:\iM

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

V ^° J^

1.0

I.I

11.25

" 1^ 12.2

1.4 lii.6

°m

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, NY. 14580

(716) 872-4503

«.,

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHM/ICIVIH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian Je microreproductions historiques

Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques

T
t<

The Institute has attempted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy whicli may be bibiiographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checked below.

Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur

r~n Covers damaged/

Couverture endommagde

Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculde

Cover title missing/

Le ti'tre de couverture maisque

I I Coloured maps/

Cartes g^ographiques en couleur

□ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)

I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/

Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur

Bound with other material/
Relii avec d'autres documents

Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion
along interior margin/

Lareliure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distorsion le long de la marge Int6rieure

Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omiired from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes
lors dime restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont
pa^ iti filmies.

Additional comments:/
Commentaires suppldmentaires:

L'institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a 6ti possible de se procurer. Les details
de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du
point de vue bibliographiquo, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduita, ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la m^thode normale de filmage
sont indiquis ci-dessous.

D
D
D

D
D
D
D

Coloured pages/
Pages de couleur

Pages damaged/
Pages endommagdes

Pages restored and/or laminated/
Pages restauries et/ou pelliculdes

Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages d6color6es, tacheties ou piqui^es

Pages detached/
Pages ditachees

Showthrough/
Transparence

Quality of print varies/
Quality indgale de {'impression

Includes supplementary material/
Comprend du matiriel supplerrientaire

Only edition available/
Seule Edition disponible

Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages tctalement ou partieilement
obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure,
etc., ont 6t6 film6es d nouveau de facon d
obtenir la meilleure image possible.

P
o
fi

b
tl
si
o
fl
si
o

di
ei
bi
ri<
re
rr

This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/

Ce document est filmd au taux dj reduction indiqud ci-dessous.

10X 14X 18X 22X

12X

16X

20X

26X

30X

24X

28X

32X

The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks
to the generosity of:

Library of the Public
Archives of Canada

L'exemplaire filmA fut renroduit grAce d la
g6n6rosit6 de:

La bibliothdque des Archives
publiques du Canada

The images appearing here are the best quality
possible considering th^ condition and legibility
of rh<) original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract specifications.

Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the last page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copies are filmed beginning on the
first page with a printed or illustrated impres-
sion, and ending on the last page with a printed
or illustrated impression.

The last recorded frame on each microfiche
shall contain the symbol — ^- (meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"!,
whichever applies.

Les images suivantes ont 6td reproduites avec le
plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et
de la nettetd de Texemplaire filmd, et en
conformity avec les conditions du contrat de
filmage.

Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en
papier est imprimie sent film6s en commenpant
par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la
dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second
plat, salon le ces. Tous les autres exemplaires
originsux sent fiimds en commenpant par la
premidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'impression ou d'illustrstion et en terminant par
la dernidre page qui compcrte une telle
empreinte.

Un des aymboles suivants apparaitra sur la
derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon te
cas: le symbols —^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le
symbols V signifie "FIN".

Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratios. Those too large to be
entirely included in one exposure are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, as many frames as
required. The following diagrams illustrate the
method:

Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre
filmis d des taux de reduction diff6renis.
Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre
reproduit en un seul clich6, il est filmd d partir
de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche h droite,
et de haut en bas, en prenant te nombre
d'images ndcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants
illustrent la mdthode.

^' iwiJ"

(

OEFARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, ONTARIO.

A.CTB .?-.

OF THE

CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT

'--■ \it>f, ■■-

EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED.

" Error may travel far, while truth is putting on its boots." -^n eminent SUite»>nan.

" It is individual character that constitutes progrea8.— Wegtininster Jievieto.

" It is Ki^atness of floul alone that never grows old ; nor is it wealth that delights in the latter Rtagc
of life, as some give out, so much as honour."— Peric/cs' Funeral Oration, &c.

■ '*-'^^

<r n>

PRINTKI) HV HUNTER, ROSK & CO.. 86 lal^G ST. WEST

1868.

ji-^' ^^'■.^-

:./

! 4

'■^m

./tu^/^

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, ONTA?JO.

■y-.^^

^OTS

OF THE

CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT

EXPLAINED AND VINDICATED.

" Error may travel far, while truth is putting on its boots."— jln emi'Mnt Stateiman.

" It is individual character that constitutes profpress. -TFe«£nttnster Reviexe.

" It is greatness of Boul alone that never grows old ; nor is it wealth that delights in tho latter stojto
of life, as some give out, so much as honour."— Pericfej' Funeral Oration, die.

PRINTED BY HUNTER, ROSE & CO., 86 KING ST. WEST.

1869.

•i

PREFATORY NOTE.

To THE Members of the Honourable the Legislative Assem-
bly OF Oni'ARIO : —

Gentlemen,

Preparing to resign the administration of the Education
Department into other hands, I desire to lay before you, for your
individual perusal and satisfaction, a full account of those ap-
pointments in the Department and of my official acts which have
been animadverted upon in discussions in your Honourable House,
and to vindicate myself from the censures of certain Members and
of a portion of the public press, The following pages will, I trust,
show that I have paid due respect to the Government, while I have
sought to act in accordance with the wishes of the Representatives
of the People, and to promote most economically and efficiently, to
the best of my humble ability, the educational interests of my
native country, of which you are now the chosen guardians,

I have the honour to be.
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient, humble servant,

E. RYERSON.

Department op Public Insteuotion,
Toronto, 30th December, 1868.

■*

CONTENTS.

Page.

1. UnfaimeBS of tho attacks upon the Department— Reasons against

them *

2. Correspondence with the Government on the Appointment and

Salaries of Officers of the Department, from 1855 to 1858 8

3. Unjust and unreasonable policy towai-ds Subordinate Officers in the

Education Department— Renewed application on their behalf in

1859-1861 ■ 1^

4. Continued injustice to the Education Officers compared with those

in other Public Departments— Their Zeal and Fidelity unimpaired. 16

5. Cause of misapprehension, and illustrations of the Injustice done to

the Education Department, compared with others 17

6. Correspondence with the Ontario Government on the new scale of

Salaries to Officers of the Education Department 18

7. Salaries Recommended — Reasons for the Recommendation —

Illustration 22

8. Objections Answered— Ten Meteorological Observers' Returns- The

School Manuals and the Journal of 'Educatioiir—Re^^ly to Mr.
Blake's objections 2*

9. Objections to the Jovrnal of Education answered— Complimentary

References to it — Intercommunications in it 28

10. Reply to the Globe's attacks and objections— its Twenty-four

years' attacks recapitulated 30

11. The Globe of 1859 on Dr. Ryerson's "dotage," vs. The Globe of 1868

on his " full possession of his faculties !" 32

12. The Globe's misrepresentation in regard to a Pension— His Sup-

pression of the letter of resignation to correct it 33

13. Pension to Ex-Chancellor Blake— It a Solitary case— The Globe

sees no objection to it— The Vote in 1850, which caused the Hon.
Robert Baldwin's Retirement from Public Life 33

14. Mr. Blake's twelve and a half years' Service— His Pension of

13,333.33 per annum since 1862 33

15. The Globe's misrepresentations of my retirement— What those rea-

sons are 34

16. Proposed labour after retirement 35

17. Chief Superintendent's Letter of Recommendation and Resignation. , . 37

MEMOKANDUM

By the Chief Superintendent of Education in Ontario^ on
the Salaries of Officers in the Department of Public
Instruction, for the consideration of the Members of the
Legislature.

Unfairness of the Attack on the Department — Reasons.

During the sitting of the Legislative Assembly on Friday, the 18th
of December, fault was found with certain of my official acts, and I was
censured, or rather attacked, by some Members in severe terms. I feel
i it therefore due to the Department over which I have so long pre-
sided, as well as to myself and all parties concerned, to offer the fol-
lowing public explanation and vindication of my proceedings in the
matters referred to.

I think I have just reason to complain of the unfairness of the censure
cast upon me under the circumstances. The House had appointed a
Committee on Public Accounts. I had requested of the Chairman of that
Committee, when the accounts of the Education Department were
under consideration, to be permitted to go before that Committee to
answer any questions, and give any explanations which might be re-
quired. But before any such opportunity has been afforded me, I have
been censured in the House of Assembly in respect to those very ac-
counts !

Furthermore, previously to the commencement of the Session, I had
requested the appointment, by the House, of a Special Committee to
examine into the state and working of the Education Department, thus
courting and challenging enquiry. Such a Committee had been ap-
pointed ; yet before it makes and reports the result of the enquiry pre-
scribed and requested, I am blamed, in no measured terms in the
House, in regard to the working of the Department.

I may regard the House of Assembly as the Judge and Jury to dev.de
upon my official acts; but I submit to any member of that HoKse,
whether it is consonant with law or justice for a man to be condemned
by any Judge or Juryman, not only without a trial, but without en-
quiry ?

When I have done what no head of a Department ever before did in
Upper Canada — asked for a Parliamentary enquiry into everything per-
taining to my office — I submit that I had, at least, a right, as a matter
of common justice between man and man, to the suspension of any cen-
sure in Parliamont until the completion of that enquiry.

Before noticing the matters of imputation in the Legislative A.rssembly,
I may remark that while the Education Department has been subject to
the same responsibility and severe scrutiny as other Public Departments,
it has been denied the poijttion, and its subordinate officers have been
denied the advantages enjoyed by the subordinate officers, of other
Public Departments.

Ccrrespondence with the Government on the Appointment and Salaries of
Officers of the Department from 1855 to 1858.

I think it therefore best, in viev of my proposed retirement from the
Department, to present the whole case of its present officers from the
beginning. I will first insert the letter of the Provincial Secretary,
communicating the Governor's approval oi certain appointments which
I had temporarily made in tlie Department.

" Secretary's Office,
" Quebec, ith July, 1855.

"Eeverend Sir, — His Excellency the Governor General has had
under his consideration your letter of the 25th ultimo, submitting, for
the approval of His Excellency, certain appointments in the Depart-
ment of Public Instruction for Upper Canada, viz.: — John George Hod-
gins, Esquiie, to be Deputy-Superintendent of Schools for Upper Cana-
da ; Mr. Alexander Joh.istone Williamson to be Clerk of Correspon-
dence; Mr. Alexander Marling to be Clerk of Accounts; Messrs.
Samuel P. May, Thomas C. Scoble, and Louis Gauthey, Clerks in the
Map and Book Depositories ; Patrick O'Neil to be Messenger.

