was set on foot to raise the sum of Three Hundred pounds, (£300,) as a New Year's gift from the Congregation. In 1845, there is an account of a presentation to the Reverend Doctor Robert McGill of a Breakfast Tea Set of solid silver, on the occasion of his leaving for Montreal, where he was Minister of St. Paul's Church there for many years.

On pages 271-273 of the Third Volume of this Documentary History will be found an elaborate Letter from Mr. McGill on the state and needs of the District Grammar and Common Schools of Upper Canada, dated the 20th of December, 1839.*

THE REVEREND ROBERT MCGILL'S "NOTE" TO HIS SEVEN LETTERS.

The preceding Seven Letters, written at their respective dates, were sent to the Honourable Gentleman to whom they are addressed, and who was pleased to express a general concurrence in the views and opinions contained in them.

The Appendix and Notes promised . . . were intended to embrace extracts from various public and official documents explanatory of the movements in which Queen's College originated, and of its actual condition and prospects, as the writer viewed them, when these letters were written. It is found, however, that the extracts would be too voluminous to be inserted here.

INEXPEDIENCY OF THE PREMATURE APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSORS.

The Reverend Doctor Liddell, who had been appointed Principal of Queen's College by the Colonial Committee of the Church of Scotland, arrived in Canada, in January, 1842; and, after a short session, which commenced in March, he returned to Scotland, and was there when these Letters were written. Had the writer's views been entertained by all parties concerned, the Reverend Principal Liddell would have continued in the United Kingdom for a year or more, advocating the cause of Queen's College, securing that endowment for our Divinity Chair, for which the General Assembly's Committee in Scotland had virtually pledged itself;-collecting a Library, and other requisites for the success of our object. The Reverend Peter Colin Campbell's call to the discharge of the duties of Professor of Languages, which would not be regarded as otherwise than temporary, and which, in the circumstances of the case, ought not to have been made at all, would not have prevented him from returning to his Pastoral charge. The writer ascribes to this hasty and ill-advised step-a step that led subsequently to a series of false movements, the results of which aggravate our present embarrassments,—(1), that we are now without any secure and permanent endowment for the Divinity Chair in Queen's College derived from subscriptions on which we counted from Scotland ;-(2), that large expenses have been incurred by Professors' salaries, when there was no adequate number of students prepared to enter the College ;-(3), that the capital fund has been diminished, contrary to the pledges given to the subscribers; and (4), that such unpopularity has fallen upon the Institution as will render it impossible to collect the instalments that may be still due.

The writer had hoped also that it would be in his power to present an abstract of the financial affairs of the College, and of the attendance during each Session respectively on the different classes. These matters, he is persuaded, when they are fully enquired into, will corroborate the opinions he has expressed in these Letters, and at various times to the Board of Trustees, that the Literary Department of the College ought not, in the circumstances, to have been commenced, and that the appointment of two Professors to this Department has been, and still is, a source of embarrassment and wasteful expenditure.

THE AMENDED CHARTER OF KING'S COLLEGE.

From the views expressed in Letter VII on the amended Charter of King's College, the writer has seen no reason to depart. If, in spite of its liberal provision, that Institution has assumed a decidedly sectarian character, the fault lies with the Government, and it alone is to

* In the "Short History of the Presbyterian Church of the Dominion of Canada, from the Earliest to the Present Time," by the Reverend William Gregg, M. A., D.D., I could find no reference to the Reverend Robert McGill.

+ For a personal reference to the Reverend Doctor Liddell, see pages 83, 215 and 218 of the Fourth Volume of this Documentary History.

For this reference to the Reverend Peter Colin Campbell's duties, see page 216 of the Fourth Volume of this Documentary History. For a personal reference to him, see page 83 of that Volume.

blame for the prevailing discontent and the clamour for further change, in order to the corre ction of a grievous mal-administration. What avails a just and liberal Charter, if it be not carried out in a just and liberal spirit? In the absence of this, even Mr. Baldwin's or Mr. Draper's Bill* might not greatly improve the condition of King's College.

The writer abstains from saying anything on the present position of Queen's College. The ship is on the rocks. Whether she can be brought safely off, and afterwards made anything of, will depend on the wisdom of those who may come on board.

MONTREAL, 12th August, 1846.

ROBERT MCGILL.

