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Introductory. The following pages relate to a subject which has employed the thoughts and enf /gies of the writer, in conjunction with other friends of education, for the last fourteen years, — the erection and perman- ent establishment of a University worthy of this great city, and fitted to be the centre of the higher education for the English of the Pro- ince of Quebec, and to shed abroad the practical influence of scien- tific training and the amenities of literary culture throughout Can- ada. Montreal has already, as becomes its pre-eminence in population and wealth, distinguished itself by its liberality in the support of the higher education ; and I cannot doubt that it will receive, at least, with patient attention, any suggestions that may be offered with ref- ference to the extension and improvement of its own University, — the creation of its own wise liberility, the sharer of its fortunes, and the enhancer of its prosperity and renown as a centre, not only of wealth, but of liberal education. The circumstances which induce a reference to this subject at present are the following. The University has continued, with a careful economy, to treasure up and use for the purposes of the higher education, the estate bequeathed by Mr. McGiil, and the sums subsequently placed at its disposal by the liberality of the citizens of Montreal. It has now reached the utmost point of de- velopment which these resources will permit. The hope was at on$ time entertained that the pledges of public support, given to the Boyal Institution by the Government of Canada, would have been redeemed ; but after a long and ineffectual struggle, the University is obliged to admit, that by the New Constitution of the Dominion, and the pubsequent action of the Legislature of Quebec, these ques- tions have been settled in a way adverse to the interests of the higher education. The McGill University must now depend almost en- tirely for its support and extension on the City of Montreal ; and it is for its friends in this city to determine whether, by being left to be stationary, it shall in effect retrograde, relatively to the increasing demands of our modern civilisation, relatively to the progress of this city, and relatively to the advancement of Universities elsewhere. True wisdom would dictate that the decision should bo in favour of extension. Nor docs this imply any neglect of or competition with the interests of the religious institutions, the public charities, the elementary education, or the commercial and manufacturing enter- prises of the city. The University can be sustained without injury to these ; and in its nature it is fitted directly or indirectly to pro- mote all these great interests to an extent much beyond that of the means which it may require. In the hope that these views of the question may be entertained, I venture to invite the attention of the friends of education in Mon- treal, to the subject of University extension as dependent on them- selves ; and in doing so, I believe that I shall express the convictions of all those who have been my fellow-workers in this enterprise, and who feel that the time has arrived when it becomes a public duty again to call attention to the many avenues in the culture of mind — the richest of all the resources of nations, — from which we are at pres- ent debarred by hindrances which might easily be removed. Natube op University Extension. The extension of University Education may be viewed in several very dissimilar aspects. The expression may have reference to the number of persons who receive an academical education, or to whom its benefits may be accessible. In this sense it is most fre- quently employed In the continuous agitation in England respecting the possibility of increasing the number of students in the older' Universities, and more especially in Oxford. Again, in speaking of University extension, we may have reference to the enlarging of the scope of collegiate study, or of the University examinations for degre<^s and honours. Such extension has taken place largely in the courses of the English Universities in our own time, and is still in progress. A third, consists in the increase of the number of Univer- sities, such as that which we have witnessed in a late session of our Janadian Legislature, in nearly doubling at one stroke the number of Universities in Ontario, a province which already possessed too large a number of such institutions. I need scarcely say, that I should be sorry to see this last kind Ill of University cxt iision introduced into this Province, since I be- lieve that the number of our Universities is already sufficiently jj;reat ; but I shall proceed to en(iuire as to the degree of possible or desirable extension of our Universities, and more especially of that of IVIontreal, in the direction of cnlarj^ed scope of study and training, and in the direction of enabling larger numbers of students to avail themselves of the advantages of collegiate edu- cation. In regard to its course of study, the McGill University has not limited itself within the narrow boundaries of the older collegiate education of the mother country. Until the late reforms introduced into the English Universities, their ordinary or imperative course of study had, under the influence of the Colleges upon the examining body, been narrowed down to little more than a very moderate amount of classics and mathematics, and shewed no tendency to incorporate with itself any portion of the more modern literature and science of our own time. lu short, the Universities confin(;d themselves to the work of training the mental powers of students to move along a very narrow and restricted track, and they tru.'ited for their reputa- tion to the eminence attained by a comparatively small number of honour men, while the ordinary students were allowed to leave the Uni^ versity with little enlargement of mind beyond that acquired in cchool. It may be instructive here to enquire how so singular a result as the actual narrowing of a collegiate course, in the face of the immense growth of modern learning, was arrived at in the older English Uni^ versities. The story may be shortly told thus : — In the middle ages when these Univeisltlcs were established, their reputation was based on the labours of distinguished and cele- brated teachers who occupied the professorial chairs. The concourse of students to the lectures of these men was so great, that the erection of Colleges and Halls fov their accommodation became desir- able, and wealthy and benevolent men undertook this work for the poorer students. At first, these foundations were merely a sort of better lodging-houpes. with tutors to superintend the lives and studies of the inmates. But^these QoUeges were separate corporations, and in course of time they became ^influential in the University, and began to engross to themselves the teaching of the students, as well 6 as to control the examinations for degrees. In such circumstances, it was the inevitable tendency on the part of the Colleges to reduce the requirements for the degree to the range of subjects taught by their own tutors, or in other words to the possible .stiuidard of the weaker Colleges, which could only afford to teach a few of the more stationary or less j^rogressivo subjects. Thus the lectures of the University professors became loss and less necessary for the ordinary students, who, by what was described by one of its opponents as a system of "cramming and partial teaching" on the part of the tutors of the Colleges, could reach the required standard. In defence of this system, it could be argued that proficiency in a few things was better than a smattering of several, and that the old established subjects which were inflexible and unchanging in comparison with the new