" I an' directed by His Excellency to acquaint you that His Excel-
lency has been pleased to approve of the appointment of the above-
named gentlemen, as recommended by you,

" His Excellency has been pleased, in terms of your suggestion, to
direct that the appointment of Mr. Hodgins, as Deputy-Supeiintendent
of Schools for Upper Canada, be published in the Canada GazJte.

" I ha;e, &c.,

(Signed) " Geo. Et. Cartier,

'^ Secretaiy.
•' The Reverend Dr. Ryerson, &c., &c."

Mr. Thomas Hodgins had been previously appointed Senior Clerk,
and his name does not therefore appear in the preceding appointments.

A.fter the passing of the Civil Service Act, in 1857, I sought its
application to the subordinate officers of the Educational Department
equally with those of other Public Departments. My salary, being
regulated by law, was not at that time equal to the salaries of other
heads of Public Departments. ! said nothing about that, but urged the
claims of my assistants in the followhig letter : —

"Education Office,

Toi-onto, 22nd July, 1867.

'* Sip, —I have the honour to submit to the favourable consideration
of His Excellency tlie Administrator of tlie Government in Council, the
following statement and recommendations in regard to the officers and
clerks of this Department.

" The Act passed during the last Session of Parliament for improving
the organization, and increasing the salaries of the officers and clerks
connected with the political departments of the Government, provides,
among other things, that the head of each Department shall, within
thirty days, 'cause to be transmitted, to the office of the Executive
Council, a return of the persons composing the staff of such Depart-
ment, dividing them into classes, as hereinbefore provided, having re-
spect to their relative ability and length of service.'

"It is true this is not a political department of the Government; but
I sul)mit, that in justice to the officers and clerks employed in it, they
ought not, on that account, to be deprived of remuneration which has
been considered by both the Government and Parliament to be but just
to the subordinate officers of other public Departments, especially as
the subordinate officers connected with this Department are not second
to those of any other public Department in literary qualifications, or
industry, or labour, and as the Department itself (though not political)
is one of the most extensive, important and responsible in the
counLiy.

" But in addition to this general ground, I beg to offer some special
reasons in support of the principal recommendations I have the honour
to submit.

"In regard to the Deputy-Superintendent, {J. George Hodgins, Esq.,
M.A.,) he has been connected with this office since October of 1864,
nearly thirteen years. I selected and nominated him for what I
believed to be his aptitude and qualifications for an assistant in the work
I had undertaken ; and after he had given satisfactory proof of such
aptitude and qualifications, he, on my recommendation, relinquished his
salary for one year, went home to Dublin at his own expense, and de-
voted a year to a careful study of the whole mode of conducting the
system of education in Ireland, in all the details of each of the seven
branches of the great Education Office in Dublin, and returned to Ca-
nada with tlie highest testimonials of the Irish National Board of Edu-
cation. And it is to Mr. Hodgnis' talents as a departmental officer, his
thorough business habits, great industry, and cordial co-operation that
the country is in no small degree indebted for the completeness and
perfection of detail that I liave been enabled to introduce into every
branch of this complicated Department. Mr. Hodgins has also had
charge of the Department during my absences (sometimes protracted),
has done so very efficiently, but has never received any remunerat'on

•^

^ !

for such additional labour and responsibility. I submit, therefore, that
his qualifications, duties, long and faithful services, entitle him to equal
remuneration with the deputies of other departments — that is, to an
increase of his salary from £450 to £600.

"The first Clerk, Thomas Hodgins, A.B., has been in the office since
1848, and has evinced talents of a high order, especially in the branch
in which he is employed, examining all financial and statistical returns,
and pieparing my statistical reports, together with the entry and sum-
mary record of all letters, &c. His legal knowledge (he being nearly
eligible for admission as barrister-at-law) is a great convenience, and
very useful to me. His present salary is £280 ; under the new Civil
Service Act, he would be entitled to £400.

" Mr. A. Marling has, during the last thr»3e years, been Accountant
and Book-keeper, and discharged his duties most faithfully, and with
singular ability — the accounts amounting in the aggregate to nearly
£100,000 per annum, and embracing a variety of separate branches,
and sums from a few pence up to hundreds of pounds. The salary of
the Book-keeper or Accountant in each of the other Departments is
£400. Mr. Marling's salary has been but £200. I submit that his
salary should at least be £300, with the rank of a clerk of the first-class.

" Mr. A. J. Williamson, an elderly gentleman, a most expert and
accurate clerk of correspondence (with other duties), is proposed to rank
as clerk of the second class, his present salary of £175 to be made £225.

Mr. S. P. May, a Naturalist, having prepared and arranged the speci-
mens of Natural History in this Department, as he did two or three
years since for the Natural History Society of Quebec — a most excellent
Clerk of the Libraries, and a very useful man in the Department. Tt
is proposed that he shall rank as a Clerk of the second class, and that
his present salary of £200 shall be £225.

" It is also proposed that Mr. F. J. Taylor, Assistant Clerk of Statis-
tics, shall rank as Clerk of the third class, with his present salary of
£150 ; and that Mr. H. Butterworth, Map and Apparatus Depository
Clerk, rank as Clerk of the fourth class — his present salary of £75 to
be made £125. [Mr. Butterworth died four years subsequently, in
December, 18611.

'* I beg to add, that not one of the officers or clerks above named has
been r.ppointed without a trial of six months, and without exhibiting
peculiar qualifications and fitness for the work assigned him.

** In no branch of the public service is diligence and fidelity of more
direct importance to the country than in this Department ; and in order
to that, it is of the utmost consequence that the officers and clerks
employed in it should feel that their services are not less considered and
remunerated than officers and clerks of the same standing in other
departments.

" The aggregate increase in the salaries of the whole seven officers
and clerks in the Department above mentioned is only £495— a small

sfore, that

1 to equal

is, to an

iffice since
[16 branch
il returns,
and Burn-
ing nearly
ience, and
new Civil

ccountant

and with

to nearly

branches,

salary of

traents is

t that his

first-class.

spert and

ed to rank

ade £225.

the speci-

or three
excellent

ment. Tt
and that

of Statis-
salary of
)epository
)f £75 to
lently, in

amed has
sxhibiting

of more

1 in order
ad clerks
lered and

in other

n officers
^a small

sum for the country at large, but a matter of very serious importance
to a clasfe of meritorious public servants.

** I have, &c.,

(Signed) " E. Eyerson.

" The Hon. T. Lee Terrill, M. P., Secretary of the Province."

To the foregoing letter I received the following reply : —

"Secretary's Office,

"Toi'onto, ISth October, 1857.

" Eeverend Sir, — 1 have the honour to inform you that His Excel-
lency the Administrator of the Government has had under his consider-
ation in Council your letter of the 24tli July last, recommending certain
increases to the salaries of the various employes in the office of the
Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada.

" His Excellency having given full consideration to the reasons set
forth by you, in favour of the recommendations submitted in your com-
munication, is of opinion that, inasmuch as the Civil Seri'ice Bill (the
principles of which you invoke) applies only to the Executive Depart-
ments of the Government, enumerated in the schedules appended thereto,
the scale of salaries fixed by that Bill may, by analogy only, but not
otherwise, furnish a rule whereby to regulate the salaries of certain of
the Clerks of your Department.

" In considering, therefore, the addition proposed by you to be made
to the salary of the Deputy Superintendent, His Excellency, having in
view the fact that you, as Head of the Department of Education, do not,
either in position or salary, occupy the same status as the political
heads of the various political offices, cannot recognize any claim on the
part of the Deputy Superintendent to hold the same position as the
Assistants of those officers.

" His Excellency has, however, been pleased to direct that the salary
of the Deputy Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada be fixed
at £500 per annum ; and that the salaries of the Clerks in the Depart-
ment of Education be fixed at the following rates, which are within the
limits assigned by the Civil Service Act to those of the same grades in
the branches of the Civil Service to which the Act applies : —

" Chief Clerk (Thomas Hodgins) £300 per annum.

■ Accountant (A. Marling) 250 "

Clerk of Correspondence (A. J. Williamson) 225 "

Clerk of Libraries (S. P. May) 225 "

Assistant Clerk of Statistic? (F. J. Taylor)... 150 "
Clerk (H. Butterworth) 125 '•

" The above rates are to take effect from the 1st July last.

" His Excellency has further been pleased to direct that Mr. J. G.

■■ i

Hodgins, the present Deputy Superintendent of Education, be allowed
from the let July last, in addition to his salary of £500, the sum of £50
per annum, during his tenure of that office, in consideration of his long
and laborious services, connected with the establishment of a new
Department.

"I have, etc.,

(Signed) "E. A. Meredith,

** Assistant Secretary.
" The Eev. Dr. Ryerson, &c."

In 1868, Mr. Thomas Ilodgins tendered his resignation, and the fol-
lowing letter, with the reply thereto, shews the terms in which that
resignation was accepted, and Mr. T. Hodgins' place supplied, without
the appointment of any additional clerk — Mr. Marling retaining his
place, and succeeding to that of Mr. T. Hodgins — certain other clerks
being advanced a step, but no new clerk appointed — thus saving the
salary of one clerk.

"Education Office,

" Toronto, June 1st, 1858.

" SiP,-
lency the

I have the honour to state for the information of His Excel-
Governor in Council, that Thomas Hodgins, Esq., LL.B.,
Barrister-at-Law, has resigned his office of Senior Clerk in this Depart-
ment, with the intention of devoting himself to the profession of the
law. I hereto append a copy of Mr. T. Hodgins' letter of resignation,
and recommend its acceptance, to take effect the 30th instant.

" It will be seen that Mr. Hodgins has been in this Department ten
years, during which time he has distinguished himself no less by his
urbanity and diligence and ability in the discharge of his official duties,
than by his industry and success in his private studies. I have no
doubt an honourable and successful professional career awaits him, if
his life be spared. Considering Mr. T. Hodgins' long, diligent and most
efficient services in this department, and his great merits as a young
man just entering upon a new career of life, without any means but his
energy and talents, I would respectfully recommend to the favourable
consideration of His Excellency in Council, that he be granted the sura
of fifty pounds on his retirement from office.

" In consequence of the retirement of Mr. Thomas Hodgins I propose
the following appointments in the Department, viz. : —

" Alexander Marling, Esq., (Clerk of Accounts) to be Senior Clerk
and Accountant.

" F. J. Taylor, Esq., (now Assistant Clerk of Statistics) to be Clerk
of Statistics.

