Sir : 
 
 Although little has yet been done for its advancement in 
 danada, education has always been a favorite topic among the people, 
 and their representatives in the Provincial Assembly have not failed for 
 some years to give it a large space in their deliberations. The appro- 
 priation of monies, for its support, from the public treasury would 
 always have been a popular measure, a circumstance that would, na- 
 turally lead to the conclusion that the benefits of education were duly 
 appreciated among us. But, Sir, I think I have observed certain in- 
 dications on the part of the people in certain quarters,sincethe attempt has 
 been made to carry into effect the present Common School law, which 
 have awakened in me the suspicion that, notwithstanding all the noise 
 upon the subject, education is not really held in high estimation among 
 us, and is very far from being sure of a liberal maintenance. The 
 munificent appropriation of £50,000 annually is indeed a very well- 
 liked part of the measure, but taxation to an equal or a larger amount 
 by, the District^ Councils, is by no means so palateable ; and although 
 the school fees have been reduced in lieu of this, by more than one- 
 half, and although the amount to be raised by taxation, at least from 
 families in which there are children to obtain the benefit of the law, 
 will probably be less than the sum saved to them by the reduction oi' 
 the school fees, yet, I greatly fear the scheme, by this condition, will 
 drag heavily ; and that our Canadian love of education will, in the end, 
 be found no match for our Canadian hatred of taxation. It will by 
 and by, I think, appear that a grant from the public treasury is a po- 
 pular measure, only so long as it is drawn from sources not directly con- 
 nected with the people's pockets, preventing a drain upon them, rather 
 than creating one. I confess to you, Sir, that I have seen nothing 
 within the range of my own observation that would authorize me to 
 conclude, that there exist^i any very general disposition among the peo- 
 ple, either by a volunlary liberality on their part, or by a willing submis- 
 sion to be taxed, to aflbid to Common Schools a secure and sufficient 
 maintainance. Cheap education is wanted ; I have not seen much 
 
35 
 
 desire for any improvement in duality, and I rather fear that the low 
 priced article, hawkeJ about by iUiterate itinerants, who are too lazy for 
 manual labour,for which alone they are fitted,will preclude the possibility 
 of very generally introducing that better ware which can be expected only 
 from educated and well paid men . I make this allusion to the popular feel- 
 ing as respects Common School education, to introduce my opinion, 
 that we must not look for much sympathy from this quarter in behalf of 
 Collegiate Institutions, and how desirable it is that these should be placed 
 upon a foundation which the vmpopuU could net, by any of its sudden 
 and capricious warblings, disturb. The existence and support of Colleges 
 should not rest on the uncertain issues of a vote in our House of Aa- 
 sembiy, but should be drawn from sources, the permanent gift of the 
 State, which, though it may have left itself the power to regulate, 
 shall not have left itself the power to revoke. Because King's College 
 is thus endowed, I should cling to it in preference to an Institution that 
 depended on voluntary contributions, or on the no less precarious 
 chances of the vote of a Legislature, composed of such heterogeneous 
 
 materials as ours. 
 
 If it were cor' implated to derive any support from the Legislature 
 for Queen's College, several causes would operate powerfully against it. 
 The tedious delays and provoking mismanagement of the Toronto Uni- 
 versity would probably deter the Legislature from granting much aid 
 to another, until the one already endowed were brought into operation, 
 and it were made fully evident that a second was required. Besides 
 on many peculiar grounds, I fear, we might not always be able to en- 
 sure a successful application. Our charter, notwithstanding it contains 
 some liberal provisions, possesses undeniably a sectarian character ; its 
 whole hard-lined countenance is Presbyterian : and though this has 
 endeared it to not a few, it might have a very different effect should 
 Queen's be introduced as a suppliant before a political body, the ma- 
 jority of whose members would probably mistake Her Majesty for a 
 veritable effigy of John Knox. It would be impossible, and I am sure, 
 Sir, you will agree with me in thinking, that it would be very far from 
 being desirable, to divest our Church of those characteristics by which 
 she has been distinguished from the eariiest period of the Reformation. 
 With all our liberality, and I believe we are not more deficient in this 
 