sciences, admitted of more certain and rigorous examination-tests ; but the real ground was the narrow desire of the Colleges to retain the work and the profits of teaching within themselves, and to reject all subjects which required any means and appliances not possessed by the individual Colleges. At Oxford, the statute of 1800 which for the first time established a rigorous system of University exami- nations for the degrees, found the power of the Colleges already in full exercise, and was moulded by i». But just as the College tutors had contrived to cut out the University professors, so a new class of meT> arose in consequence of this statute, and to some extent super- seded the College tutors. These were the private tutors, and it is stated that in 1840 and '41 no less than one-fifth of the students availed themselves of the services of these "coaches" at an aggregate expense of £10 000 a year. About the same time Dr. Peacock, a tutor at Trinity College, Cambridge, in his work on the statutes of that Uni- versity, states that a large proportion of the students resort to private tutors " to whom they pay on an average £40 a year." These teachers he sayd are " young and inexperienced and not com- petent to convey enlarged views ;" and he attributes to this the pau- city of works of learning nnd research proceeding from the Univer- sity. The extent of this remarkable narrowing or retrogression of the English Universities, may be learned from the fact, that in 1839, the Professors of Experimental Philosophy, Comparative Anatomy, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Geology, Botany, Geometry and Astronomy, .-■j i ii .H i, naM lf „,„ l H|,, li, ■ii at Oxford, though many of them were amon.ii; tlio most able mou of their day, sent a petition to the Heads of Houses, in which thoy do- chired that their classes had dwindled in some instances to one-fifth of their former numbers, and that, unless some reform was introduced, their usefulness would be at an ead. Thus, these subjects were actually dying out at Oxford, while the number of students was not diminishing, and while the subjects were gi'owin;j; in popularity and importance in the estimation of the extra-academical world. The Heads of Houses were sufficiently impressed with this portentous phenomenon to pass a statute requiring studciits to take, at least, two courses of professorial lectures, beforo passing for the degree of B.A. But, as a late historian of these events remarks, " several aca- demical generations had already grown up under the same system," and in utter ignorance that there is any educational or other value in the subject? represented by the Professorships above named, while the collegiate and private tutors merely felt that their interests were at stake, and the statute was rejected by the Convocation. From this time, all the mo lern sciences, though nominally taught, were actually exiled from the University; and, with the exception of Mathematical stud- ies, the same was the case at Cambridge. In 1845, just at the time when the question of a University Commission was being agitated in Parliament, and when the rivalry of the new University of London was begining to rouse the atten- tion of the other Universities, the views of the cultivators of modern Science were thus expressed by Sir Charles Lyell, in an able resume of the history of the Universities. ' The highest excellence in Literature or in Science, can only re- sult from a life perseveringly devoted to one department. Such unity of purpose and concentration of power, arc wholly inconsistent with our academical machinery of tuition. The panegyrists indeed of the modern University system in England, seem never to admit candidly this plain truth, that the colleges have no alternative in regard to the course of study open to them. Take any flourishing University in Great Bi^itaiu or the Continent, Berlin for example, or Bonn or Edinburgh, whefe a wide range of Sciences arc taught. Let the Students be divided Into fifteen or more sections, without any classification in reference to their age, acquirements, tastes or future prospects. Vssign to each section a separate set of teachers, II I i 8 chiefly clerical and looking forward to preferment in the church and public schools, and from them select al! your public examiners' What must bo the result ? Tho immediato abandonment of three' fourths of the sciences taught, while those retained will belong of necessity to tho less progressive branchet) of human knowledge. Under conditions so singular as those now imposed on Oxford and Cambridge, I am ready to join their warmest eulogists and to con- tend that their plan of education is the best." Vrom this period, however, dates a new era of intellectual life in the English Universities ; and, as evidence of its extent, we now have Oxford presenting in its new Museum and the Eadcliffc Scientific liibrary connected with it, one of the noblest provisions in the world for tho study of Natural and Physical Science, and offering it's highest honours to the successful cultivators of those Sciences, while its ablest men are now discussing the means for giving to these and its other educational privileges a wider extension for the benefit of those who are now excluded from the University by the expensive modes of life, which have singularly enough resulted from that very provision of Colleges and HaiiS, originally instituted to aid poor students. Oua PosiTiOx. AND History. I have mentioned these things, principally to shew that the time when this University was re-organised, say from 1850 to 1855j was a time of strife between things new and old in collegiate educa- tion. Wo had before us the old English system, and the improve- ments then recently introduced or recommended. We had the me- thods of the Scottish, German and American Universities, which dif- fered altogether from those of England, and also to a great extent from one another. We had the new University of London, and the Queen's Universities of Ireland, with their peculiar modification of the idea that a University should be an examining rather than a teaching body. We had the imitation of this system introduced into Canada in the new University of Toronto, and we had the chequered history of McGill itself, and the peculiarities which had been impres- sed on it by the conditions of its origin and existence. In these circumstances, it would have been the easiest course to have fallen back on the limited curriculum of the English Univerai- '' < W H Mi ■ 11.11 ill I ''■ 9 ties, and to have oBtabliBhcd here a bare imitation of one of their smaller CollegcH, with as much of University ehow, titles pnd ceremo- nies, as our li ated means would permit. Such a course, if sucooss- ful for a little time, would have ncccssurily failed in the end. The learning which we should have had to offer, would have been of that kind for which, however valuable, the palate of a new and young society has little relish. The laws and usages of this country gave none of that prescription in favour of such studies which exists in older countries. We had no mass of educated gentry trained in this me- thod to support us. Even admitting that we had recognized this as the true ideal of the TTniversity, it would have been hopeless to have made the attempt. Another course would have been to have taken as our constitu- tion that of the newest universities of the old world, and to have vaunted before the country a magnificent and ultra-liberal programme of modern studies and options, regardless of all that had been before done here, and to the subversion of the older and time-honoured cur- riculum of college learning. This would have been dan.