"Mr. Herbert Buttei-worth, (now a Clerk in the Map and Book
Depository) to be Assistant Clerk of Statistics.

" I do not propo?e at present to recommend any appointment in the

allowed
of £50
I his long
a new

Secretary.

the fol-
lich that

without
[ning his
er clerks
ving the

1858.

is Excel-

, LL.B.,

3 Depart-

n of the

jignation,

ment ten
is by his
al duties,
have no
;s him, if
md most
a young
s but his
vourablo
the sum

propose

3r Clerk

be Clerk

id Book

it in the

place of Mr. Butterworth, but intend to try a young lad who has been
in the Depository in a subordinate capacity.

"I have, &c.,
(Signed) " E. Ryerson.

" Hon. T. J. J. Loranger, ivI.P.P., Provincial Secietary."

The following answer was received to the foregoing letter : —

" Seceetary's Office,

TorontOy 2nd July, 1858.

*' Sir, — I have the honour to inform you, with reference to my letter
[of acknowledgment only] of th^- 4th ultimo, that His Excellency the
Governor General has had under his consideration in Council, your
communication of the 1st June, announcing the resignation by Mr.
Thomas Hodgins of his situation as Senior Clerk in the Education
Office, and recommending that in consideration of the length and
efficiency of that gentleman's services he be allowed a gratuity of £50.
His Excellency has been pleased to approve of your recommendation,
and to authorize you to pay Mr. Hodgins the sum in question out of the
Education Fund for Upper Canada.

" His Excellency has further been pleased to approve of the appoint-
ments which you propose to make in the Department in consequence of
Mr. Hodgins' retirement.

"I have, <S:c.,

(Sidled) " T. J. J. Loranger,

^^ Si^cntary.
''The Rev. Dr. Ryerson, &c., &c."

Unjust and unreasonable iwlky towards Subordinate Officers in the Educa'
Hon Deixirtment — Rtmwed Application on their behalf in 1859-1861.

I made no reply to the letter of the Provincial Secretary, dated 13th
October, 1857. I cared not a fig for the reference to the inferiority of
my own ^.osition. I was sati-sfiod the country would estimate that
according to its worth and work, 1)ut I felt keenly the illogical and un-
just reasoning and conclusions against the just recommendations which
I had made, and tlie false position in which it placed me in reference to
my assistants — they being denied, on my account, what was allowed to
the corresponding officers of other public departments — simply because
I was not a party politician, though I was doing what no party politician
could have done in behalf of the whole country without reference to
party.

I never conversed with an Upper Canada Member of the Government
who did not acknowledge the justice of the claims which I advanced,
but excused the non-recognition of them upon the ground that, if
admitted, the same thing would have to be done for the employes in the
Education Office of Lower Canada, which was always in advance of its
appropriations, and the expenses of which were greater than those of
the Education Office of Upper Canada. I maintained that while there
was always a balance on hand of Upper Canada school moneys, and the
expenses of the office kept down, those Avhose industry and skill had
enabled me to do so, should be rewarded, rather than punished, for such
labours. Without any reference to what had been asked and refused in
1857, I renewed my application in 1859, in the following letter : —

"Education Ostice, ,
" Toronto, My 5th, 1859.

" Sir, — In the Session of 1857, the Legislature passed a Civil Service
Act, prescribing certain salaries to the Deputies and Clerks in the several
Departments, and certain increase of salaries according to the period of
service ; and I beg most respectfully to submit to the Governor in
Council that the subordinate officers in the Education Office may be
placed upon the same footing as are the subordinate officers in other
public offices. Both classes of officers, with very few exceptions, were
appointed before the passing of the Civil Service Act, and, of course,
upon the same terms ; and why the one class of officers, any more than
the other, should be excluded from the benefits of that Act is difficult to
be conceived. It is calculated to excite painful and discouraging feel-
ings in the officers of the Educational branch of the public service to be
placed in a relation less favourable than those employed in other
branches. I am sure the subordinate officers in this Department are
second to no corresponding officers in other Departments, in their quali-
fications, and industry and zeal for the public interests ; and I submit,
therefore, the justice and expediency of placing them upon an equal
footing with the same class of officers in other branches of the public
service.

*' The aggregate amount involved in the arrangement proposed is only
£310, a small sum for the whole country, but important to the five
officers affected by it, and still more important in an equitable and public
point of view.

"I have, etc.,

(Signed) " E. Eyerson.

"The Honourable Charles Alleyn, M.P.P., Provincial Secretary."

Not even the receipt of the foregoing letter was acknowledged !

Being at the seat of Government in the spring of 1861, I presented
my case again to the Upper Canada members of the Government, laying
before them a memorandum of the nature and grounds of my recom-

m«
Ge

ani
wl

anI
sulf
Cb

sic

m regard to the merits and claims of

mendations. I received such assurances from the Attorney and Solicitor
Generals, that at their suggestion I addressed to the Provincial Secretary
another letter, which I insert as follows, omitting the memorandum
which accompanied it : —

'' Quebec, Ap-il 17 th, 1861.

"Sir, — I have the honour to transmit herewith a statement and memor-
andum on the subject of salaries of the Deputy-Superintendent and other
subordinate officers in the Department of Public Instruction for Upper
Canada.

"I have conferred with the Attorney and Solicitor-Generals for
Upper Canada on the subject, and in accordance with their suggestion,
I now transmit the papers relating to it to you, for the favourable con-
sideration of His Excellency in Council.

" I may observe that the subordinate officers in the Education Office
of Upper Canada feel that they have not been treated with the same
consideration as the subordinate officers in other Departments, who have
received gratuities at different times, whereas the subordinate officers in
the Education Department had only an increase of salary in 1855 ;
and then their salaries were not made equal to those of cor. ssponding
subordinate officers of other Departments

** For the fullest information
Mr. Hodgins, Deputy-Superintendent, I refer to my letter of the 23rd
February, 1857.

*' No language that I can employ would be too strong in commenda-
tion of Mr. Marling, the Book-keeper, Accountant, and Senior Clerk in
the Department.

" But I refer to the accompanying memorandum for a statement of
the grounds on which each of the recommendations has been made.

"I have, etc.,

(Signed) " E. Eyerson.

" The Honourable Charles Alleyn, M.P.P.,
" Provincial Secretarv."

The only answer ever received to the foregoing letter was the follow-
ing acknowledgment of its reception : —

"Secretary's Office,

''Quebec, 22nd April, 1861.

" Reverend Sir, — I have had the honour to receive and lay before
His Excellency the Governor General, your letter of the 17th instant,
covering a statement and memorandum on the subject of the salaries of
certain of the officers of the Department of Public Instruction for Upper
Canada.

"I have, etc.,
(Signed)

" The Rev. E. Ryeraon, &c., &c."

" C. Alleyn,
" Secretary.

Continued Injustice to the Education Officers compared with those in other
Public Departments — Their Zeal and Fidelity Unimpaired

It will probably be remarked that the widow of the gospel parable
was not more importunate in her pleadings with the unjust judge than
I was in behalf of the subordinate officers of my Department ; but the
judge l)oforo whom 1 pleaded would not yield even to a five years'
importunity. I could otfer no promise of past or future political party
service in behalf of those whose meritorious services I urged ; I could
only say they had served the country with great faithfulness and ability
without respect to party ; but my pleadings could not extract £310 per
annum in behalf of five al)le and industrious men in tJie non-political
Department of Education, while larger salaries, and repeated increase of
salaries, and extra allowances were made for the subordinate officers of
political departments. *

It might be naturally sujiposed that tl's subordinate officers of the
Education Department, under such circumstances, Avould wish to be
rid of a head whose non-political position de})rived them of what a
political head would have secured to them, and that they would
discharge their duties with reluctance and indifference. But it was
otherwise. They sustained nie as unanimously and cordially as if I had
succeeded .'n my eflbrts in their behalf, and the work of the Department
was done as if it were their own. The office hours were made (not by
me) from nine until five, instead of until four, as in other public offices;
and the clerks often remained until late hours of the night at pressing
times and seasons, and without a farthing's increase of salary or extra
allowance, from 1857tolS64. While I have endeavoured to be to all

*With respect to allowancea for extra Clerk?, and extra H(;rvice.s iu other Public De-
partments, the last priuted Public Accounts of the Province of Canada, (year ending
dOth June, 18G7) show, among others, the following items :—

1. In the Governor's Secretari/''s Office, the Office keeper received an additional
allowance $69

5Extra clerks and messenrjer received 3,500

2. In the Provincial Reiristrnr's Offii e, 9 extra clerks received 6,000

3. In thu Finance BejXirtment, 3 extra clerks received §500

And a Crown Land Department Clerk for special services in Finance

Department 200

The Book-Keeper in the Audit Office, received for extra services 600

And 2 of the Clerks for same 138

2 Extra Clerks, Audit Office 230

ai,6G8

4. In the Recciccr General's Department, an extra clerk received 270

.">■ In the P«.V/(' JFoj'A'i' i)tp«?'',;tC/<<, 2 extra clerks loceived 300

6. In C'roivn Law Department West, 2 extra clorki and a messenger 1,300

','. In the Department of A'jricultarc, 8 extra clerks received 4,500

And one as Acting Deputy at the rate of $2iJ0 83

8. In the Grown Lands Department, 10 extra clerks received 2,100

And 9 clerks on the stalf received for special service's 1,300

It further ajtpears that the Assistant Provincial Secretary received [and liad received

for years] $1,000 as Prison Inspector, and a clerk in the Secretary's Office at a salarj' of
$1,400, received $400 aa clerk to the Prison Inspectors, and S200 as clerk to the Civil
Service Examiners.

associated with me in the Department and its Schools as a father and
friend, as well as director, they hav(! laboured with me, not as hireling*
or eye-servants, but as atfeotionate and faithful S( ns, having a personal
and patriotic interest in the work, and a common credit for its success.

From 1857 to 1864, the work of tlie Education Office proper greatly
increased, and that of the Depository Department, in its three branches,
especially the apparatus and prize book branches, more than doubled —
thus causing a vast increase of labour in correspondence, procuring,
getting manufactured, selecting and despatching l)ooks and various
articles of school apparatus, receiving and making payments, keeping
accounts, &c., &c., &c., in connexion with the Depository, apart from
the Education Office itself It is needless to say how the oversight of
this work and the accounts of it added to the duties . eretc re dis-
charged by the Deputy Superintendent and Accountant, apart from the
increase of labour on the part of those who assisted them.