36 
 
 virtue than any of our neighbours, we can never as a body be brought 
 to shake hands with the Pope : our zealous clergy will never cease to 
 dash their Genevan battle- axes at the " Man of Sin j" and your own 
 experience will enable you to judge what effect these warlike move- 
 ments are likely to produce upon the French, should we ever come 
 before them asking an alms for our Presbyterian College. But the fact 
 is, Sir, prelacy owes us as bitter a grudge as popery, for since the olden 
 time, and the spirit has of late been revived, the Presbyterian gorge rose 
 as high in looking at the mitre, as at the triple crown. To our confused 
 optics, they are taken for " brither's bairns," and on their part both are 
 inclined to deal with us very much in one style, as may be aeen passim 
 in our Canadian chronicles^ I say nothing at present of the friendship 
 we might purchase from the representatives of the smaller sects, and at 
 how much it might be estimated: — my design, in adverting to these 
 points, is to dissuade from making any application to the Legislature for 
 aid to Queen's College. It will certainly be denounced by our charita- 
 ble opponents, — the trick of a Yankee slaver displaying the flag of liber- 
 ty, — a cruize of sectarian piracy under the colours of science. Now, Sir, 
 I abominate all deception whether in Jesuit or Presbyter. I woiUd do 
 much to free our name from the very suspieion of it, while in the man- 
 ner of an Aberdeen diplomatist in an analogous insfence, I would pub- 
 lish a manifesto, " that it was not consistent with the honour of Pres- 
 bytery to allow any other body to prosper through such deceitful strata- 
 gems." Let the state act in consistency with its avowed principles 
 Let it sustain by a liberal patronage the branches of education that are 
 common to all, in institutions bearing its own name and under its own 
 control, and let the different religious denominations sustain ard govern 
 what is peculiar to themselves by any method they may like best. 
 
 And if the state should exercise this liberality, as it has already 
 done in a measure by the ample endowment of King's College, and 
 should we, availing ourselves of the privileges afforded in that institution, 
 be exonerated from all char£e for the support of secular literature, we 
 might then begin to inquire how far we are prepared to accomnlish that 
 which peculiarly belongs to us as a religious denomination. I take it 
 
 JVF KtUISV.^^ S>Iiai4 111 ttll.^ liT^TT vt ■" t't t*lV *.'C»^^^^J ?»•' "i-jv -i!V'«*-y ,>»*.,,^ j^^ 
 
8T 
 
 .„ru=d on .h. part of any o( a,o .„b«r,^r». ShuuU ,l.ey bo c„„v.nc.a 
 :le.n«:f^nen.uaue..-.on«mbepr„n,o,c..^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 •^-"' r "LT:i::re:r:^tr WO 
 r:rrr:vrveio. no. .. a. „». ,^ .— 
 . - C..C. as -,;--- : ::::::r:r '^;o 
 
 any mcasureby wh,chboh may be _^^^ ^^. 
 
 „„* U, .ho argumon. ™h,ch --- J«^^^^^^„ ,„„ .,„ „,,•,„„, 
 
 .Wely -'■-■■'^ ""•''7''°" • ^He " of edneaUn, youn, men 
 destitution of the country, and the necessuy b 
 
 destiiuuon ,,.rselve8 • and hence it was thought not m- 
 
 for the ministry amongst ourselves , anu -, 
 
 • r »v.o rhiirrh and the Sabbath, to avau 
 c„n.mtent wiU, tho wncuty of the Church 
 .„,«lves of them in tho work of =olic,tat,on-a hberty we hou 
 
 r lave u.a had no. tho interests of reh.on --« " 
 our design. General hh=ra.ure indeed was pleaded for, ^ l-Aj 
 a prehminary U. the o.her, and .hough i. was our -«;'>; «"; 
 
 C llego .hould afford .he means of a Ubera. ^''"^^^""^^^^IZ 
 
 the weaUhy who had no profession in view, as well as to .hose who 
 r„ld to follow the professions of law and medioino, ye. our 
 
 „,ght mtend '»'«»»-? ,^^^ f„ educa^ng candida.es 
 
 rr:;"::S-ha.ca.ledfor.he.i.rali.yof^^^^^ 
 
 -": '" ne:r:r:st.:Vurr:rc:::;ct, 
 
 ed„c.t.on, except .n so fa ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 : r: hr/any part in this College movemen.. I co„s.ndy 
 
 X 1 ♦. the first step that the Commission of Synod 
 
 who might be appomtea , ^^^i^.ble to appoint 
 
 nreliminary branches, until it should ne louu y 
 
 prelimmary ^^^ therefore, that all 
 
 „nd oraCicable .o return to our claims upon Kmgs College for .r» 
 '1 rire, and .0 appropria.e all .he fun.U that have been or may 
 be collected, to the maintainance of our tneolopca, ..vU.tj. 
 