-^erous with our limited means. It might, under favourabhi circumstances, have led to a magnificent if unsubstantial success. It would more likely have resulted in a gigantic failure. The authorities of tins University did neither of these things. Carefully cherishing every t'lenient of success already existing in the College, dropping only what seemed useless or harmful, they at- tempted to gather around the University an able and efficient staff of instructors, representing in the first instance the subjects most essen- tial in a college course, and, in the second place, those more modern subjects, which by being more popular, and in some respects more practical, increase the value, of the education given, and at the same time cause it to be more sought after. This being secured, mere forms and rules were at first left somew at vague, that they might shape themselves according to the necessities of the case, as these should arise. At the same time, the University was connected, as far as possible, with the practical wants of life in this country, by its two Professional Faculties, its Normal School, its attempts in the direction of Schools of Agriculture, of Engineering, and of Practical Chemistry, and by its courses pf Popular Lectures. Some pf (hes^ 9,tr \\ 10 tempts have been discontinued, either because the need of them had ceased, or from want of students, or want of means, but others have been eminently successful, and all have oontributed somewhat to the growth of the University. Our next stage of progress consisted in giving to the University a local habitation, by the occupation of the original College Buildings above Sherbrooke Street, previously unused because of their dis- tance from the heart of the city. This was followed in a short time by that most munificent act of Mr. William Molson, which has brought our buildings to their present state cf c^mpletencss. Our next stage has been the affiliation of new Colleges, and the consolidation of our regulations in a definite and determinate form, a work o"ly completed ia recent years. Our position in these respects is not precisely like that of any other University with which I am acquainted ; but partakes of the methods of several, and seems eminently fitted to the work we have to do in this country. As an evidence of this, it has been imitated in several of the newer or more recently reorganised Colleges of British America, and some of the points which we have practically settled are now subjects of discubsion in connection with the farther reforms now sought in the Universities of Great Britain. The position which we h'ive thus attained, with our three Facul- ties, numbering 20 professors and lecturers, and 300 students, our cot modious buildings, our collections, our apparatus, and our library, is one which, when we consider the slender means at our command, and our absolute want of those public endowments which most Uni- versities in other countries have enjoyed, may well excite our grati- tude and our wonder. But my object, at present, is not to look back on what we have done, but rather to look forward to what we may and should do in the time to come, and on this subjec* I desire to explain to our friends my views as to certain objects which I place before me as desiderata, ond which I should i Spice to see effected before I shall be removed fro.a my sphere of active educational usefulness. Application op Science to the Arts. In the first place, I never cease to lament the small extent to which we have been able to promote the practical applications of science to art in this country. I am aware that it may be r .garded m iii i ii M u lem had [era have [* to the Mversity 'iidings 5ir dis. [rt time loh has nd the form, these with I and ^' As or or 10 of ts of '■ the icul- our "7, nd, ni- iti- ok vo re ?e e as our special sphere to deal with the more purely educational rather than with the practical business of life ; but in a country so lament- ably deficient in schools of art and applied science, and yet aspiring to success in those industrial arts which without such schools must be crude, abortive, and unsatisfactory, this would be a most useful department of labour for us, I had hoped that when the government of this country was so far aroused to its duty in this respect as to appoilnt a Board of Arts and Manufactures in Lower Canada, we should soon have had efifec- tive art and science schools, and the authorities of this university were ready to co-operate fully and frankly in this great work ; but these hopes have proved illusory, and as yat nothing permanent has been effected. Our School of Engineering, successful in the number of pupils attracted to it, and calculated to confer great benefits ou the country, was worried with professional and official opposition ; and, unaided by the public, was at length suspended owing to the temporary financial embarrassments of the University. Our chair of Practical Chemistry, though filled by the most eminent Chemist in this country, has failed to attract our artisans or manufacturers to receive its benefits, and the same fate has befallen my own efforts to bring the principles of Scientific Agriculture under the notice of our farmers. Some men may regard these efforts as failures, which should not be referred to here. For my own part I am not ashamed of them. Directly or indirectly, they have done good ; there is not one of them which is not important to the material progress of this country ; and there is not one of them which by us, or others, will not be at length successfully carried out. I do not yet despair of any of them ; and I am prepared, should I remain in this University, to watch for the opportunity to revive any of them when favourable circumstances shall occur. In the meantime, they remain as projects inchoate and so far matured in their plans and methods, as to be readily brought to completion by the aid of any one desirous of stimulating through us the development of any of those arts to which they relate. We wait for some Canadian Lawrence or Sheffield to endow for us a Scien- tific School, like those of Harvard and Yale, which have contributed so greatly to the wealth and progress of New Ecgland. i r l! f it: 12 The report of the Treasurer of Harvai-d, for 1864, states that Mr. James Lawrence, in addition to the gift of two thousand five hundred dollars, towards fitting up a laboratory, " fills up the muni- ficence of his father" by the additional gift of fifty thousand dollars as a fund for the support of the Chemical and Engineering Depart- ments of the Lawrence Scientific School. Still more recently, the sum of $50,000 has been given to found a School of Mines in Har- vard College, and an Institute of Technology has been founded iu Boston with an endowment of half-a-million of dollars, two thirds of that sum being from private sources. I may mention in con- nection with this, that the General Government of the United States has, by a leccnt Act, oifered to every State, which shall establish a College, where the leading object shall be, without excluding other Scientific and Classical studies, and including Military tactlos, to teach such branches of learning as are related to Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, a free grant of 30,000 acres of land for each Senator or Representative to which such State may be entitled. The State of Connecticut has bestowed its share of this grant on the Sheffield School of Yale College. The portion of the same grant falling to New York has, when supplemented by the generosity of a citizen of the State, given birth to the now famous Cornell University. When we reason as to the causes of the growth of wealth in the United States, we should not forget their magnificent educational foundations, which send out annually hundreds of able men trained in the applications of mathematical^ physical, and chemical science. These men alone would enable our American brethren to hold their own against the world, in the'battle of the industrial arts and applied sciences, without any other advantage whatever. The want of such men must keep us far behind them, until we endow similar schools. The mother country might furnish us with equally eminent ex- amples of the value attached to practical science, I shall refer to one only. Owens' College, Manchester, is one of the newer institu- tions affiliated to the University of London, and much employed in science teaching. It was founded by John Owens, a merchant of Manchester, who bequeathed to it nearly £100,000. Its students, at first few, have risen to 173. It has also 324 students in evening classes, intended for the benefit of those who must work durinsc the I I 864, states that thousand five Is up the muni- housand dollars leering Depart- recently, the Mines in Har- een founded in two thirds of ention in con- United States all establish a scluding other ary tactios, to ulture and the each Senator The State the Sheffield int falling to f a citizen of ersity, wealth in the t educational icn trained in ical science. 