When at the end of 1863 (several years after its establishment), I found
that the Depository Department of the establishment, having succeeded
beyond my most sanguine expectations, was net only self-sustaining (and
therefore not costing the public revenue or sclool fund a sixpence be-
yond the apportionment of one hundred per cent, to the municipal and
school authorities on the purchases made by them), but that a suf-
ficient surplus had accrued on the small percentage added to
the original cost of the articles to cover the expenses of trans-
portation, exchange and management, I felt that those whose labours
had most contributed to such a result were justly entitled to some com-
pensation ; I therefore determined to allow Mr. Hodgins and Mr. Mar-
ling £100 each, and Mr. Taylor £f)0, making his salary £300. For these
additional allowances to the salaries heretofore i)aid I gave cheques,
upon the condition that if they were disallowed by the Government,
they should be refunded. I sent my accounts, including these payments
(with the proper explanations), to the Audit Office at Ottawa, and never
heard a word of objection to them until the last session of the Legisla-
tive Assembly at Toronto.

Cause of Misapprehensions and lUustrations of the Injustice done to the Edu-
cation Department Compared with otlters.

I believe the misapprehensions and imputations upon me in respect
to those payments have arisen, in i)avt at least, from the manner in
which the public accounts have been published in past years at Ottawa.
In those accounts will be seen the details of the expenditures of all the
Public Departments, except the Education Department of Upper
Canada. Any extra allowance or sum, even the smallest, which was
paid to any clerk or servant in any other Public Department, will be
found in the printed public accounts ; but under the head of the Educa-
3

tion Department of Upper Canada, the original salaries of its oflScers
are stated, and then, instead of giving the details of contingent expendi-
tures, as in the case of other Departments, the names and details, as I
had transmitted them, were withheld, and the whole was given in one
sum.

Correspondence ivith the Ontario Government on, the New Scale of Salaries to
Officers of the Education Department,

Down to the end of 1867, I had only to do with the Government
at Ottawa in my receipts, payments and accounts. The 15th of Jaruary
of the present year, I received from the Provincial Treasurer the note,
of which the following is a copy : —

** Treasury Department, Ontario,

^^ Toronto, January \bth, 1868,

" Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that in future the salaries of
your Department will be paid monthly, by pay-lists as formerly. But
instead of sending them to the Bank you will please transmit them to
this Department, where a cheque will be issued for the amount.

" I have, etc.,

(Signed) " E. B. Wood,

" Treo^surer,
"Rev. Dr. Ryerson, Chief Supt. Education."

On the 27th of the same month I transmitted the following reply : —

"Education Office,

" Toronto, 21th January, 1868.

" Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 15th January, and now enclose pay-list for the current month,
duly signed.

" If not inconvenient to your Department, you would oblige by issuing
the monthly cheque a day or two before the close of the month, so that
the salaries may be available on the last day.

"I append a detailed statement of the estimate of $14,700, salaries
and contingencies of the Department for 1868, which was sent in
to you on the 15th of January. The total estimate is the same as
in 1866-7 ; but the amount set down for office contingencies has
been reduced, part of the sums formerly placed under that head being
now more properly charged to the Depository Branch, and a propor-
tionate amount chargeable for salaries against the contingencies and
Depository, being now more properly added to the monthly pay-list.

"Detailed Statement of the Estimate for $14,700, Salaries and Con-
tingencies, Department of Public Instruction for Ontario, 1868 : —

Chief Superintendent $4000 00

Deputy •' 2600 00

Chief Clerk and Accountant 1800 00

Clerk of Statistics 1200 00

Clerk of Correspondence 900 00

Assistant Clerk of Statistics 800 00

Assistant Clerk of Correspondence 500 00

Office Messenger and Caretaker 420 00

Office Contingencies 2480 00

Total (as in 1866-7) $14,700 00

" Say, fourteen thousand, seren hundred dollars.

**I have, etc.,

(Signed) " E. Ryerson.

"The Honourable E. B. Wood, M.P.P.,

"Secretary of the Province."

Two days afterwards, I received the following answer to the foregoing
letter : —

" Treasury Department, Ontario,

" Toronto, January 29th, 1868.

" Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 27th instant, enclosing the pay-list of your Department for the
month of January.

"I have passed the pay-list and seni for warrant. As soon as I
receive it a cheque will issue and you will be notified.

I have, etc.,

(Signed) "E. B. Wood,

" Treasurer.
" Rev. E. Ryerson, D.D., LL.D.,

" Chief Superintendent."

It will be seen by my preceding letter of the 27th January, that so
far from practising any " deception," — as one member of the House is
reported to have charged me — I informed the Provincial Treasurer
in my first communication to him on the subject, that I had paid the
salaries in question from different sources, but that I proposed, under
the new system, to put down the salary of each ofiicer in one sum, and
pay it from one source. I supposed from the answer received that my
recommendation had been adopted, and knew not otherAvise until I read
the reports of the deljate in the Legislative Assembly, on the 18th
February. I immediately Avrote the following letter to the Attorney
Q«neral, which he read to the House of Assembly : —

"Education Office,

" Toronto, Fehrmry Idth, 1868.

" Sir, — I ol)servo hy this morning's papers that exception was taken
last ni};ht in tho Legislative AHsenii)ly to the estimate for the Educa-
tional Department.

" I beg to say that the explanation of the reasons of any change in
the Estimates from fo'iuer years was transmitted -with the Estimates.
But I desire here to give a more full exjdanation, which 1 hope you will
have the kijuhiess to ha\e r»;ad to the House, as I think it is due to ono
of the largest iwA most diilicult dt^paitmonts of the jjublic service, and
as 1 have had the chav;,o of it nearly a (piarter of a century.

"1. Though tlu! vhole estimate for (iramrnar and Common School
Education is statcfl at $301,500, the whole of that sum is provided by
statutes, exce])t 8'-r',377 — which requires tlu^ vote of the House.

" 2. The contiii;;t'at expenses of this I)ei)artment !iave undergone no
increase during the last ten years, though the work has greatly increased.
But, improved moiles and facilities of doing the work have been devised,
so as to ])r('vent iuiy increase in the average; contingent expenses of the
department. Some variations have arisen from having to make consid-
erable repairs in the buildings, and print large editions of School Regis-
ters, Acts, etc. While there has ])een a large increase in the expenses of
every other public department, there lias been no increase in this
department. The estimate of the salaries and expenses for the current
year is some three hundred dollars less than in 1857 ; and tho contingent
expenses, apart from salaries, are more than one-half less than they
were in any one year from 1853 to 1857 inclusive, and less than they
have been any year from that time to this. And iiny increase which
has been made in clerks* salaries has been saved by a reduction of con-
tingencies, so that the aggregate expenses of the Department have not
been increased during the last ten years.

" 3. I may also observe that the Depository Branch of the Depart-
ment is not a fai clrng's charge to the public revenue or school fund, the
whole expenf"^ ' '»f it being included in the cost of apparatus and books
supphed.

" 4. T^ • •-! . the salaries of certain officers of this Department,
as estimate ■■■ year, not agreeing with those stated in the Trea-

surer's accoui the last half of 18G7, was pointed out in the letter

transmitting tiic esl imate, and is as follows : — The account in question
does not include that portion of the salaries paid in i)ast years out of the
Depository Fund and office contingencies, according to the work done in
each branch of the office. In making the estimate under the new sys-
tem, I thought it best to place these items, paid from different sources,
in one sum, so that the salaries of the respective officers should be fully
exhibited. In doing so, no increase to the sum expended last and pre-
vious years has been asked, as the account for contingencies has been

proportionably reduced, and the total vote for salaries and contingencies
iR the same as in 1866-7. 1 know not how I can manage the Depart-
ment more economically than I have done.

« r»

5. The Halaries are the same in amount as formerly, with the ex-
ception of two junior clerks. Mr. Atkinson, the Assistant Clerk of
Correspondence (an excellent penman), hitherto paid out of the contin-
gencies at $380, and having served five years, is placed on tho pennan-
ent staff at $500. Mr. John T. K. Stinson, Assistant Clerk of Statistics,
after an apprenticeship and nine years' efficient service in the office, in-
stead of $500, is placed at $800. I think it but duo to Mr. Stinson to
say that he has fully earned this consideration ; for besides serving
faithfully and efficiently in the office, he was Licsutenant in the 7th
Company of the " Queen's Own," and commanded it at tho battle of
Ridgway (accompanied by eight other employes of the Department, one
of whom was killed), and ho has since been appointed Captain for his
gallant conduct and ability.

" 6. It may be mentioned that one of the two senior officers in this
Department has served upwards of twenty-three years ; that the next
three senior officers have served IG, 14, and 12 years, and that in tho
estimate, no increase of their salaries is j)roposed.

** 7. It is perhaps just for me to adu that the last published accounts
show that the Lower Canada Department of Education expended for
salaries and contingencies $10,113 with 3826 schools, while my estimate
is $14,700 with 4457 schools, and other agencies for the diffusion of
useful knowledge which do not exist in connection with the Department
of Public Instruction in Lower Canada.

" 8. I should be thankful if any members of the Government and of
the Legislature would visit the Department, when every account, work,
and mode of procedure will be shown and fully explained to them ; nor
do I desire to retain a single feature of the Department, or incur a
single expenditure which shall not be deemed useful and necessary,
after the most careful enquiry, by the representatives of the people.

"I have, etc.,

(Signed) •* E. Ryerson.

" The Honourable J. S. Macdonald,
" Attorney-General."

I supposed from the reading of the preceding letter in the House,
and t\\6 expressions of ai)prol)ation Avitii which parts of it were received,
and the absence of one Avord of objection, that my recommendations and
explanations were considered satisfactory ; and I knew not to the con-
trary until a few days afterwards, when I saw the printed Supply Bill,
and subsequently received a letter from the Provincial Treasurer, dated
2nd March, directing a revision of the pay-list, as I had communicated
it in my letter of the 27th January, and a return to the old method of

payment. In my reply, dated the 7th March, I transmitted a revised
monthly pay-list of salaries as desired, and appended a memorandum of
the payments wliich Avould l)e required under the head of contingencies,
" till another Order in Council is paF d,' among the items of which are
those remarked upon in the House oi Assembly, and which I hare paid
monthly during the past year, as I had done the three preceding years,
transmitting each month the ])roper vouchers, and not receiving a word
of objection. I am sure the Premier will bear me witness that I have,
since the last Session of the Legislature, repeatedly solicited of him an
appointment to meet the Honourable jVIeml)ers of the Executive Council
to settle the question of salaries of subordinate officers of ray Depart-
ment, in order that I might pay the salary of each of tliem in one sum
and from one source, and not in different sums and from different
sources as I was doing. But the matter was deferred from time to time
from various circumstano-^ ', until since the commencement of the present
Session, when I was given to understand that the question of Mr. Hod-
gins' salary would be satisfactorily arranged ; the day after Avhich I
informed the Premier that, alter what he had intimated to me the day
before, I now felt free to submit to him what I had long revolved in my
own mind, but had hinted to no one — namely, the creation of the Edu-
cational Department into a Ministry of Public Instruction, under the
control of a responsible Minister of the Crown, and my own retirement
from its administration.