38 
 
 Should it appear in the progress of negociation that tliis course Ih 
 lei\ open and safe to us, there is still a vast deal to be done, in order tu 
 carry out even that part of the charter which is peculiar to us as a 
 religious body. Our subscriptions are very from having reached the 
 sum that our sanguine calculators anticipated. Though many of our 
 friends have come forward with their £5, JEIO, £25, jBSO and JGIOO, 
 the beautiful conception of a single dollar, from each of 100,000 
 Presbyterians has not been realized. This statement is not ii, tended 
 for complaint, but rather to suggest the difficulty of carrying out a pro- 
 jeci so extensive in a thinly peopled and recent Colony, at a time we 
 had scarcely recovered from thi disastrous effects of anarchy and re- 
 bellion. Considering how small a part of the field has yet been 
 brought under contribution, we ought rath or to be encouraged by the 
 progress we have made than mortified with the idea of failure. Let 
 them reproach us who have done better. Our success contrasts by 
 no means u.ifavourably with that of the Presbyterian Church of the 
 United States, in a similar effort, though its communicants alone in 
 1837 were 220,557, and its adherents probably not fewer than one 
 million of souls. This Church, with which we have numerous 
 kindred relations, began their Theological Seminary at Princeton, New 
 Jersey, in 1809 : and it was announced to the General Assembly in 
 1821, that foundations for three professorships had been commenced, 
 and that for this pur pose a capital sum of j£20,000 should be raised 
 within the bounds of four of their wealthiest Synods. I learn from a 
 report, made after an interval of twenty years, that not one of these en- 
 dowments had been fully completedj and that a considerable defi- 
 ciency was required to be made up every year for the Professors' 
 salaries ' y congregational collections j and all this, be it observed, 
 amidst a people remarkable for their liberality towards public objects, 
 in a period of great commercial prosperity, and while the chairs were 
 filled by men who have few superiors on this continent. With all 
 the experience of the past that may be fitted to repress extravagant 
 expectations, considering that we have money and other property 
 already in possession, exceeding jg 12,000, and je6,000 of uncollected 
 Bubscription, and a large portion of our people yet unsolicited, we msiy 
 
I 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 
 39 
 
 , .h.t fundB will be obtained to complete our under- 
 
 «- -»^-; rr^e «a fLu, !f Queen's CoUe^. For 
 thU obJMl a Pmopal and two ^ ^^ 
 
 bcide, edifices, a library, and " J^^^^^^^^Uy .he foUow- 
 students. To each of tho« purposes I ato J 
 ing capital sums, viz : Currency. 
 
 de6,000 
 
 For the Principal's salary ^^^^^^ 
 
 For the salaries of two Professors . . • • ' • ' - 
 For public building., includingchapel,Ubrarj.h^^ 
 
 class rooms, and boarding accommodaUon for ^^^^^ 
 
 100 students * ' ^^qoO 
 
 For three dwelling houses for the Professors .... ^> ^^^ 
 
 The first instalment for a library 
 
 £26,000 
 hP ronsidered as already guaranteed 
 "^ 'r Ta",' Co— . ^He shape oCan annua. 
 >» » by U>e Genera. A^-^> ,, ,^„ as practicable m.o a 
 
 «jar, to the Prmcpa., to be conv ^^^ ^„ 
 
 fi.ea capital sunt "^ ^^f ^^''^^ J^Totneet Ute third, there 
 fund, already in the hand, o he T— ^„, Unds to some 
 
 ^ about *6,000 or — -^ ;;t 7due WucUon. we hold to 
 amount, which taUentogeJher^ndmaW^g^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ 
 
 be more than sufficient for th,s .« ^^._^ __^_^^.^^^„g „3 
 
 would require an additional sum of ^> _^ ^^^ ^, .„y ^e 
 
 have received but .itUe atd from «"^i ^ ,„ ,^, aing, 
 
 ^.d there. Another itemj^w^^v^j;^;^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 namely, a capital sum as - "^-"^^ „f ^ years. A goodly num- 
 
 eachper annum,, be hdd « */ fjjjf ^,,UtuUon. ThePres- 
 . ..u^^^jainaianensableU) the success oi ^ .. •_ ^unisd 
 