LETTER I.-Desire for an UNRESTRAINED AND CONFIDENTIAL CONFERENCE WITH THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM MORRIS.

In the opening part of this Letter, Mr. McGill stated that he went to the Meeting of the Trustees of Queen's College,

"In the hope of an unrestrained and confidential conference with [the Honourable William Morris] on the condition and prospects of that Institution."

"Its affairs, at this very momentous crisis in its history, require the most careful and deliberate counsel on the part of those who are constituted its legal guardians. Permanent results for good, or evil, are often consequent on primary measures, and, as, in my humble judgment, the Board has taken one or two false steps, from which inconvenience and detriment may arise, I should have been glad of an opportunity of explaining to you personally my objections.

...

I am sure you will, therefore, with candid consideration, excuse me for troubling you with a written statement of my views.

Too GREAT HASTE IN COMMENCING THE TEACHING DEPARTMENT OF THE COLLEGE.

At the outset, then, permit me the freedom to express my opinion, and I do it with all deference, and with great esteem and affection for every individual comprising it, that the Board has been much too eager in hurrying on the commencement of the teaching department. To open classes in the beginning of March, unexpectedly, and with little previous notification, when the state of the roads and the interruption of water communication rendered it impossible for young men at a distance to proceed to Kingston,-when no plan of the Course of Instruction had been fixed upon, or published,-when even the ordinary class-books could not be procured,when neither library nor apparatus existed, so essential to instruction in the higher branches of education, when it was known that, with all these disadvantages, the Session could not continue more than three, or four, months,-with these circumstances before me, I cannot help thinking that the commencement which we have made has been premature and injudicious.

Our ill-success justifies this conclusion. Some dozen of matriculated students, at stages of advancement so varied that they cannot be classified, and a few boys who, with much advantage to themselves, and at less expense to their parents, might have remained at the local Schools, in which they had been placed, compose the first catalogue of the sucklings of Queen's,—their Alma Mater.

Our proceedings in the matter, while they have entailed a very considerable expense, without any equivalent advantage, are at variance with Resolutions that have previously been passed at full meetings of the Board, and which ought not to have been reversed, except by a meeting equally full, and after the most mature deliberation.

I would scarcely have ventured to advert to these circumstances were it not that I believe our future course of proceeding may be injuriously affected by them, and that it is not too late to apply a remedy. The Principal [Liddell] has declared to the Board that the requisite classes

*The full text of the Baldwin University Bill of 1843 will be found on pages 61-87 of the Fifth Volume of this Documentary History; and the text of the Draper three-fold Bill is printed on pages 159-166 of the same Volume.

cannot be conducted, unless two additional Professors be appointed and ready to unite with him in October ;-and this, he says, at the very least, is required to constitute anything worthy of the name of a professional staff.

When

But, Sir, we have not the funds to defray the salaries of two additional Professors. the instalments due in May are paid in, we may perhaps be prepared to support one other, but by taking this step, there will remain with the Treasurer not a fraction for Building, for a Library and other requisites. In this state of affairs, I hereby submit that we should pause.

DELAY IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE-FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE.

...

In the prosecution of so great a work, there is no dishonour in thus being called to halt, until we acquire additional resources for an onward movement. In the foundation of Colleges, as of cities, a breathing interval of years is often indispensable. Let me then submit to you that in my judgment we ought not to contemplate the opening of another Session of Queen's College in October next.

Were the Board to resolve upon this delay, the services of the Principal and Professor P. C. Campbell might, during the suspension of teaching, be turned to much better account than they are at present, or than they are likely to be, even on the most favourable supposition, during next winter.

The Principal, on his return to Scotland, might prolong his stay and advocate our cause there and in the Sister Kingdoms, with much advantage to the ultimate prosperity of the Institution. As the Head of Queen's College, provided he were at liberty to devote himself to this work for twelve or fifteen months, he might succeed in awakening an interest in its favour, which would issue in something more substantial than any aid we have yet obtained from the parent Church in Scotland. Possessed as he is of great tact and energy, we might indulge the hope that he would bring back with him no only such funds as would, with the Provincial contributions, enable us to provide for two additional Professors, but also such a collection of Books and Instruments, as the character of such an Institution demands. Mr. Campbell, in the meantime, might be employed with the same object in Canada. Under Mr. Campbell's management we might look for such a replenishing of the exchequer as would enable us to begin the Session of 1843 under better auspices.

ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGE OF DELAY IN RESUMING WORK,

The proposed delay, necessary as I think, to avert from us the charge of proceeding without due deliberation. would moreover afford us leisure to bring some other suspended questions ROBERT MCGILL.

to a fair settlement.

NIAGARA, 24th of May, 1842.

LETTER II.-FINANCIAL RESULTS MUST BE A TEST OF SUCCESS IN

FOUNDING QUEEN'S COLLEGE.

The actual result of our solicitations for support to Queen's College since its claims were first brought before the public, may enable us to judge, perhaps with tolerable accuracy, what shall be the total success of our first effort for its establishment.

Two or three years must elapse ere this first movement shall be completed, and the fruits of it fully gathered in; and, although the sum that may even then be realized, may come far short of what a few of the sanguine advocates of this Institution anticipated, yet we are assured that it will greatly exceed the amount reckoned on by many who were disposed to very sober and cautious calculations.

LIBERAL SUBSCRIPTIONS IN CANADA FOR QUEEN'S COLLEGE, 1841-3.

That, within the short space of two years, and amid the many difficulties under which this Province was labouring, we should have collected £10,000, and have outstanding subscriptions to nearly an equal amount is certainly no doubtful evidence of the hearty good-will and liberality of the friends of the College;-and, should an efficient Agency be appointed both for Canada and Britain, there is every reason to hope that our subscriptions, within two or three years, might amount to £25,000.

In venturing to express such a hope, I am quite aware, Sir, that the large and wealthy Cities, upon which in such undertakings we must always mainly depend, as Quebec for instance,

and Montreal, Kingston and Toronto, have already paid over large sums, and that the instalments due in those places are pretty well forestalled; yet . . . I believe that the Trustees may return again and again to many of the wealthy contributors in these cities, and, previded we can show a judicious disbursement of funds, and a proportionate attainment of the grand object for which the Institution has been founded we shall not be sent empty away.

NOT SO CERTAIN AS TO FINANCIAL AID IN SCOTLAND.

In regard to the Parent Country, I can scarcely form a conjecture what an efficient Agent might accomplish there. The perplexed state of ecclesiastical affairs, the depression of manufactures, together with our great distance, and the little knowledge that is diffused in Scotland of the want and claims of this Colony, might probably render it difficult to call forth much general liberality in support of a College in Canada; yet, we might surely expect from the numerous mercantile houses more immediately connected with this Country very considerable

assistance.

OUR NEXT FINANCIAL EFFORTS MUST BE IN THE FUTUre.

It is not to be imagined that those who have already contributed liberally, and perhaps up to the extent of their means, will bear soon to be solicited again for the same object; they have done their part.

The second effort must be left to a new generation, and, perhaps we do not specify too great an interval when we say, that it ought not to be attempted within twenty years. When this cycle has revolved, there will be another race in Canada and with ampler resources. It is our duty, meanwhile, to manage wisely, for present necessities, the sum entrusted to our disposal. If it should amount to £25,000, of which £5,000 may possibly be transferred to us in the shape of books, £20,000 will be available as a source of revenue and for buildings; with this sum, (stated I fear as a maximum), we shall be required to carry on the whole business of the University for the next twenty years.

THE COLLEGE BUILDINGS MUST BE DEFFered.

The plan of College edifices, for which the Trustees awarded their highest premium, cannot be executed at an expense less than £20,000, and, though it were deemed practicable to carry on the business of the College for twenty years, with the ere tion of only one-half of the buildings on the proposed plan, even this would require an expenditure quite incompatible with other necessary demands.

ESTIMATED CURRENT EXPENSES OF THE COLLEGE.

In supposing that the Scottish Church Assembly's Committee shall continue to pay the Principal's Salary for the period specified, a condition for which we have no guarantee, the maintenance of other three Professors, without whom, as the Principal states, the objects of a University cannot be attained, would require an investment of at least £15,000; and should there be added to this a further investment of £5,000 for incidental charges, -a sum certainly not too large. The entire proceeds of our first effort will be absorbed by our teaching department alone.

WHAT IS NECESSARY TO CONSTITUTE A UNIVERSITY WE HAVE NOT GOT.