I have thus given a succinct and documentary history of the appoint-
ments, salaries, and allowances of subordinate officers of my Department
since 1855.

Salaries Recommended — Reasons for the Recommendation — Illustrations.

I Avill next state the salaries which I have recommended, on which I
have so long insisted, and the grounds of my recommendation.

The only two public Departments now existing in this Province which
can be compared witli eacli other in duration and magnitude, are the
Crown Lands and Education Departments. 1 believe the Deputies of
these two Departments have been in the public service longer than any
other two officers of the [)ub]ic Departments. Mr. Hodgins has been
in the office upwards of /'^/v??///-/^^;- i/rars. Mr. Russell, the excellent
Deputy of the Crown Laiuis Departnieiit, has been in the office as long,
and perhaps longer, as he is an older man. JVly proposal is, that the
Deputies and Accountants, or Book-keepers of the Education and
Crown Lands Departments shall have the same salaries— it being
assumed that their qualifications, duties and responsil)ilities are equal. I
believe there is no dispute or ditference as to what shall be allowed to
the other suliordinate officers of the Education Department. The whole
of the discussion has arisen as to the salaries and allowances paid to

'■\

the Deputy Superintendent and the Senior Clerk and Accountant of the
Education Department. Tliey are both graduates in the Law Faculty of
the University, are both nieml)ers of the Law Society, are both eligible
for examination and admission as Barristers- at- Law, and both, I have
reason to believe, would have been in the profession of the law ere this had
I not advised them otherwise, and urged their continued connection with
the Education Department, with the expressed assurance, on my part,
that justice would yet be done them, and they would yet be placed in
the same position as corresponding officers of other public departments.

The salaries of the Deputies of all the Departinents of the Civil
Service, except the Education Department, have been from $2,600 to
$2,840 per annum, besides other appointments and allowances to some
of them of several hundred dollars a year. The Chief or Senior Clerks,
from $1,800 to $2,000; First-class Clerks, from $1,000 to $2,000;
Book-keepers, from $1,600 to $2,000; second-class clerks, from $900
to $1,240 ; third class clerks, from $600 to $1)60. (See Fuhlic Accounts
for 1867.)

Take as a further illustration the Ontario Crown Lauds Department
alone. Apart from the Deputy, it appears tliat in that department
persons who were in the service in 1857-8 — the time when the salaries
of officers in the Education Office were fixed — have received a progres-
sive rate of increase with length of service. It thus appears from the
Public Accountr:-, that individual salaries have l)een raised during that
period from $800 to $1,280 in one instance ; in other instances, from
$600 to $900, and from $800 to $1,600 ; in two cases, A'om $900 to
$1,200; one from $1,080 to $1,240; in five cases, from $1,200 to $1,400,
two from $1,610 to $1,800, two from $1,200 and $1,500 to $l,e00,
&c., &c., &c. It appears also that some twelve persons who were not
in the service at all in 1857-8, received in 1867 salaries at from $730 to
$1,240.

I am quiie willing that the qualifications and work of the officers
employed in the Education Department should be compared with
those of any Department of the Civil Service, though the former have
not been permitted to enjoy the advantages of the Civil Service
Act, notAvithstauding their length of service and greatly increased
duties. The only exceptions are those in which, out of the Educa-
tional Depository I applied, in a liuiited degree, to certain officers
of the Educational Department the " analogy " admitted in the official
letter communicating to me the Order in Council fixing the salaries in
1857.

Some years ago, the late Hon. D'Arcy McGee introduced a bill into
the Canadian Parliament to define tlie (qualifications, and prescribe exa-
minations for admissions to employnieut in the Civil Service. He elo-
quently advocated the employment of Avell qualified and efficient officers
in the Public Departments, with good salaries, and the exclusion of in-
efficient and useless ones. The Globs newspaper strongly advocated the

same views. I suggested to Mr. McGee an amendment to his bill, re-
marking that I had not only acted on the principle of his bill in pre-.-i-
ous years, by employing no person in the Education Department with-
out his giving satisiaction as to his qualifications for the situati(m va-
cant, but also on the further ccmdition of a six months' trial as to his
industry, faithfulness, and practical al)ility to do the work assigned him.
It is in this way that the Department and its attendant sciiools have
been supplied with well qualified, faithful, and able officers.

Upon every ground, therefore, whether of long service, or personal
qualifications, or efficiency, or increased work, or " analogy." or com-
parison with the officers of other Departments of the Civil Service —
apart from the increased expense of living — I maintain that the salaries
of the subordinate officers of the Education Department should be equal
to those of the corresponding officers in the Ci'own Lands Department.
Nor do I see ciny reason Avliy officers in the Civil Service at Toronto
should not have equal salaries with corresponding officers in the public
departments at Ottawa — certainly with no higher qualifications, nor
more onerous duties.

Objections answered. — Ten Meteorological Observers' Rcttirns — The School
Manuals and the Journal of Education. — Reply to Mr. Blake's Ob-
jections.

But it has been objected in the House that Messrs. Hodgins and
Marling have received extras besides their salaries. The salary of
the former s:nce 18G4 has been considered as 82600, and that of the
latter $1000, but to eacli two additional items have been paid, but not
to either fcjr their originally prescribed work as officers of the
Dejiai'tment. In ISGo, the Grammar School Amendment Law was
passed, requiring meteorological observations lo be taken at ten
places in Upper Canada, and to be paid for by lUe upon the condition
that their monthly returns were satisfactory. It ])ecame necessary
to examine these returns ; to reduce the observations contained
in them ; to report the results, so as to show the temperature,
state of the atmosphere, wind, etc., as noted three times each day of the
year by the observers at each of the ten stations — two returns being re-
quired every month from each station, or 2'10 returns during the year.
Comparatively few are competent to })erform this Avork ; but Mr. Mar-
ling prepared himself f<H- it, and undertook it, doing it at his own home
in the evenings. Let any one competent t(» the task look at the re-
turns, and the ii'bour required to examine them, reduce the observations,
and calculate the results ; or let him (inquire of the keeper of the Pro-
■viucial 0])servatory; or let him look at my last two annual n^ports
under the head of Meteorological Observations, and let him say if it is
not a shame that any man <^hould complain of the small sum of $200 per
annum being allowed Mr. Marling for accomplishing this scientific task

from ten meteorological stations, and preparing the annual report of
them. I might have selected another competent person to perform this
newly-created work, but must have paid more than twice two hundred
dollars for it.

Then Mr. Marling is the Recording Clerk of the Council of Public
Instruction, which usually meets at i p.m. The duty of the Clerk, in
respect to the meetings and various proceedings and orders of the Coun-
cil, is very considerable, for which the Council has voted such a Clerk
$100 per annum since 1850, and respecting which no fault was ever
found or objection made, to my knowledge, until Friday evening, the
16tli instant, in the House of Assembly.

But there are two items paid Mr. Hodgins also in addition to salary.
The first, $100 per annum, for delivering every Saturday morning, for
nine or ten months, a lecture on the school law and its applications,
together with appropriate practical counsels to teachers-in-training in the
Normal School. There are two Sessions during the year, averaging
about 22 weeks each — thus two courses, or about 40 law lectures are
prepared and delivered for the paltry remuneration of $100, the appoint-
ment and compensation being authorized by the Council of Public In-
struction. I might ask the honourable member for South Bruce, who
has objected to this and other items, whether he would perform the task
of preparing and delivering 40 law lectures for $100? I would ask
whether it is Mr. Hodgins' duty, a? Deputy-Superintendent, any more
than it is my duty, or that of any member of Parliament, to perform
such work in the Normal School ? Tho late deceased Head Master of
the Normal School pressed the importance of this instruction upon me
more than once. I delivered a lecture or two myself on the subject
during one or two seasons ; but it was felt that much more should be
done to acquaint the Normal School teachers with the principles and
provisions of the school law, and how this knowledge would avail them
in school sections where they are often the clerks of the School Corpora-
tions, and can do much to prevent difficulties and adjust diflferences.
The task was at length, l)y tlie appointment of the Council, undertaken
two years since by Mr. Hodgins — a good speaker, and better acquainted
with our school law than any other man living, having assisted in pre-
paring it from the beginning, and in administering it nearly twenty-five
years, having edited successive manuals of it, with the forms, notes and
definitions of tlie principal terms from law authorities, and a digest of
more than fifty decisions of our Si^perior Courts in cases of appeal under
its operations.* I leave it to any member of the Legislature to say

* The following are the opiniong of three Chief Justices of this Province on the
merits of those Manuals : —

Late Chief Justice of Uiu'er Canada (Sik J. B. Robinson.)—" I have received
the new edition of ths Grammar and Common School Manuals, for which I thank you.
These compilations, when made with the care which hat been exhibited in your book,
greatly assist the J" Iges in their labours, and help to secure them against the danger or

whether such instruction could have otherwise been provided for so
effectually, and at so little expense ?

Finally, objection is made in regard to the amount paid, and to whom
paid, for editing, etc., the Journal of Education — a periodical which I
published six years by subscriptions, at considerable loss to myself, and
which I determined to discontinue unless the Legislature would provide
means for its publication and transmission without charge, to each
School Corporation and Local Superintendent in Upper Canada. The
sum of $1,800 per annum was granted for that purpose in 1850 ; and
for that sum the Journal of Education is edited, 5,000 copies of it printed,
folded, put in covers, addressed and sent to all parts of the country per
month. If any objector will do this work, and do it as well, for that
sum, I should be happy to see him do it. If I have been authorized to
prepare and publish the Journal of Education, and am responsible for it,
I have the right to select whom I please to do the work, and pay what
I please, so that I do not exceed the Parliamentary appropriation.
When I ceased to edit, or superintend the publication of it myself, it
was my own, and not another's business as to whom I should confide
that confidential and important work. I might have selected and
employed the literary editor of the Globe newspaper -, and had I done
so, I might not have received so nmch abuse from that quarter. But it
became me to select an editor who was of one heart and mind with
myself, who thoroughly understood the school system, and was in other
respects competent for the work. There was no room for hesitation as
to the most desirable choice ; the only question was as to Avhether Mr.
Hodgins, with all his masterly arrangements of business and economy
of time, could, without interfering with his official duties, devote the
attention and labour necessary to edit and superintend the publication
of the Journal of Education. This he succeeded in doing ; and for doing
so, I could not, in the progress of years, offer less than had already been
paid for editing the Journal of Education for Lower Canada — a journal
of less circulation than ours.