 '::::"^h«rch of C.n.aa. l.e he. mother of .co,>ano, - .- 
 
 I 
 
40 
 
 upon the rock of poverty,''^ and, in the natural course of things, it is not 
 to be expected that young men will be very ambitioud to ascend it, 
 nor that parents will be much inclined to disburse sums, large in pro- 
 portion to their means, upon the preparatory education of their sons, 
 when there is no prospect at the end of their course but a precarious 
 dependence. Unless advantages of this sort be conferred upon meri- 
 torious competitors, many young men, who might become ornaments 
 to the Christian ministry, will never be able to enter it. This circum- 
 stance, arising chiefly from the want of an Established Church, and 
 a competent provision for the Clergy, has given rise in the United 
 States to Education Societies, whose object is to grant aid to students 
 of divinity, on certain conditions, that they may be enabled to prose- 
 cute their studies. I observe, also, that twenty-six scholarships 
 have been founded in connection with the Theological Seminary at 
 Princeton for the same object. The first plan of raising funds, name- 
 ly, by Education Societies, is immediately within the reach of the 
 Synod, and I trust this body is fully prepared to provide, by annual 
 cellections or otherwise, for the maintenance of twelve students of 
 divinity ; and from what was some time ago intimated to us by the 
 Colonial Committee of the General Assembly, I have no doubt that 
 twelve more would obtain support from the fund under their control ; 
 and thus there may be twenty-four meritorious students supported at 
 College, six of whom will be annually introduced to the ministry of 
 the Church in Canada. Meanwhile it may happen to Queen's Col- 
 lege in Canada, as it did in the fourteenth century to Queen's in 
 Oxford, that some pious founder or founders shall resolve to endow 
 twelve fellowships " after the number of Christ's disciples, who, to 
 further their education, shall be called together for their meals in the 
 public hall, by the sound of the horn.^^ This restricted scheme, and 
 the project of ways and means, though still impracticable without ener- 
 getic measures, we can accomplish, if we only remain united and 
 heartily disposed. 
 
 I beg in this place to offer a single remark in explanation of the 
 third item in the preceding estimate. You will bear in mind that, 
 according to the Bcheme which I prefer, the Theological Seminary will 
 
 i 
 
41 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 te ..ewher. in .he vicinity of .he Univers,.,, and sub. tary^J. ^ 
 A chapel will be needed, in which, under .he paswral caro ofAe P™ 
 fes^rall *e «uden« belonging to the Church ,ha« assemble fo 
 
 *ere will be vhree disiinct Professorships. If econotny should 
 « IT., the chapel might no. only t« used as a library, but also as 
 re:ure:roomfonheProfessorofDivi„ity,andbyasui.a«e^a^n^- 
 
 „entoftheir hours ofleCuHng, one class-room nught -"^ 
 other two Professors, and thus a material savmg m space and c«. 
 it be attained. I have specified boarding accommodauon for on^ 
 ^0 students, a number which our denomination w.U probably no. 
 exceed for many years. ^^^ ^ 
 
 The following extract from 1 he Bnei ma y 
 eal seminary at Prin..ton," presents .o u, .he -- P»-^ "^ 
 Presbyterians in the United S.a«s, in circumstances very smular ^ ur 
 <,wn=-"The General Assembly (of the Presbytenan Church of he 
 United States) which met in May. 1815, taking into «-" *= 
 great inconveniences resUting to flte Institution from the want of su,^ 
 L apartments for the reci^tions and other exerc.ses "f -He « . 
 and more especially the numerous privations, and even danger toth.Mr 
 ;l:,.owrchthe students were subieotedhythewa^oco— 
 
 places of lod^ng ; determined to erect a pubhc edtfice n P« 
 which should contain all the publi. apartments mdispensabl; necessary 
 :*epresen.,anda,s„loaging.roomsforthecomfor.ableaccommo^. 
 
 L of L pupils. Accordingly this edifice was commenced m .he 
 Imn of L' year , was firs, occupied by the Professors and Students 
 rte autumn of .8.7, when about one-ha.f of *eapartmen.s were 
 preparedfortheirrecepfioniandwassoonafterwardscomple^d.Th 
 
 W, ding is of stone ; one hundred and fifty feet m length fifty f^tm 
 breadth, and four stories high, indading the basement story. I. h^ 
 been a mired by all who have «3en it, as a model of neat and «.efid^ 
 TJI'I^ sale time of plain, economical, and remarkably sohd 
 
 rlmanship. Besides tite apartments ---'>' ^»' "Tftl 
 „ci.ations.therefec.ory establishment, and the ace— ^^^ 
 
 steward and his family, this edifice w.U furn.». .odgtngs K,r .. 
 