'Ohold their ' and applied ant of such lar schools. eminent ex- lall refer to ver institu- fi emplo^yed lerchant of 8 students, in eveninc iuring the 13 day. Since the foundation of the College, :e20,000 has been left to it in benefactions of various kinds, chiefly for founding scholarships and building the laboratory. An endowment is being subscribed to establish a Chair of Engineering in this College, and this by mem- bers of the Engineering profession itself, who have given nearly £10,000 to this object already. It is "considered desirable to raise a fund of je200,000 to extend the buildings of the College." Government has promised to give a sum equal to the subscriptif, and ^660,000 has been already rai.sed, with the hope that it will be increased to £100,000. If, as is hoped, the Government of this country is about to supply one of our most urgent needs in this respect, by the estab- lishment of a Mining School in connection with the Geological Survey, it will probably fall to this University, from its local posi- tion, to give much of the educational aid, without which experience elsewhere has shewn that such a School cannot be fully successful. In this way we hope that there may be «, greater demand than here- tofore for those facilities for scientific education provided here j and whatever aid may be given by the Government, it will in the first in- stance merely supplement the larger provisions made by the libe- rality of the friends of education in Montreal, and should in the sequel be a stimulus to the further exercise of that liberality. LiiJRARY, Apparatus and Museum. Auother opening for extension occurs in what may bo termed the external appliances of instruction. Twelve years ago this University was almost destitute of these, except in so far as the Faculty of Medicine was concerned. The library of the Faculty of Arts consisted of a few volumes of public records. The apparatus was of small amount, antiquated and out of order. When I enonircd as to the collections in Natural History, the late secretary handed to me a small specimen of one of the most common corals in the limestone of this vicinity, and said that it constituted the museum. All this is very difiierent now, and when the circumstances are considered, our advan;iotureships in any of these sub- jects, open to annual appointment by the Corporation of the University. Endowed Professorships, I shall close that part of my subject which relates to the exteq- Bion of the course and means of instruction, by referring very shortly to that which is perhaps of all modes of promoting the mainte- nance and extension of the higher education the most important. I mean provision for the permanent support of professoriaJ chairs. Our leading Professorships should be permanently endowed. 'The Professors are, after all, the essence of the University. Only .one of our existing chairs is endowed — the Molson Chair of Eng- lish Literature. All the others are dependent on the general funds fof the University, and therefore contingent on its financial state and ' management. I would wish here to say, as omphatioally as possible, that in no way could our friends more effectually benefit the cause of education, than by the Endowment of Existing Chairs. Such endowments would set free portions of the general revenue for other ' purposes, and would ensure the perpetual support of a succession of '■ competent teaching men in important departments of learning. Could our more essential chairs be thus permanently endowed, this would not only be the most assured guarantee for our continued prosperity, but would furnish means suflBicient to allow us to provide for many of the important objects already mentioned, or to bo referred to in the sequel. It is proper to add that though our number of Professors in Arts is greater than that of most Universities in this country, yet Ill ill 18 the range of study pursued here, necessitates that each cliair shall cover subjects so lumerous that many of our professorships would advantageously admit of sub-division, or at least of aid to the Pro- fessors, by means of tutors. Increase op Students. 1 now turn to that department of extension, which relates to the increase of the number of those who receive the benefits of aca- demical education. This end we have constantly kept in view, and have endeavoured to secure it by the reduction of our fees, and the granting of free tuition, under proper conditions ; by not insisting on residence in the College buildings; by the admission of occasional and partial students ; by granting exemptions to professional students ; and by the affiliation of Colleges in other places, the students of which may have their examinations conducted simultaneously with those of McGill College by the University Examiners, and uuiy attain to our degrees and honours. These measures have been, to a large er.- tent, successful, and it is satisfactory to us to find that they have been commending themselves to educators elsewhere, not only in these Colonies, but abroad. Among the various schemes now before the authorities of the English Universities, for the reduction of their expenses and the increase of the number of students, there are pro- posals for arrangements for affiliation and non-residence similar to ours. In evidence of this, on one of these points, I may quote the following remarks from an able paper on this subject, by Dr. Temple : " No other plan (than that of non-residence) holds out any real prospect of making Oxford cheap. In cases such as this, there is, you may depend upon it, no economy like freedom. Even the work- houses administered by guardians jealous of the rates, cannot keep paupers as cheaply as labourers can keep themselves, and the princi- ple holds good for all ranks alike. A poor student left to himself, can choose his own privations, and fit them to his own ability to bear, can choose his own society, can contract his expenditure if he finds it too great — can do all this without exciting unpleasant remark. The same man in a College is compelled to share some expenses which he would be quite willing to dispense with ; is to a certain extent drawn into extravagance, whether he likes it or not ; always spending more money and often finding less oomfort." And he goes on •mmmsmm-- 19 1 chair shall ■ships would to the Pro- h relates to efits of aca- in view, and ees, and the insisting on casional and udents; and ts of which ith those of liy attain to • a large er- t they have nly in these before the ion of their ive are pro- similar to '■ quote the f. Temple: it any real , there is, I the work- mnot keep the princi' o himself, ^y to bear, if he finds t remark. expenses a certain '', always le goes on to show, that the benefits .supposed to result from the society of tho UniverMity, can be be fjuitc as well secured by non-resident