But it is reported as having been objected by the member for South
Bruce, that an officer of a public department having a salary, should
devote all his time to the public ! Wliat tlien comes of the common law

And to all engaged in

overlooking provisions bearing upon the questions before them,
carrying out the School Laws they must be very v&.luable."

Ex-Chief Justice of Upper Canada (Hon. W. H. Draper, C. B.)— " I am afraid
I have been guilty of an apparent neglect in roi-. thanking you tor a copy of the School
Manual. I have just had my hand upon it, and do not remember having acknowledged
your kind attention — and even now I can do little more— beyond expressing my opinion
in favour of the great usefulness of the collection— and of the care and industry with which
the notes have been compiled. I have not had time to do more than make a cursory
examination of its contents, but so far as I have gone, am both pleased and satisfied."

CHiEr Justice Hag arty.— '* Mr, Justice Hagarty thanks Mr. Hodgins for hia
very useful and carefully compiled Sciiool Manual, which he has so courteously presented.
Mr. Hagarty ha« no doubt that such a compilation will be no small boon to the large
class of persons concerned in the due administration of the School Laws."

(

and universal usage of certain appointed hours for work, both in Banks
and in Public Departments, unless in exceptional cases under a tempo-
rary pressure of work ? Has not a Bank Clerk certain hours of his
own 1 Have not all officers of Public Departments the same 1 The
member for South Bruce engages to serve his constituents in two legis-
latures for a certain remuneration. It may be inadequate ; but, never-
theless, the office is accepted upon the conditions prescribed by law.
But does he give all his time to his two-fold duties? Does he do
nothing for his own individual profit during the sessions of the two
Legislatures but attend to his representative duties 1 There are heads
of departments, receiving salaries as such, yet do they not receive
additional compensation as members of the Legislature, and some even
as members of two Legislatures, besides attending to much private
professional business 1 Members of the Legislature sometimes even
adjourn its sittings for many days, yet receive every day's pay as if
attending to Parliamentary duties. Is a principle to be applied to
subordinate officers of public departments, which is not applied to
the heads of departments, or to members of the Legislature 1

But the same honourable member invokes against my acts and my
subordinates the Dominion Civil Service Act of last session. I am not
certain that that Act is in force in Ontario ; but I accept the authori-
tative invocation of it, yet deny its application to the case in hand.
The invoked (20tli) clause of the Act says : " No aUowance or compen-
sation shall be made for any extra service whatever which any officer or
clerk may be required to perform in the Department to which he belongs."

Now, will the learned gentleman who quoted this clause say that the
School Apparatus, Library and Prize Book Depository, (which have, of
late years, been established in connection with the Department, and
which may be discontinued at any time), is identical with the Education
Department proper; or that examining proofs of books prepared and
published under the sanction of the Council of Public Instruction, and
various other duties ordered by it, or the examining and reducing for
publication returns from the ten meteorological stations, are a part of
the duties "required" of Mr. Marling as Accountant and Book-keeper
in the Education Department ? Or that delivering law lectures in the
Normal School, or editing, etc., the Journal of Education are a part of
the duties "required" of the Deputy-Superintendent of Education^ Are
these separate engagements a part of the departmental duties "required"
of the officers referred to, any more than the professional duties of the
member for South Bruce in the Court of Chancery are a part of his duties
as member of two Parliaments 1

But if the 20th clause of the Dominion Civil Service Act of last
Session, is (according to the honorable member for South Bruce) in
force in Ontario, he cannot deny the application of the 22nd clause of
the same Act, which says, ''Notldinj in this Act shall affect the salary
or emolument of any officer or clerk in the Civil Service at the time of the
passing of this Act, so long as he shall he continued in office"

The oflicers in question have been receiving, as "salaries or emolu-
ments " during four years, what is now, in face of the quoted Act,
attempted to be taken from them. I submit that in matters of personal
and official rights, members of the Legislature, like members of the
bench, ought to be impartial and humane judges, and not judges in the
spirit of partizanship.

I am thankful to find that thus far, the only acts impugned during
my long and difficult adniinistration of the Education Department, relate
to the points above noticed — a fixed purpose to do what was equal and
just to able and faithful men associated with me in a great national
work. And I submit, that when the great work of that Department is
admitted to have been done efficiently, and w ith unparallelled economy, it
is hardly fair, much less generous, to carp at two or three items in re-
spect to the principal helpers in the work — less in amount than the cost
to the country of the time spent in disputing about them.

Objections to the Journal of Education Ansivered.

References to it.

-Complimtntary

;:*i;

But it has been objected to the Journal of Education itself, that
as a periodical it is uninteresting, unworthy of support, etc. 1 dare
say that this may be true in regard to these who never read it, or
any thing else worth reading. The honourable member for South
Norfolk, resident of the township of Charlotteville, and formerly master
of the Vittoria Post-Office (within a mile and a half of my own birth-
place), is reported to have said that parties refused to take from his
post-office copies of the Journal of Education addressed to them. I
doubt not the truth of this statement, which the Glohe adduces as cer-
tain proof that the Journal of Education is not worth taking out of a
post-office. I dare say the same j)arties take no journal whatever, and
that if the Canadian Farmer or Daily Glohe were addressed to them, they
would not take either out of the post-office — a proof, according to the
Globe, that neither is worth taking out of the post-office ! Now, there
happens to be an English gentleman farmer resident near the same post-
office — a man of education and refinement — James H. Covernton, Esq.,
who has been School Superintendent of the same township for several
years. In one of his reports, incidentally alluding to the Journal of

Educatiyn, Mr. Covernton says : — " I venture to

suggest

that much

good might result, if the attention of parents and trustees were called
to this matter [teaching needle-work to girls in schools taught by female
teach' ' ] through the columns of the Journal of Education — ivhich paper,
by th I, is very generally received, read, and appreciated, the few instances
to ti. ontrary being, I fear, occasions where a degree of supineness
prevaiib, which Avould not be remedied by the stated transmission of the
Journal through me, instead of througli the accustomed source " — the
jpost-office.

In the appendix to my annua^ school reports will be found numerous
incidental references to the Jmirnnl of Education in the extracts from the
reports of Local Superintendents. I have some twenty of them before
me from different Municipalities, and from as many different individuals
(Local Superintendents) who have had the best means of information.
1 will give a few specimens out of the many : — 1. " The Journal of Edu-
cation is a welcome visitor." 2. " The Journal of Education is a welcome
visitor wherever it goes." 3. "The Journal of Education hTegvlaxly
received in all the sections, and is highly appreciated." 4. " The Jour-
nal of Education is thankfully received, and its valuable information very
much appreciated." 5. " The Journal of Education is regularly received
in this township, and is of great service in the cause of education through-
out the Province." 6. '"It has been read by all, and with much pleasure
and profit, and is a greab means of diffusing interesting knowledge
amongst the people. In fact, I look upon it as one of the best papers
published." 7. "The Journal of Education is welcome, and is a leaven
of good wherever it goes."

I will not multiply such testimonial statements ; but will remark that
the Journal of Education has never been intended or permitted to be the
vehicle of personal or even school law controversy of any kind, in regard
either to myself or others, ])ut to be the repository, aa far as possible, of
the best passages from the best educational addresses of public men,
and educational articles in reviews of books of both England and
America, an adviser in matters of school instruction and education, and
a record of facts most interostini' and suKiicstive in regard to the educa-
tional prfigross of tlie age. To provide and arrange such material
requires vastly more labour, judgn\ent and research, than to fill the
pages of the Journcd with long and rcadless essays, and endless and
pointless speeches and discussions. From the following list of standing
headings or departments in the Journal of Education from month to
month it Avill be seen what is the range, scope, and character of the
articles inserted in each number of the /oi(r?w/: 1. Papers on Education
in Ontario. 2. Papers on Education in other countries. 3. Papers on
Practical Education. 4. Papers on Classical Education, (occasional).
5. Papers on Gcof/raphical (or Hcientific) Hnhjects. G. Papers on Teacl.:rs
(or Teaching). 7. Monthlu R"port on I'eteorology in Ontario. 8. Biographi-
cal Sketches. 9. Papers on Historical (or Colonial) Subjects. 10. Miscel-
laneous Friday Jieadings. 11. Educational Intelligence. 12. Departmental
Notices, etc.

Liter-Communications in the Journal of Education.

In order that nothing might be wanting of local interest, as well as
of general educational iiitelligenco in the Journal of Education, the fol-
lowing has been a standing printed notice in its columns for some years:

"As already intimated, a department is alway s reserved in the JoiW/utZ

of Education for letters and inter-communications between Local Super-
intendents, School Trustees and Teachers, on any subject of general
interest relating to education in the Province. As no personal or party
discussions have, ever since the establishment of the Journal, appeared
in its columns, no letter or communication partaking of either character
can be admitted to its pages; but, within this salutary restriction, the
utmost freedom is allowed. Long letters are not desirable; but terse
and pointed communications of moderate length on school management,
discipline, progress, teaching or other subject of general interest are
always acceptable, and may be made highly useful in promoting the
great object for which this Journal was established,"

Alternative. — But if after all this, 5,000 copies of the Journal of JUduca-
tion, printed, folded, enveloped, addressed and sent to all the School
Corporations, and other school officers of the country, are not worth
$1800, that is, 36 cents per volume, let the publication of it be discon-
tinued.

Hon. Henry Barnard^s Opinion of the Journal of Education.