 EIGHTY pupils." _ 
 
42 
 
 To establish anything that could fairly merit the name, or that could 
 afford the advantages of a Theological Faculty, at a cost less than that 
 specified, cannot, I think, be practicable. I am aware that it has been 
 proposed to begin with two Professors, and even with one in this de- 
 partment. I know. Sir, that many admirable divines and most ex- 
 emplary ministers have never been within the walls of a College, and 
 I have no doubt that some auch might be formed, were our Seminary 
 committed to the care of two Professors, or even of one, were he pe- 
 culiarly gifted for his office. But the general fact nevertheless is, that 
 in order to the most successful culture of the mind for the sacred office, 
 and it holds of every other liberal profession, the greater the variety of 
 talent in the instructors, the greater the effect on the diversified char- 
 acters of the students ; and though one Professor may contain in him- 
 self the learning, ability, and industry of three, he would not on that 
 account be qualified to communicate to those under his care the bene - 
 fits io be derived from three. But even were a threefold division 
 made of this Faculty, namely, into Didactic and Pastoral Theology, 
 into Ecclesiastical History and Government, into Sacred Philology and 
 Criticism, each department is sufficiently ample for one Professor to 
 cultivate and teach ; and the public good would be greatly promoted 
 by our resolving on no more limited and imperfect distribution. 
 
 The statements and remarks contained in this and the preceding 
 letters are sufficient to show that it is quite beyond our actual re- 
 sources, or any that we can reasonably calculate on from voluntary 
 contributions alone, to bring into operation both the Literary and 
 Theological Departments of Queen's College. By attempting both, 
 we shall inevitably emaciate and destroy both ; our choice must be 
 the one or the other. It is a happy circumstance, that should the 
 preference be given to Theology, and on every ground it is entitled to 
 our preference, we are able to complete this part of our scheme almost 
 Immediately, and in a highly respectable manner ; while, by availing 
 ourselves of our rights in King's College — provided that Institution be 
 immediately brought into operation — our students will obtain instruc- 
 tion in literature and science at the public charge. What is necessary 
 in our present circumsi.ances, is practicable, and the practicable, if 
 
43 
 
 all parties are wis., may be rend.red not only safe and agreeable, but 
 highly conducive to the general interests both of science and rehgion 
 
 in Canada. 
 
 I am, my dear Sir, 
 
 Your's with great esteem, 
 
 Robert McGill. 
 
 Hon. Wm. Morris. 
 
44 
 
 LETTP^R VII. 
 
 Niagara, 20th June, 1842. 
 
 M? Dear Sir : 
 
 Deliberating upon the expediency of availing ourselves 
 of whatever advantages may be presented in the Literary Department of 
 King's College for our Students, it is proper that we should narrowly 
 examine the charter of that Institution, to be assured that nothing 
 exists in it that might in any way compromise our character and in- 
 terests as a religious body. I have once again read it V • uion, 
 and it appears to me, that we have no very urgent reason . ..esider- 
 ate any farther amendment in its fundamental structure. 
 
 For it is now wholly divested of a sectarian character. Every 
 trace of the exclusiveness of the old charter is obliterated. The 
 whole patronage, indeed, is in the Chancellor, as Her Majesty's Re- 
 presentative, and if this officer should think fit, the University may 
 still in fact, be rendered sectarian ; but this would be an obvious con- 
 travention of its whole spirit. The present Bishop of Toronto, also, 
 is President, and all its visitors, with a solitary exception, and all the 
 Members of the College Gov I, belong to the Episcopal Church j 
 but the charter does not require this, and evidently contemplates a 
 very different reckoning of its Office-bearers. Who, and what the 
 Professors shall be, will be known by and by, and whether the stream 
 of court favour will continue to flow always in the same channel. 
 In these days of responsibility, however, and pretended deference to 
 public opinion, if this sluice be not duly regulated, the people them- 
 selves will be to blame. I have a lively remembrance of the prudent 
 anxiety you displayed on your mission to London, to secure our in- 
 terests in King's College, and to prevent the Royal assent from being 
 given to the amended charter, until these were sufficiently guaranteed. 
 This caution was especially just and necessary under the old regime ; 
 what it may be under the new, I am too little acquainted with its 
 Administrators and principles to conjecture. Notwithstanding the 
 SDirit of the charter and the professed liberalism of the times, it would 
 not surprize many, " were the old fashioned Geneva gown excluded 
 
46 
 
 f„. U.e precnc. of U,e CoUe^ avenue." The ^1— ^ U.e 
 exercise of hU patrona^ may no. be aware .ha. persons of compe 
 .e„. <,ua«fica.ions for Professorships could be found m Nortt. B„.a^^ 
 rrand Cambridge a. invested wi.h a splendour .ha. .n e. u 
 lu Northern Universities invisible .0 a SouAern's eye and .he 
 ;: D rie prevailing .here, .o say no*in, o. certain pn=la.ca an - 
 Ihies, migh.be rather a. variance wi* his own preddectton . If, 
 hot" r,h should have caught any portion of the sp,n. of Lord 
 cZam, and .he presen. crisis of U>is country -H re^- 
 «„dred genius to preside over its Adm.n,s«aUon, he may erhaps 
 adopt as his own .he language of that illustrious statesman :-« I have 
 otal auachmen.. I. is indifferent .o me whe.her a man w. 
 