students. While however in the points above relorrod to, we have endea- voured to carry out a liberal policy, and to extend the benefits of the University as widely as possible, there are sonic kinds of exten- sion which we have avoided as unsafe or improper, and others, which though desirable, our finances would not allow us to attempt. While we have been ready to afliliate Colleges either giving an adequate course in Arts, or providing for professional studies, we have felt the danger of doing this at the expense of any lowering of the standard of education ; and we have endeavoured in all our arrange- ments of this kind to preserve our standing in this respect, though, by allowing options and exemptions in taking the degree, we have given all reasonable oppor^ aities to afiiliatcd Colleges, even when unable to teach all the subjects for which we make provision. On the other hand, we have resisted altogether that idea pre- valent in some ruarters, that the University should be not a teach- ing, but merely an examining body, and should receive students to its examinations without insisting on any superintendence of their training. This we believe differs as widely from the true function of the University as mere cramming for examinations does from real education. We hold also, notwithstanding some shallow objections frequently made, that the best examiners are actual teachers. It is easy to parade many plausible reasons why University examinations should be conducted only by persons supposed to be disinterested: but in practice, such persons of sufl&cient attainments are not easily obtained, especially in this country, and their examinations are often of a very defective character. We are desirous to secure the aid, when opportunity offers, of the Professors of other College", and we should be glad, did our means permit, to associate with our Profes- sors extra-academical examiners ; but I hope it may be long before this University shall be induced by any specioue theories to trust its examinations wholly, or principally, to non-professorial examiners, or to admit to its examinations for degrees, .'^tudr nts not trained un- der its own regulations and supervision. To use the strong words of a late Lord Rector of Glasgow, "to degrade a University to the position of a Board of Examiners for Degrees, is to forget, not so only the history of UoiverMties, butaleo what their true and primary functions are." The history of Universities abroad, and our experience in this country, shew, that however desirable one examining body for all our colleges would be, it is necessary: — Ist. That this body should centre in one strong and vigorous teaching institution : 2nd. That it should command the services of practical educators : 3rd. That it should require collegiate training, as opposed to mere cramming for the examinations : and lastly, that it should be independent of the nar- rowing influence of the weaker colleges. Aids to Students. I would now desire to invite your attention lo one of tl c urgent wants of this University in the direction of its profitable extension. It has but two Scholarships, in the ordinary sense of the term, in aid of poor students, and neither of these as yet permanently endowed. What we have hitherto called Scholarships, only exempt the holder from the fees of tuition . T hey give him no money aid towards the prosecution of his studies. I know that the idea of thus aiding men to obtain a liberal education, is one of slow growth in a country like this. To found a Scho- larship, say of $120 annually, requires a considerable capital, and it shows no tangible result like a medal, a building, or a library. Its results appear only in the less showy, though more valuable, form of the labours of a succession of men going forth to occupy useful places in society ; but it is to be observed that it thus, in the most direct man- ner, serves the interests of learning. Where employment is so easily obtained with a very limited amount of education, and where even the higher professions are open to men without the degree in Arts, it seems unnecessary to pay men to go on with an academical edu- cation. Yet even these considerations should, when rightly viewed, rather lead to a favourable conclusion as to the value of bursaries ; and this more especially since the experience of all other Universi- ties has shown that such foundations exercise a highly beneficial effect, not only iu adding to the number of students and in aiding able men in narrow circumstances, but also, in raising the standard of acquirement of the students as a whole. It is true, that some difficulty exists as to the conditions on which such aids should be given. If given merely to aid poor men, they might often be » l^ 21 ^S bestowed on those whose abilities are insufficient to produce ade- quate results for the expenditure. If given only to the ablest competitors, they may go to tlioso who have, by reason of wealth or other incidental advantages, the best means of preparation. The real use of such aids, in so far as the individual is concerned, is to promote the education of young men of markeu ability and in humble or indigent circumstances. In so far as the University is concerned, it is to raise the standard of preparation and acquirement. These results may be attained both in the Faculty of Arts and in the Professional Faculties, and these aids also afford a strong and healthy stimulus to the preparatory schools. In the older Univer- sities, where such assistance has been liberally offered, though some endowments have failed to secure these benefits through injudicious or defective regulations, an immense amount of good has, on the whole, been effected. Without troubling you with the details of the precautions required, I may merely say, that experience proves that such scholarships should be open to general competition, and that this competition should be renewed at intervals, not too frequent, so as to reward persistent effort on the part of those less prepared at first. Probably in a course of four years' duration, the scholarships should be open to competition at the beginning of the course and at the end of the second year, and there might be some scholarships for compe- tition in the first year only, or in the second year only. Judging from experience in this country, there is little danger that they would be sought or obtained to any injurious extent by the sons of wealthy persons, and there cannot be a doubt that they would secure the education of many able men, now prevented by narrow circum- stances, from attaining that culture which would render their powers beneficial in the highest degree to their country. Under the names of Scholarships, Exhibitions, Bursaries, and Sizarships, great numbers of such inducements to study exist in the Universities of Great Britain and Ireland, some of them being of very small value, others affording handsome annual revenues ; some being open to undergraduates, others only to those who have taken a degree ; some being general, others for particular subjects ; some open to competition, either general or under various restrictionij, others given as presentations without competition. As the subject 22 f- rll f l\ m is one as yot little understood here, I may cite a few examples of the provision of such aids abroad. In a late calendar of the University of Ediulurgh, I find that there are in the Faculty of Arts Ob Bursaries tenable by underpira- duates, and ranging in value from £4 10s sterling to £100 sterling, and in duration from 1 year to 4. There are besides about 21 Scholar- ships and Fellowships tenable by Masters of Arts, on various conditions, and ranging in value from £60 to £120 each, and in duration from 1 to 4 years. This may be taken as a moderate provision of this nature, in a University whose students in Arts number about 700, and the