But, unless there be four Professors, besides the Principal, the College Senate cannot be so constituted as to confer Degrees; and, if it were declared that there is no prospect of its being so constituted for twenty years to come, and that no Degrees could be conferred on successful students during that long period, I fear, even though it be admitted that this is not a Country in which academical honours are unduly estimated, that it would make our Halls but thinly attended. Students will generally prefer Institutions where all the customary advantages and honours are enjoyed, while the infant College, even though honoured with a Royal Charter, straitened in its resources ani struggling with difficulties, will be passed by, even by such as sincerely wish it were in a more prosperous condition.

The abilities and learning of Professors, however eminent, are placed in circumstances of extreme disadvantage, without Buildings, Books, Apparatus, Museum, and whatever else is necessary to a Seat of Learning. But Queen's College is destitute of all these appliances, and, having no very certain, or immediate prospect of obtaining them on a suitable scale, it seems to me as if it were beginning its career like a tender exotic, exposed to the severest of our biting north winds.

EXTREME CAUTION NECESSARY UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.-ALTERNATIVE.

If these views of our financial prospects be correct, we could have little claim to the merit of discretion were we to commence the erection of College edifices. The only alternative, therefore, remaining, provided it were resolved on to bring the College into immediate operation with four Professors, would be to make another attempt to rent some Building until the time for a second effort to enlarge our funds should have arrived. It does not appear, however, that any building can be found in Kingston at all adapted to our object. I confess I do not regret the failure of the negotiations to effect a lease of [the General Hospital, or the Archdeacon's House.] We should, on the expiry of the three years lease have been constrained to seek after some new tabernacle for the muses, and the few disciples who might be inclined to follow them, notwithstanding their houseless condition. Besides, in the state of our funds, the abstraction of £300 annually for rent is quite out of all proportion to our income. It would have obliged us to break in upon our capital.

I am sure, Sir, I fully sympathize with the Trustees in their eagerness to bring Queen's College into early operation. I acknowledge myself to have been one of the sanguine projectors, who anticipated much greater things than have been actually attained; and I have endeavoured, in my advocacy of this undertaking, to represent the sad evils resulting to the best interests of this Province from the want of a University, at which the youth destined for public and professional life might obtain a liberal education, -but in this, as happens in many a human scheme, the course of events does not run according to our wishes, calls on us to search about for a practical opening in some new direction.

NIAGARA, 26th of May, 1842.

and wisdom

ROBERT MCGILL.

LETTER III.-THE ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS THAT QUEENS SHOULD BE A THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ONLY.

At the commencement of this movement, in which Queen's College has resulted, nothing more I think, was contemplated by the originators than the establishment of a Theological Seminary to fill up the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. The idea of founding an Institution that could be entitled to the name of a University, or that could present all of its advantages was too magnificent a Scheme to be entertained by the cautious and practical men who took the first part in calling attention to this subject.

PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF FOUNDING A SEPARATE UNIVERSITY IN CANADA.

Such an undertaking, at least to those who have formed their ideas of it upon European models, is only for wealthy and ancient Nations, and is quite beyond the reach of settlers contending with all the difficulties of a recent Colony-and, far more impracticable, if a fraction only of their number can, because of religious diversities, be induced to support the measure. For, even though it be attempted on the smallest scale, a large capital must necessarily be invested for the purpose; and, in Canada, where capital is so limited, where there are few individuals of great wealth from whom material assistance could be obtained, where the Presbyterian Community, upon whom we mainly depend, is so widely scattered that it is next to an impossibility to concentrate their liberality on one great object,-if it were to succeed at all, it can only be after many long years of unusual sacrifice and laborious exertion.

Yet, sir, I am fully persuaded, and no man can be a better judge of the fact than yourself, that such a spirit animates the Presbyterian Community in this land, that were it not for the continual demands made upon the surplus of their industry for local objects, we should have made a very close appropriation, even in our first effort, to the complete attainment of our wishes in the permanent foundation of a University.

WHAT ARE THOSE CONTINUAL DEMANDS UPON OUR PEOPLE?

They must expend their labour for years, and whatever capital they have brought hither, in clearing away these primeval forests; they must construct Roads and Bridges; they must build Houses and Barns. Every little neighb urhood must combine for the erection of a School-House and maintenance of a Teacher; in localities more densely peopled, a Church must be erected and a Minister supported, in almost every case at a charge very burdensome, as compared with the disposable means of the parties. These urgent and local demands will always take the precedence of those made for a distant and general object. It is just and right