 „eUedinhis cradle on .his ;«"--; ;:;:XJ.r:!: 
 f. meri. v,herever it ^''O^^;^^^- I- ^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^ 
 .he first Minister who loolLed for it, and louna 
 the North. I called it forth, and dtew i. into your servce,--a hardy 
 * d i„.repid race of men 1-n.en, who whe. left by your jealousy 
 
 became a prey .o the artifices of your enemies => . 
 
 rih that our Governor may be such a sta^sman ; and were some 
 „„e.oadminis«rtomealethean draught sufficiently po^nt to wash 
 away all remembrances of the past, I might be able to declare ,. a 
 „yc„nvicUon,*a. in .he exercice of his pa.ronage, no nattonal o 
 Jigious jealousies wUl be awakened and the interests of learmng alone 
 
 """Tr University, in so far as i. can be brought cons.i.u.ionalIy 
 under .he direc. conuoul of Ae Council and of .he College Senato, .s 
 in my judgmen. purely litorary and scientific-Theology bemg vr- 
 IZ LL^- There may, indeed, be Faculties of Theology as of 
 Meiine, constitutod under .he By-Laws and Eegulattons of the 
 Council, bu. .hese mus. be independant in their own department, 
 and no farther under .he con.,oul of .he Sena.e, .han may be "eces- 
 .ary to .he public order and discipline of the University. If adm>«ed 
 on Ae founda.io„ a. all, .hey must really be distinc. belies under the.r 
 own government. Certain prohibition, in .he cha.ter mus. matenally 
 affect the proceedings of all its UlLcers m rcic.n.. .. .- 
 
4^ 
 
 Divinity. AH siubscriplions, tests, and qualifications except in a veiy 
 general form, are removed. The Members of the Council and Senate, 
 and the Professors also, may be of any faiin, consiRtent with the de- 
 claration, " that they believe in the authenticity and divine inspiration 
 of the Old and New Testament, and in the doctrine of the Trinity." 
 This clause must be designed to admit the Theological Faculty in any 
 variety consistent with it, or to exclude it altogether, for a body which 
 has not itself any definite symbols, cannot prescribe them to others. 
 The Select Committee of the Legislative Council appointed to report 
 on the King's College Amendment Bill appear, though their language 
 is somewhat ambiguous, to have entertained this view of the clause : 
 they say—" Under this Bill no degree in Divinity can be conferred, if 
 literally interpreted, it must have By-Laws and Eegulations." The 
 Committee on Education, altho' they recommend the establishment 
 of an exclusive Faculty of Theology, do it on the ground o{ expediency 
 and not on that of positive enactment, and they are not so far forget- 
 ful of the liberal spirit of the charter, as to propose altogether the ex- 
 clusion of other denominations. " It is theu' conviction," — (all the 
 Commiflsioners, be it remembered, are of the Episcopal Church,) that 
 it would be wholly subversive of the order and well-being of an Uni- 
 versity, to have within its walls. Chairs for the Professors of different 
 denominations of religion. But altho' they would for this reason sug- 
 gest, that the University in this Faculty, should be assimilated to those 
 of Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin, they would also recommend that 
 provision should be made for affording to the Students for the Ministry 
 in other denominations of Christianity, the advantages of Academic 
 education. They, therefore, submit the only plan by which it appears 
 to them the important object of instruction for Theological Students 
 can be obtained, without exciting angry and jealous feelings through 
 the Province, or endangering the peace and harmony of the Univer- 
 sity. They would recommend that Theological Seminaries should be 
 established, (either all in one or each in a different part of the Pro- 
 vince,) one for each denomination that might appear to require such 
 an establishment for the education of their Clergy. On finishing the 
 course of instruction there, the Student should receive a Diploma, 
 
4ft 
 
 certifying that he had completed the requisite course of Theological 
 study, which might be an essential in the requisites for such titles or 
 degrees in Divinity, as the autl rities of each Theological Seminary 
 might be empowered to confer." My opinion is thue variously borne 
 out that the University is literary and scientific in its prominent char- 
 acter J that the charter has made no provision for a sectarian Theo- 
 logy ; that Theology is virtually excluded from its funds, controul and 
 protection ; and all sources of sectarian rivalship being thus removed, 
 every sect may, without suspicion, send its youth up to contend in 
 generous emulation on one common and equal arena. 
 