friends of the University of Edinburgh arc now earnestly cndcavour- iag to increase the number of Scholarships. In Ireland, Trinity College, Dublin, in addition lo 34 Fellow- ships held for life, and yielding handsome incomes, has four grades of annual aids to students, known as Studentships, Scholarships, Sizar- ships, and Exhibitions. Of Studcntshlpsi, there arc 14, tenable for 7 years, and with £100 sterling per annum These arc given by com- petition to what we should call B. A. Honour men iu Classics and Mathematrcs. Of Scholarships there arc 85 to 90 tenable by under- graduates, and also for three years after taking the degree of B. A. Their value may be stated at about £60 sterling each. Of Sizarships there are 30, tenable up to taking the degree of B, A. They are worth £35 to £40 each. Of Exhibitions there are more than 100. They are held for one year by students, and of diflferent values, from say, £20 to £60 per annum. Thus there are in all more than 200 of these provisions giving substantial aid to deserving students. The annual expenditure on these objects is J61 0,000 in Scholarships, &c., and £30,000 in Fellowships. In each of the three Colleges of the Queen's University in Ireland, 55 scholarships have been instituted by the Government, at an annual cost of £1,500 for each College, and these being found insufl&cient, a number of others have been furnished by private liberality. As the throe Colleges of the Queen's University in Ireland, are all smaller than ours, in regard to the number of students, this may serve as a fair standard of comparison for our wants. The scholarships in the Queen's Universities are all annual, and they are so arranged as to aid all the Faculties, ■i it ■I |eH of the find that iinderpjra- •ling, and Scholar- (nditions, from 1 to 4 iture, in a and the Ddeavour- Fellow- grades of ps, Sizar- lable for 7 n by com- tassics and by under- degreo of each. Of of B. A. are more f diflferent I are in all deserving 10,000 in versity in •ninent, at ing found y private versity in lumber of irison for 'sities are Faculties, particularly by promoting the taking of the degree in Arts by stu- dents intending to enter the other I'^aculties, an arrangement which would be very useful here. It would occupy too much space to attempt even a summary of the vast number of inducements to study, offered in the way o^ Scholarships and Fellowships in the two ancient Universities of England. To give any idea of their number, of their conditions and adaptations to different desjriptions of students, of their history and utility, and of the great men who have been cherished and aided in the opening of their career in life by their means, would afford material for volumes. The following curious estimate, how- ever, of what has been called the stimulating force of these older Uni- versities, may be given on the authority of Mr. Bennet, the President of Queen's College, Galway. He estimates this, for the Queen's Col- leges, at what he regards as the exceptionally low rate of £6 sterling per head of the students; for Dublin, at £28 Us.; for Cambridge, at £66; and for Oxford, at £106 12s. Assuming this to be an ap- proximation to the truth, it affords a vivid idea of the great prizes which, even within the walls of the University, it is thought desir- able to offer as stimuli to industry and talent ; and for the purpose of bringing out into its full development the best ability of the nation. The aggregate sum annually given in this way at Oxford in minor aids to students, has been estimated at £80,000. The stim- ulus thus given, is found also to act, not merely on those who strive for these aids, but necessarily also ou those who strive for distinction alone, but who must in order to earn this, keep up with the winners of Scholarships and Fellowships. Nor are these struggles without their effects in after life. Five members of the late Administration in Eng- land, are said to have been First-class University men. The present Ministry could probably boast of nearly as many, and everywhere we find in the first ranks of British political, literary and scientific exer- tion, those who have carried off the prizes of the University career, and who in many cases have been enabled, by the aid of these prizes, to take their first steps in public life. The public career of our late Governor-General Sir Edmund Head, commenced with his election to a Fellowship in Merton College, Oxford. W"hen comparisons are made between Universities in Canada 24 and those in Great Britain «ind Ireland, it should be botne in mind that in the mother country learning is stimulated and encouraged by the most splendid rewards ; and success in obtaining these, marks a man for success in life ; while here the efforts and the sacrifices of Ine friends and bo^efactors of education have as yet only sufficed to give the student . ic means of seeking learnin[^ for its own sake; and in so far as Lower Canada is concerned, the Province at large, as represented by its Government and Legislature, has not given any- thing for the permanent endowment of aids to liberal education, and may not unfairly be supposed to believd, that the higher learning in this country, and in the case of poor students, is a nuisance to be abat>ed, rather than an object of public uti'ity to be fostered and en- couraged. All the more honour, therefore, should in these circumstan- ces be ^iven to the men wlio have prosecuted this good work, and to the earnest and diligent students who here pursue the path of knowledge without the prospect of the golden rewards, which in moie cultivated lands would reward their efforts. They should be all the more highly esteemed. I may further ]-emark that we must not suppose that in Britain the aids given to students by Scholarships are regarded as relics of bygone times, or as not requiring additions. New endow- ments of this kind are constantly being given ; and among other in- stances I see, that in the will of Dr. Whewell, the late Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, than whom no man was mo:e fully acqujiinted with the present wants of education, handsome properties are bequeathed to the University for the foundation of Scholarships. In the American Universities also, provisions of this kind have been made. Yale College has the means of annually aiding about 90 students, at an annual cost of nearly $5000. In regard to Harvard College, I find the following information and appeal, in a late report of the President. He says : — " Another subject to which it may not be amiss to ask your attention, and that of the public, is the provision made for indigent students. We have now thirty-seven scholarships. It is impossible to over-estimate their beneficial influence upon the College. They attract to the Univer- sity a largo number of the very best of our scholars, who otherwise would seek less expensive Colleges. They have raised to a degree which those not connected with the College can hardly appreciate, the general standard of scho'irship and of chaiacter. They might be 99 e r r- ie ie le 3e multiplied with added advantage to the institution, and with unspeak- able benefit to those whose proficiency they would sustain and reward. But there is a large class of deserving and needy students who fall short of the rank which entitles them to scholarships. Among those who become our best scholars there are some who, not having enjoyed the preliminary training of schools of a high grade, are not prepared for the first months of their college course, to become successful com- petitors with those who are thoroughly fitted to enter college. There are others who iu rank fall but little below the successful competitors, and are fully their equals in industry and merit. Tbjre are yet others, destined to be able and useful men in after-life, who commence their education at a late