I will conclude by adducing the opinion of a foreigner who has read
the Journal of Education from the beginning — of the acknowledged Nes-
tor of American Educationists — the Hon. Henry Barnard, LL.D., who
has written and published several large volumes on the Normal School,
and Educational Institutions of Europe ; who has edited and published
for a number of years the American Quarterly Journal of Education, con-
taining as much matter as any of the English Quarterly Reviews ; who
has been Superintendent of Public Instruction in the State of Connecti-
cut for many years, and by special request, organized a system of pub-
lic instruction for one of the Western States ; and who, on the creation
of a National Bureau of Education at "Washington two years since, was
appointed to preside over it as Commissioner, in order to diffuse educa-
tional information throughout the United States, and bring the various
State systems of education, as far as possible, into a national unity. Dr.
Barnard, in a letter addressed to my Department last year, suggests and
remarks as follows : —

" Why do you not have a minute topical index prepared to your
Journal of Education, from Vol. I. to XX1 1 It is so full of the history,
the principles, the methodology, the biography, and literature generally
of schools and education. Such an index will make your sets valuable,
not only to your own scholars, teachers, and statesmen, but to education-
ists everywhere. It is a monument of intelligent and practical editorship."

Reply to the Globe's Attacks and Objections.
The Globe's Twenty-four years' attacks recapitulated.
During twenty-four years, with a momentary lucid interval or two, I

have encountered the unscrupulous opposition and vituperation of the
chief editor of the Globe and his trained subordinates, down to the very
last employed reporter. For some six years, the avowed " editor-in-
chief " sought, by every species of epithet and misrepresentation, to
impress upon the public mind that I was endeavouring to saddle the
country with a Prussian despotism in order to enslave it ; and then failing
in that, when I first addressed the public in 1850-1 in favour oi free
schools, he endeavoured to excite the public mind against me, by repre-
senting that I was not contented to reduce the country to slavery, but
was now attempting to reduce it to pauperism by establishing a system
of pauper schools — so much so, that on more than one occasion, for a short
time, I met with contumely and insult in the streets of this city. That
anti-free school onslaught failing, and the free school current becoming
so strong, the "editor-in-chief" of the Globe thought it the best
policy to float with the tide, but raised another out-cry, and sought
again to excite the whole country against myself on account of the Se-
parate School provisions of the law, though he shortly afterwards formed
a confederate coalition with Roman Catholic statesmen of Lower Canada
to preserve for all time those Separate School provisions in all their
integrity ! But he commenced a new crusade against me fo. devising
means to supply School Municipalities of the country with suitable
libraries, school maps, globes, apparatus, text books and prize books,
charging me with all sorts of peculations — a crusade which, with brief
suspensions, from sheer weariness and exhaustion, he has continued to
this day.

And now in the Globe^s occasional professed reports of what took place
in the Education Committee of the Legislative Assembly, he has, with
scarcely an exception, misrepresented both my recommendations and
proceedings (of which I could point out upwards of a dozen instances) ;
and in his reports of the debates of the House itself, he suppresses nearly
every word and statement favourable to myself, and presents in the
strongest and sometimes exaggerated light whatever he thinks is said to
my disadvantage ; sometimes stating editorially what is wholly untrue,
and at other times stating part of the truth to give the greater effect to
the falsehood, as the Laureate poet Tennyson says : —

" A lie, which is all a lie,

Maj be met and fought with outright ;

But .* Vie which is half a tioith,

Is a harder matter to fight."

But the members of the Education Committee, and of the House of
Assembly generally, are themselves witnesses of the partial and unfair
character of the Globe's reports in regard to everything which concerns
myself or the Education Department. I need not therefore notice them
in detail ; but it remains for me to notice the Globe's conduct and objec-
tions in respect to my proposed retirement from office. In his editorial
of the 19th instant, he misrepresents the motives, circumstances, grounds.

and conditions of my proposed retirement ; yet ho formally refuses to
insert my letter of resignation (read by authority before the Education
Committee), though a copy of it was sent to him in manuscript for that
purpose before it Avas published in the Leader newspaper !

In no part of the world is the press more outspoken and independent
in its opinions and censures than in England ; but no press in England
of any character would descend to suppress official documents, and cook
reports to malign its most dreaded or hated adversary. This mode of
procedure, with great vigilance in news collecting, has given the New
York Herald its notoriety and circulation ; but no one relies upon its
statements in regard to either a hated individual or nation, or respects
its opinions, any more than one can tho^e of its Glohe imitator. The
Globe may indeed say with lago in Shakespeare, " I am nothing, if
not abusive ;" but while free and manly discussion of public measures
and men are conducive to the elevation of the i)ublic mind, and the
advancement of society, a perpetual imputation of tiie motives and
character of public men, and a systematic ialsification of facts, to accom-
plish personal and party objects, must tend, as far as their influence ex-
tends, to educate the public mind in meanness, suspicion, hatred and
intrigue, instead of training it to manliness, honour, and integrity.

The Glohe of 1859 oii Dr. liijerson's ''Dotage,'' vs. The Globe of 18G8 on
his ''full possession of his faculties /"

I hereto append my letter of recommendation and resignation of
office, in reply to most of the Globe's statements and insinuations ; but
there are three matters referred to in his editorial Avhich require a
separate notice in this place. In the first place, the editor of the Globe
objects to my retirement, because I am not an old man, or worn-out in
the work. He says — " The Doctor is not an old man yet ; nor is his
physical health or mental energy, according to the estimate of himself
and all his friends, in any measure impaired. A^'^hy should he retire 1
There is work, and of an important kind, to be done. Why may he not
continue to do it ? What more congenial work he could have, we fail
to imagine. To pension a man scarcely yet turned of sixty, and in full
possession of his faculties, and that with either the Avhole salary or half,
would scarcely do." So writes the editor of the Glohe in 18G8. Can it
be believed that the same " editor-in-chief" of the Globe, under his own
proper name in 1859, not only declared me unfit and unqualified for my
office, but alleged that I was in my " dotage." In 185 9, the editor of
the Globe bad an object in endeavouring to drive me from office ; in
1868, he has an object in keeping me in office— being evidently afraid
of my Department becoming connected with, and a source of strength to
a Government to which he is opposed ; and therefore in 1859, he alleges
me to be in my "dotage," and nine years later, in 18G8, he alleges me
not to be an "old man," "scarcely yet turned of sixty," and "in full

possession" of my "faculties." How much truth there is in either of those
statements, is left to the mem1)ors of the Legislature and every reader
to decide.

The Globe^s misre})rcsentatkm in regard to a Pension — His suppression of
the Letter of Resignation to correct it.

In the next place, the editor of the Glvbc denies that I have any claim
to a pension, assuming throughout that I have made ai)plication on the
subject, and yet refusing to insert my official letter of resignation, which
contains no application of the kind. But while I have not been,
and do not intend to be an applicant for anything — having full
confidence in the justice and right feeling of the Legislature of the
country I have done my ber^t to serve — I deny the truth, as I abhor the
meanness, not to say the cruelty, of the Globe's avowal.

I submit that as there can be but one founder of a system of public
instruction in a country, and as I have been permitted that distinction
in regard to Upper Canada, and have laboured in its promotion for
nearly twenty-five years, until nearly G6 years of age, I could urge a
claim to a pension, if any man in Canada could, and especially in connec-
tion with the fact that any Puisne Judge has a right by law to retire on
a pension of two-thirds his salary, after even twenty years' service,
whether he is worn-out, old or not.

Perision to Ex-Chancellor Blalce — It a Solitary Case — The Globe sees no
objection to it — The vote lohich caused the Hon. Bobert Baldwin^ s
Eetirevient.

But I give an illustration — the only case at present of a pensioned
judge in this Province, and a case which received, so far as I know, no op-
position from the editor of the Globe — I refer to the case of the Hon.
W. H. Blake, late Chancellor, in 18-11), Mr. Blake, as Solicitor-Gene-
ral, introduced, and got passed through the Legislature a bill for re-
organizing the Court of Chancery, under the operations of which, after
the close of the Session, the then existing Chancellor Jameson was pen-
sioned at S3, 000 per annum, and Mr. Blake was appointed Chancellor, at
a salary of $5,000 per annum. The proceeding was so unpopular that
in 1850, a majority of the House of Assembly voted for the abolition of
the Court of Chancery altogether — a vot'^ such as was never adopted or
even proposed in respect to the Department of Public Instruction — and
a vote also, or rather the vote Avhich drove the late Honourable Robert
Baldwin from public life.

Mr. Blake's tvelve and a half i/cars Service — His pension on retirement of
$3,333.33 per annum since 18G2.

Mr. Blake was appointed Chancellor the 1st of October, 1849,
5

and continued, with intervals «>f illness, to discharge the duties of the
office until the 18th of March, 1802, when he was allowed to resign on
the ground of ill-health, after twelve and a half-year's service, upon a
pension of $3333.33 per annum — a pension which ho still enjoys, resi-
ding latterly in Euroi)e. I (juestion not tlus wisdom and righteousness
of this pr(»ceeding, and I l)oar willing homage to the great ability and
merits of the Honourable Chancellor Blaku ; but I submit to the Hon-
ourable ]\Iember for South Bruce, who has thought proper to attack me
during both the last and present Session of the Legislature, and I put
it to the editor of the Globe, Avho has assailed me for the last twenty-tive
years, whether the Department of Public Instruction has not been of as
much service to th;- country as the Court (»f Chancery, and whether my
nearly twenty-five years of puljlic service- would not give me as strong a
claim, in any court of equity, to a pension, as twelve and a half years
does the ex-Chancellor t

If it be said that Mr. Blake prepared himself by previous study, &c.,
for the Chancellorshii) ; I admit it, and in a })rofessional career very pro-
fitable to liimself But 1 maintain that in a profession of little profit to
myself, I did not the less prepare for my work of the last quarter of a
century for my native country, having, during the twenty years of ray
previous public life, taught in scliofd aiul college, edited a paper nine
years — then the most witlely circulated paper in the Province — in which
1 discussed all those fundamental principles of civil polity which Ave
now boast of as lying at the foundation of our freedom and government' ;
and during which, I wrote essa^ a and pamphlets on educational and
other public questions, which, when since collected and got bound by a
friend, form four ordinary volumes. This Avork was done before 1844,
in anything but a profitable profession, and may be considered, I think,
as some preparation for the work in Avhich I have since been engaged,
and for Avhich I think, Avithout presumjition, I might present some claim
for public consideration, at least equal to that Avhich Avas granted to the
late Chancellor for tAvelve and a half year's service.

The '• Globe's" misrcincsentations af my reasons for rfiirt'nrnt. — fVhat

those reasons arc.

(•

But, in the third place, the Editor of the Globe assumes that I am
weary of my present duties and contemplate an inactive retirement, Avith
the hope of a pension for life, and in opposition, affirms my A'igour to
work, the need of my doing so ; and is horrified that I or any of my
friends should think of such a thing as my being pen-sioned for life.