 If these views be correct, it does not appear to me how the 
 government of the University could be provided for in a more unex- 
 ceptionable manner than that which the charter prescribes. Endowed 
 by the munificence of the Sovereign, its patronage, according to the 
 custom of Britain, is vested in the Crown, and it becomes us to look 
 I for an enlightened and faithful exercise of this high trust on the part of 
 
 Her Majesty's Representative in Canada, on whom it devolves. The 
 visitors, whose consent is necessary to render valid all Statutes, Rules, 
 and Ordinances, are the Judges of the Queen's Bench,— men, it may 
 readily be admitted, the most enlightened in the country, raised above 
 local and party prejudices, of suitable habits and sufiicient leisure, 
 devoted to the advancement of learning, too discerning not to see the 
 spirit of the charter, and too upright not to respect it. Such men are 
 not usually bigots, and if at anytime an individual among them should 
 be hurried away by strong partizanship, his zeal will probably be res- 
 trained by the rest, or, if need be, will be subjected to some extraneous 
 controul. And if any of the older residents in the country should 
 yet cherish the suspicion, that, its first President is disposed so far as 
 his influence can go, to mar the liberal spirit of the charter, let it be 
 borne in mind, that time is a rectifier of evils as well as senates, and 
 that his successor "who is not required to be the incumbent of an 
 Ecclesiastical office," may not be tainted with a churchman's bigotry. 
 Again, when we look at the composition of the Council, we find it 
 may be very much what the Chancellor chooses to make it. It be- 
 
 Prcsidcnt: the Speaker of the Legislative 
 
 longs 
 
 appoint 
 
48 
 
 Council is cx-officio a Member, but then the Speaker is appointed by 
 the Governor : so, also, with the Attorney and Solicitor General, and 
 thv-? Principal of the Minor College. The other five Members whether 
 as now, they be i^ersona not holding an office in the University, or 
 whether they shall be persons filling Chairs within it, owe their seats 
 to His Excellency's patronage. The only person who may be inde- 
 pendant of that patronage is the Speaker of the House of Assembly. 
 It is quite clear, therefore, that the character of the Council and 
 Senate will just be what the Governor chooses to make it. If a right 
 commencement be s lade in the free spirit of the charter, no class iti 
 the community should allow themselves to suspect any malign influ- 
 ence on any of their interests. Mismanagement may arise ; some 
 attempts may be made to secure party objects ; but unless an extreme 
 case be supposed, which no scheme of regulations can be framed to 
 meet, sufficient checks exist for the abatement of that evil. 
 
 Had my leisure perm.itted, several points remain on which I 
 could wish to offer a few remarks in farther confirmatioi of the opin- 
 ions I have advanced, and the mode of proceeding I would recom- 
 mend. I might enter upon a sta*'3tical examination of the number of 
 students in the liberal arts, and for professional life, that the popula- 
 tion of Canada may probably furnish, and deduce an argument 
 against the attempt to bring the Literary Department of Queen's Col- 
 lege into operation at present ; I might show that the funds of King's 
 College are adequate and immediately available for a complete esta- 
 blishment of Teachers in Art and Science, and argue the wisdom of 
 claiming our privilege there ; I might, on the supposition that the 
 Theological Department of Queen's College, shall, after the proper 
 steps have been taken, be established in the vicinity of Toronto, 
 explain a method by which the capital sum to be invested in buildings 
 there, together with all the endowments, shall be transferred to 
 Queen's College at Kingston, when the proper time shall have ar 
 rived ; — 1 should, moreover, have explained a scheme for the encour- 
 agement of learning, by rendering University degrees necessary, not 
 
 Olllv lUl ttii "St; iiiviit'/«-i i7 •■■ ••••• ..,.!.!.•■• j. ....!-...,,!,_,..,., ..... ... ».»w. — 
 
 the holding of every valuable office at the disposal of the Crown j and 
 
49 
 
 i Bhould glad:/ have expaUated on the importance of framing all Ihd 
 educational Insiitutions of this new country on a broad and compre- 
 hensive basis :-But these questions I must decline for the present, 
 and I regret this the less, as at the approaching Meeting of the Trus- 
 tees, an opportunity may be afforded of explaining myself fully upon 
 them. I shall be extremely happy to find that my views are in ac- 
 cordance with yours, or through your larger experience to correct my 
 
 own. 
 