period, and cannot, therefore, become as ac- curate classical scholors as those who acquire the rudiments of the ancient languages in childhood, who yet attest their mental capacity and vigor by their strong grasp of the subjects on which thoy are oc- cupied in the last years of the college course. For these classes of students our general beneficiary fund presents i very inadequate re- source, the dividend which each applicant can receive averaging not more than from twenty to thirty dollars per annum. Many of these students submit to severe privations, struggle on in depressing poverty, and often incur a burden of indebtedness which must weigh heavily upon them for many subsequent ye^^rs. It is very desirable that there should be a fund, — a large fund if possible, — the income of which should be distributed, not with sole reference to the scile of rank, but in the joint ratio of merit and need. The disposal of the proceeds of such a fund might be intrusted to the President, or to a select com- mittee of the Faculty, and left, without restrictive rules, to his or their discretion. A provision of this character would meet u want profoundly and painfully felt by those members of the Faculty who have been placed in confidential relations with individual students, whose own ability to render aid is limited, and who often know not where to look to private generosity for the requisite funds, or are reluctant to multiply appeals where appeals are never made in vain." Every statement of this extract applies with still greater force to ouv Canadian Colleges, and especially to this, where not even the limited provision made at Harvard exists. In Canada, such Scholarships exist in limited numbers in the 36 University of Toronto, which offers to its students 32 Scholarships of £30 each. They are founded on its public endowment, and have contributed largely to attract students to it. Queen's College, Kingston, has I believe received from its friends about 24 endow- ments for Scholarships, six of which are restricted to students in preparation for the ministry. In the report of a commission on the University of New Bruns- wick, on which I had the honor of acting in 1S54, with Dr. Ryerson and other gentlemen, under the auspices of Sir Edmund Eead, though that University at that time enjoyed an annual income from the public funds of the Province of only J62,500, (which, however, it is only fair to state, is twice as much as this great Province of Quebec can afford to its three Universities;) we recommended, among other things, as essential to its successful operation, the establishment of thirteen Scholarships, of from £15 to £25 each. The Legislature exceeded our recommendation by establishing a Scholarship for each County in the Province, and six open Scholarships besides. We can, as yet, boast of but two Scholarships, the Jane Red- path Exhibition, and that subscribed by the Board of Governors. In the present Session of the University, one of its friends has offer- ed five prizes of $50 each, for competition. I would, in conclusion, earnestly commend this subject to the attention of our friends, as affording one of the most effectual means of aiding the University, and through it, the cause of good learning in this country. Had we, in tb?^ University, even 20 or 30 Scholar- ships of the value of $100 or $120 each per arnum, with a fund of $500 or $600 for prizes, we could greatly stimulate the Pre- paratory schools, largel} increase the number of students, and raise the standard of Scholarship throughout the Province. Influence on Schools and on Education Generally. To one other subject in this connection I must briefly allude, and tliat is the relation of the University to the schools. From these we derive our students, and we owe them all that we can do for them in return. In one direction, the University has become intimately connected with the Schools through the Normal School, which now has more thun 300 teachers scattered through this country, and a? LS 'g r- id e- se le, ise ad has done very much to elevate the standard of general education. In another direction, we have given the stamp of a University guarantee to the education communicated in the higher Schools, by our University School Examinations and Certificate. The High Schools of Montreal and Quebec have alone, as yet, received this benefit, but we are very desirous to extend it more widely; and probably could do so had we means to defray the necetisary expenses of the examinations, and to hold forth adequate rewards to those boys who might attain the highest places and who desire to pass through the College. Within the past fourteen years, we have also sent forth from the College, a considerable number of young men, who have devoted themselves to teaching, either for a time or per- manently. The influence of the College has thus been beneficially impressed on the schools ; and if we could attract ^ the College a larger number of young men from the humbler ranks of society, this influence might be greatly increased. Farther, I believe that similar benefits might be extended by the University to the education of young women. I have no doubt that the more elementary education is now carried on in our man} excellent private schools for girls very efficiently, and I have no wish that the University should assume its responsibilities. But there seems no reason why the School Examinations of the University should not here, as in the case of Cambridge and Oxford, include the pupils of schools for young women ; and I think it would be quite possible for the University to provide lecturers on scientific and literary subjects, whose classes should be open to the pupils of all Ladies' Schools in the city, and whose certificates of attend- ance and examination should be given to such pupils, I \io not propose either that young women should attend the ordinary college classes, or that, except in special cases, the ordinary pro- fessors should lecture to them. I would have special class-rooms, and in many instances at least special lecturers appointed by the University. Of course this is a purpose for which the constitution of the University does not permit its funds to be used, even if they were sufficient for it, which they are not, I only t^ish to intimate my conviction, that an opening for usefulness lies in this direction, which I have often wished to have the means of cultivating, knowing that in this country very few young ladies enjoy to a sufficient ex- 28 tentj the advantages of the higher kinds of education, and that the true civilisation of any people is quite as much to be measured by the culture of its women as by that of its men. One recent fact which shows what may be done, is the founda- tion of Vassar College in the State of New York, an institution with an endowment of about half-a-million of dollars, given by one person, and which already has more than three hundred students admitted on a matriculation examination comparable with that of any of the Universities, and passing through a severe course of study, extend- ing over four years. Eflforts are also being made in connection with the University of Edinburgh, and by Professors in the siisLer Uuiver- sity of Toronto, to promote the higner education of young women by coui les of lectures ; and there is, undoubtedly, much economy in the first instance at least, in employing, for this purpose, the teachers and apparatus already provided for the education of young men. I observe, in a late number of the Athenaeum, that at Cambridge, a committee of Professors and others has been formed for the purpose of institr.dng courses of Scientific and Literary Lectures to young women. All that we have, as yet, been able to do in this direction, is to admit young ladies of the city to some of the classes in the Normal School. University Buildings and Grounds. t