Now, if after 44 years of hard public labour, and often much exposure,
more than one-half of Avhich has been devoted to the one work of per-
fecting our Educati«.'.al system, I should, at the age of nearly sixty-six
years, desire retirement and rest, and some provision during the short
remains of a far-spent life, Avhat heart in Upper Canada, except the

heart of tho Editor of the Globe, would begrudge mo tlie gratification of
that wish 1

But had tho Editor of the Globe not refused to insert my oflRcial letter
of resignation, his readers would have seen that I have not proposed to
retire from oftice on the ground of liealth, or ag*;, or weariness of my
work (tliough I have often been weary in it), or with a view to inactive
seclusion, but wholly upon public grounds, to secure more intimate rela-
tions of the Department to the (Jovernment and Legislature, arising
out of the varied developments and vast dimensions of tho Scho(d sys-
tem, and in order to bring all the public educaticnal estal^lishments of
the country under governmental inspection and authority. The plain
object of my recommendation and proposal was to give an additional
impulse to the whole educational interests of the country. The Editor
of the Globe could, or would not admit of such a ccjnception ; judging
me, of course, by him.self, he could not conceive of my being influenced
by any other than considerations of personal convenience and interest,
and therefore could only so represent me as acting. It was the old Greek
maxim, that *' Change of employment is rest." I look for no other rest
in regard to labour in this life; ; but so far from being weary of the chief
work of my life, I say now, that if the Government and Legislature,
having my recommendations before them, and knowing my personal
wishes, think that the time has not yet arrived for acting on my recom-
mendations, and f'or permitting my nttirement from the Department of
Public Instruction, I hold myself still, as in times past, the servant of
my country, in serving my God ; and will, if desired and spared, do the
various work required to give effect to the pending School Bills, and
complete at least my twenty-five years of public service.

Proposed Labmr after Retirement.

But in my proposed and desired immediate retirement, I contem-
plated anything but the inactivity insinuated by the Globe, as my letter sug-
gesting it shows. There are things which my experience and know-
ledge of the country would enable me to do, that others, if competent,
are not likely to do ; while a Minister of the Crown, with the aid of
the able and experienced men in it, might well administer the Edu-
cation Department. There is wanting a book on the Elements of Civil
Government and Political Economy, suited to the institutions of our coun-
try, and adapted to youth and the schools ; a book provided in the
United States, and strongly recommended l^y tho Eoyal Educational
Commissioners for Schools in England. On this important subject — the
foundation of correct views and of varied duties of citizenship in a free
country — we have nothing for the education of the popular mind but
newspaper effusions. Then every farmer's son ought to know something
of the soil he cultivates and its aliments, the plants and grains he grows
and the animals he raises, and hence a hook on the Elements of Agricul-

ture, including the simple teachings of science and experience on these
subjects, would be a valuable gift to the agricultural youth and many-
rural schools of this Province. Again, a book on Moral Duties — neither
a Catechism on the one hand, nor a Theological or Moral Philosophy
Treatise on the other — entrenching on no denominational peculiarity,
but presenting with simple attractiveness the elements and precepts of
moral relations and duties, such as form the basis and cement of society
and government — would supply a desideratum in our books of youthful
study and in our system of public instruction. Furthermore, a properly
compiled or prepared book on the Applications of Science to the Produc-
tions, Mamifactures, Mechanics or Machinery of the Counky, might con-
tribute much to instruction and entertainment; and to increase our
country's industrial power and resources.

A first Canadian contribution on any or all of these subjects, with all
the aid of counsel and research, might be very imperfect, but the way
once marked out, and the foundation once laid, greater ability, skill and
learning would soon be developed to advance and complete the work.*

Then again, a country owes sonietliing to its ancestry, as well as to
itself. Lower Canada, the States of Nev/ England, and Nevr York, have
nobly discharged this filial duty. They Iiave spared neither labour nor
money in collecting, transcribing, and printing the letters, journals,
memorials and documents found in the family and public archives of
their earliest settlers, and throwing the faintest light upon their character
and circumstances ; while tiiere is scarcely any end to the chronicles,
civil, religious, and constitutional histories of their gTowth, institutions,
government and civilization. In these respects Upper Canada has thus
far been unfilial, niggardly and negligent. Little or no aid or encour-
agement has been given to collect the precious materials of our ancestral
history, in this and the Maritime Provinces, — so largely, and with us
primarily, peopled by martyr exiles to convictions of principle and
duty. I believe materials exist, though now scattered far and wide, and
mouldering among the still surviving relics of two past generations,
which, if collected, would present an ancestral liistoiy of Avhich Canadians
might well be proud.

The Editor of the Globe vaguely asks how I could employ myself, if
relieved of office. The preceding paragraphs may suggest to him a
field of useful labour for greater powers and a longer life than mine,
irrespective of any strictly religious or denominational duties.

But, apart from all other considerations, I may remark, and conclude
with the remark, that the Editor of the Globe's present protest against
my retirement from oflfice, and demand for my continuance at the head
of the Education Department — though done in a hostile spirit — is a

* Any hook, however, introduced into the Schools, by whomsoever prepared, must be
submitted to and sanctioned by the Council of Public Instruction, and the copyngbt of
it vested in the Head of the Department, subject to the direction of the Council of
Public Instniction.

practical refutation of all the calumnies which he has heaped upon me
for the last tw^enty years and more, and a proof demonstrative that he
does not believe one word of them himself.

E. RYERSON.
Toronto, December 30th; 1868.

Copy of Ldter of Recommendation and JResignaiion oftlu Revermd Dr. Ryer-
8on, refused msertion in the Globe. — Seepages 31, 32.

At a meeting of the Educational Committee of the House of Assembly,
on Wednesday, the 16th December, Dr. Ryerson addressed the Com-
mittee about an hour and a half, and at its conclusion, by the permission
of the Attorney-General and the Provincial Secretary, he read to the
Committee the following copy of a letter which he had addressed to the
Government, in regard to the Department of Public Instruction, and his
retirement from it : —

"Education Office,

"Toronto, 7th Dec, 1868.

" Sir. — I have the honour to submit to the favourable consideration of
His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor in Council, what, some three
weeks since, I submitted to individual members of the government,
namely, that —

* The Department of Public Instruction shall be under the management
of a member of the Executive Council, to be designated ' Minister of
Public Instruction,' who shall be ex-officio member of the Toronto Uni-
versity, and of the Council of Public Instruction, and who, in addition
to the powers and functions vested in the Chief Superintendent of
Education, shall have the oversight of all educational institutions which
are, or may be, aided by public endowment or legislative grant, to in-
spect and examine, from time to time, personally or through any person
appointed by him, into the character and working of such institutions ;
and by him shall all public moneys be paid in support or aid of such
institutions, and to him they shall report at such times and such man-
ner as he shall direct.'

" With a view of giving eflFect to the foregoing recommendation, I
hereby resign into the hands of His Excellency my office as Chief
Superintendent of Education, an office which I have filled upwards of
twenty four years, during which I have employed my best years and
utmost efforts to devise and develop our present system of public
instruction, and have been favoured with the cordial support of succes-
sive governments and parliaments, and with the liberal co-operation of
the people of Upper Canada at large. I shall not dwell upon the
developments or characteristics of that system ; but I feel thankful that
they are such as have received the highest approval, both at home and
abroad.

" Our system of public instruction has acquired such gigantic dimen-
sions, and the net-work of its operations so pervades every municipality
of the land, and is so interwoven with our municipal and judicial sys-
tems of government, that I think its administration should now be vested
in a responsible minister of the Grown, with a seat in parliament, and
that I should not stand in the way of the application to our varied edu-
cational interests of that ministerial responsibility which is sound in
principle and wise in policy. During the past year I have presented a
report on the school systems of other countries with a view of improving
our own; and the Legislative Assembly has appointed a Select Committee
for the same purpose. I have, therefore, thought this was the proper
time to suggest ^he modification and extension of the Department of
Public Instruction.

" I beg to append a summary printed statement of the creation and
progress of the system during my administration of it, and also a statis-
tical summary of my last year's report.

" In regard to myself, as to both the past and the future, I beg to
make the following statement.

'* While in addition to the duties imposed upon me by law as Chief
Superintendent of Education, I have voluntarily established a system of
providing the municipal and school authorities with libraries, text books,
and every description of school furniture and school apparatus — devising
and developing their domestic manufacture, and have thus saved the
country very many thousands of dollars in the prices as well as quality of
the books, maps, &c., &c., I can truly say that I have not derived one farth-
ing's advantage from any of these arrangements beyond the consciousness
of conferring material, intellectual, and social benefits upon the country.
When I accepted office, I made no stipulation as to salary, which was
subsequently fixed by statute not to exceed that of the Superintendent
of Education for Lower Canada, and to bear the same proportion to his
salary as the share of Upper Canada to the population division of the
legislative school grant bore to the share of Lower Canada. At that
time the population of Upper Canada was reported in the census as less
than that of Lower Canada. My salary has, therefore, been regulated
by act of parliament, and not by the favor of any government. Beyond
the economical current expenses of my family, and the purchase of my
dwelling, I had, until within four years, distributed my salary in aid of
benevolent and public objects. During the last four years I had
accumulated and invasted two thousand dollars ; but recently the claims
of two objects seemed to be so strong (the one the purchase of McGill
square, for benevolent purposes, the other, the endowment of Victoria
College,) that I divided the two thousand dollars between them. With
the exception, therefore, of the house I occupy, I have no more material
wealth than I had twenty-five years ago.

" But in regard to the future I stipulate or solicit nothing. In view
of my labours during the last twenty-four years and upwards, my age of

nearly sixty-six years, and my voluntary retirement from my position,
I believe the Government and Legislature of the country will do what
is just and honorable, and I ask no more. I am still willing to do what
I can to advance the chief work of my life, and if it is thought I may
be useful in connection with the Council of Public Instruction, I will be
happy to do what I can in that capacity, as also (released from the
cares and duties of ofl&ce) to contribute to the school and other litera-
ture of the country, and to aid, if desired, the proposed minister of
public instruction, with any counsel my experience may enable me to

give.

" As to the time and manner of giving effect to the foregomg sugges-
tions in regard to the department or my own resignation, I defer entirely
to the convenience of the Government and the judgment of the Governor

in Council.

*' I have the honour to be, &c.,

(Signed,) "E. RYEESON.

"Th Hon. M. C. Cameron, M.P.P.,

' Secretary of the Province, Toronto."

■II