 I have addressed myself to you, on the present occasion^ freely, 
 with affectionate confidence in your candour, and with the utmost 
 license of epistolary writing, not only because I have pres^umed on your 
 good will to me personally, but, because you fill the honourable office of 
 Chairman to the Trustees of Queen's College, and have rendered to this 
 whole enterprize your zealous and able support. I have a very lively 
 persuasion, that if the scheme which I have suggested, be right and 
 agreeable to your own sentiments, no individual in the Province wiU 
 engage more heartily or more efficiently in carrying it out than ydu. 
 i know that you are possessed of large and liberal views on all ques^ 
 tions of Canadian policy; and I rejoice that the warm attachment 
 you have always manifested for the Church of Scotland, does not 
 diminish your regard for the Church universal, and that no mere feel- 
 ings of nationality can ever turn you aside <rom promoting the best 
 interests of your adopted country. 
 
 Praying that you may obtain from the Eteirnal oource, all temporal 
 
 and spiritual good. 
 
 I am, my dear Sir, 
 
 Your'e with high esteem, 
 
 ROBBRT McGlLL. 
 
 Hon. Wra. Morris. 
 
51 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 The preceding seven Letters, written at their respective dates, 
 •were sent to the Honorable Gentleman to whom they are addressed, 
 and who was pleased to express a general concurrence m the views 
 and opinions contained in them. 
 
 The Appendix and Notes, promised in the Title Page, were 
 intended to embrace extracts from various public and official docu- 
 xnents, explanatory of the movements in which Queen's College 
 originated, and of its actual condition and prospects, as the wnter 
 viewed them, when these Letters were written. It is found, however, 
 that the extracts would be too voluminous to be inserted here. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Liddell, who had been appointed Principal of 
 Queen's College, by the Colonial Committee of the Church of Scot- 
 land, arrived in Canada, in January, 184,2, and, after a short session 
 which commenced in March, he returned to Scotland, and was there 
 when these Letters were written. Had O^e writers' views been enter- 
 tained by all parties concerned, the Rev. Principal would have con- 
 tinued in the United Kingdom for a year or more, advocating the 
 cause of Queen's College, securing that endowment for our Divinity 
 Chair, for which the General Assembly's Committee had virt .Jy 
 pledged itself-collecting a Library, and other requisites, for the sue 
 cess of our object. Mr. Campbell's call to the discharge of the duties 
 of Professor of Languages, which could not be regarded as otherwise 
 than temporary, and which in the circumstances of the case 
 ought not to have been made at all, would not have prevented him 
 from returning to his Pastoral charge. The writer ascribes to this 
 hasty and ill-advised step,-a step that led subsequently to a senes of 
 r.|„. jyo„.^.nf«. th« results of which aggravate oiir present embar- 
 ras3ments,-that we are now without any secure and permanent 
 
52 
 
 endowment for the Divinity Chair in Queen's College, derived froni 
 subscriptions on which we counted from Scotland ; — that large ex- 
 penses have been incurred for Professors salaries, when there was 
 no adequate number of students prepared to enter the College j—that 
 the capital fund has been diminished contrary to the pledges given to 
 the subscribers ; and that such unpopularity has fallen upon the In- 
 stitution, PS will render it impossible to collect the instalments that 
 may be still due. 
 
 The writer had hoped also, that it would be in his power to pre- 
 sent an abstract of the financial affairs of the College, and of the 
 attendance during each Session respectively on the different classes. 
 These matters, he is persuaded, when they are fully inquireu into, will 
 corroborate the opinions he has expressed in these Letters, and at 
 various times to the Board of Trustees, that the Literary Department 
 of the College ought not, in the circumstances, to have been commen- 
 ced, and that the appointment of two Professors to this Department, 
 haa been, and still is a source of embarrassment, and wasteful 
 
 expenditure. 
 
 From the views expressed in Letter VII. on the amended charter 
 of King's College, the writer has seen no reason to depart. If, in 
 spite of its liberal provisions, that Institution has assumed a decidedly 
 sectarian character, the fault lies with the Government, and it alone 
 is to blame for the prevailing discontent, and the clamour for farther 
 change, in order to the correction of a grievous mal-administration. 
 What avails a just and liberal charter, if it be not carried out in a 
 just and liberal spirit ? In the absence of this, even Mr. Baldwin's 
 or Mr. Draper's Bill might not greatly improve the condition of 
 
 King's College. 
 
 The writer abstains from saying any thing on the present position 
 of Queen's College. The ship is on the rocks. Whether she can be 
 brought safely off, and afterwards made any thing of, will depend on 
 the wisdom of those who may come on board. 
 
 R.M. 
 
 ^ 
 
 f^ 
 
 MoKTREAi, I2ih August, 1S16. 
 
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