add only one word on u department of University extension which always excites the suspicions of the true educator, as one tend- ing to absorb immense sums of money with but slender corresponding advantages. I refer to University buildings. We greatly need, and indeed must soon provide, a proper building for our Medical Faculty. That a body of students numbering 150 to 200, should have been yearly drawn to Montreal, to pursue their studies in one of the most important professions, and should be doomed to spend their days of laborious work in a building so contracted in all its accommodations, and so indifferently provided with modern improvements and meafls for securing the health and comfort of students, has been long a sub- ject of sorrow to all true friends of the University. We .'equire a bew and much larger Medical School, near to the College buildings. And fitted up with all the more modern imprdvemetits in its class- tooms fmd its laboratories. This building should also, be one credit- ■*' s 29 able in its appearance, and which could be pointed to with pride as the home of the most successful and useful Medical School in this Dominion. Considering the incalculable benefits which, not only the University, but the city and the whole of this country !iave derived from the labours of our Medical Faculty, the citizens of Montreal should come forward liberally to aid the University in thus ade- (juately lodging this highly important department of its work. Other buildings the University will want in course of time. A larger Astronomical Observatory, and a Conservatory have already been mentioned. A large and well lighted building suitable for a Museum and a Gallery of Art, would richly pay the interest of its cost in the donations which it would attract from those who have valuable objects inaccessible to the public and exposed to the risk of fire. A Senate House with suitable Board-rooms, offices, rooms for the Faculty of Law, and fire-proof vaults for the preservation of the Records of the University, will also become a necessitj'. All these wants loom in the future, near or distant. All must be supplied that the University may keep pace with the growth of the demands for education and of this commercial metropolis of Canada, In connection with these future buildings, I would mention one point VAhich has long been an object of solicitude with me. The ur- gent demands of the work of the University have necessitated the gradual diminution of the McGill estate, until the portion which remains is now much smaller than the area which most other Univer- sities in this country regard as necessary to their future growth. Must it be still further diminished ? This cannot be avoided unless further pecuniary aid can soon be obtained ; and once alienated it can never be recovered. This I regard as a most important point for the con- sideration of our friends, and we are now prepared to present to them plans which will provide for the permanent preservation of the re- maining grounds for public use and recreation, along with all the re- quisite space for our future buildings. Sources of Aid. It may be said that the Government should aid us. But it is needless to conceal our entire want of confidence in such aid. The sacred promises made in former years by the Imperial a^d J^ocal 30 Governments, and on the faith of which Mr. McGill gave his estate, have heen repudiated. The General Government of the Dominion has, in my judgment, most unwisely, failed to take to itself those powers, with reference to the higher education, exercised hy the Government of the mother country, and to some extent, as already stated, even by the General Government of the United States. The Local Government is necessitous, and the majority of its Legislature cannot be expected to feel much sympathy with an English Univer- sity, after the long struggle which has been waged for nearly a cen- tury between French and English Education, and in which the Royal Institution and its University have been the chief bulwark of the latter. We must depend on the Protestant population of Lower Ca- nada, and more especially of Montreal, for our maintenance and ex- tension ; and if once placed in a safe and independent and progressive position, we can, I think, trust to the falling in from time to time of benefactions and legacies to provide for further growth, including the supply of many of the less urgent of the wants above indicated. To place us in this position a capital sum of $100,000 to $150,000 added to the general funds of the University, or given in endow- ments of existing chairs, would suffice. This being secured, we could guarantee to the city the preservation of our College Park, the constant and growing usefulness of our Library and Museum, the continuance for ever of a staff of Professors capable of sus- taining among us means of education not inferior to those enjoyed in any other country, and the permanence in this city of a University, its own creation, which could challenge comparison, in all essential respects, with any on this continent, and from which there should issue a continuous and increasing stream of highly educated young men, fitted to uphold the intellectual and moral eminence of the English of Lower Canada, in this country and throughout the world. The University looks to those who now hold the wealth of this city in their hands, to follow up the good work begun by Mr. McGill, and to place it in this position. It can then look forward to the continuation of this work by its own graduates. They are yearly going forth into positions of usefulness, responsibility and influence. They represent the University in all parts of the Dominion, and the time must come when their good offices will flow backward to the \r ■ 31 source whence they have themselves derived so much. The children must repay those who have been their educational fathers by enlarging and perpetuating to future times, the means of liberal ed- ucation. Already we look to our graduates for aid, both directly and in stimulating and collecting the contributions of others, and I am per- suaded that we shall not look in vain. Hitherto, our Canadian Universities have been like the seed which puts forth from its own substance roots and tender leaves. Before they can be truly flourishing, they must draw nourishment from the soi! itself and root themselves firmly in its bosom. I shall not feel that our work here has realised its full results, until I see endow- ments and benefactions flowing in from our own graduates. Then we may believe that we are truly rooted in the soil. Then we may expect to go on to the blossom and the fruit of mature growth. Then wo shall see the good seed, sown by the generous friends and benefactors of this University, producing, not merely boughs and leaves, but the ripened fruits of academical learning, holding forth still richer bene- fits to succeeding generations of students. Finally those who manage the affairs of this University, are not BO unwise as to expect that we shall at once be enabled to attain to all the objects above indicated. Some of these, however, are very urgent, and progress however slow, would inspire hope. We are be- coming old under difl&culties which cramp our usefulness. Young men who should have enjoyed the benefits of a liberal education, are yearly growing up to manhood without this inestimable blessing. The loss sustained in this way cannot be repaired, and even in indi- vidual cases may be of incalculable importance to the country. We would therefore ask of the friends of education, an early considera- tion of this matter. On our part we shall at all times be ready to place at their disposal, all information which they may require, and cordially to co-operate iu all arrangements which may tend to the security and permanent utility of their benefactions and endowments.