Part 73 (2/2)

Pantelioni had been recalled to Ro of Italy, and appointed to the head of all the Roman Hospitals

In a letter from Dr Ryerson dated London, 30th October, 1857, he said: ”On the 28th inst itnessed the consecration of Dr Cronyn as Bishop of Huron, and were afterwards invited to lunch with the Archbishop of Canterbury Several bishops were present Afterwards ith Dr

Cronyn to Woolwich, and dined with him at his son-in-law's (Col

Burrows)”

FOOTNOTES:

[147] These evening parties are conversazioni on a small scale There were no suppers, but cups of tea and biscuits, chiefly for ladies; the gentleloves or sit down, but kept their hats in their hands or under their arms We were introduced to, and conversed with various parties Lady Grey seemed to be ubiquitous, and to know everybody, and to make all feel at home She is theof General Grey, and is said to have been in early days a belle and bright star in the highest London society

CHAPTER LVIII

1859-1862

Denoes and the University Controversy

One of the ed was that on behalf of the Denoes of Upper Canada

Unfortunately, at various stages of the discussion, the controversy partook largely of a personal character This prevented that clear, calm, and dispassionate consideration of the whole of this important question to which it was entitled, and hence, in one sense, no good result accrued Such a question as this orthy of a better fate For at that stage of our history it was a htful, earnest and practical solution--a solution of which it was then capable, had it been taken up by wise, far-seeing and patriotic statesmen But the opportunity was unfortunately lost; and in the anxiety in soive practical effect to somewhat like the comprehensive university scheme of the Hon Robert Baldwin, of 1843, failed Mr Baldwin's proposal of that year was defeated by the defenders of King's College, as a like scheme of twenty years later was defeated by the champions of the Toronto University The final result of the painful struggle of 1859-1863 was in effect as follows:--

1 Things were chiefly left in _statu quo ante bellue principle; and that principle was ees with university poere y were infused into the denoes

5 Apathy and indifference prevailed (and, to so the adherents of the Provincial University

I have already stated that the issues raised in the memorable university contest of 1859-1863 were important So they were, as after events have proved The question, however, was unfortunately decided twenty years ago, not by an independent, impartial and disinterested tribunal, but by the parties in possession, whose judgment in the case would naturally be in their own favour Besides, members of the Government at the tilad, under the shelter of official statements and opinions, to escape collision with such powerful bodies as the Wesleyan Methodists and the Church of Scotland

This discussion originated in the presentation to the Legislature of a memorial from the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, prepared by Dr

Ryerson, dated Noveislature in passing the Provincial University Act of 1853, clearly proposed and avowed a threefold object First, the creation of a University for exarees in the Faculties of Arts, Law, and Medicine Secondly, the establishment of an elevated curriculum of University education, conforland Thirdly, the association with the Provincial University of the several colleges already established, and which ht be established, in Upper Canada, with the Provincial University, the saes of different denominations in Great Britain and Ireland are affiliated to the London University--placed as they are upon equal footing in regard to and aid froard to the composition of the Senate, and the appointment of examiners

In the promotion of these objects the Conference and members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church cordially concurred; and at the firstof the University Act, the Senatorial Board of Victoria College adopted the prograiate studies established by the Senate of the London University, and referred to in the Canadian Statute But it soon appeared that the Senate of the Toronto University, instead of giving effect to the liberal intentions of the Legislature, detere, in contradistinction and to the exclusion of all others, to establish a e alone; so al quorue, one of whom is invariably one of the two exarees, honors, and scholarshi+ps The curriculu elevated and conformed to that of the London University, has been revised and changed three times since 1853, and reduced by options and otherwise belohat it was formerly, and belohat it is in the British Universities, and belohat it is in the best colleges in the United States The effect of this narrow and anti-liberal course is, to build up one College at the expense of all others, and to reduce the standard of a University degree in both Arts and Medicine belohat it was before the passing of the University Act in 1853

Instead of confining the expenditure of funds to what the law prescribed--namely, the ”current expenses,” and such ”perht be necessary for the purposes of the University and University College--new buildings have been erected at an expenditure of some hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the current expenses of the College have been increased far beyond what they were in foration on this subject

Your memorialists therefore subhtened intentions of the Legislature in passing the University Act been fulfilled--a splendid but unjustbeen created, instead of a liberal and elevated systees of the country

A Provincial University should be what its naislature--a body equally unconnected with, and equally ie should be placed on equal footing in regard to public aid according to its works, irrespective of place, sect, or party

It is as unjust to propose, as it is unreasonable to expect, the affiliation of several colleges in one University except on equal terms There have been ample funds to enable the Senate to submit to the Governive effect to the liberal intentions of the Legislature in the accomplishment of these objects; but the Senate has preferred to becoe to the exclusion of all others, and to absorb and expend the large and increasing funds of the University, instead of allowing any surplus to accueneral promotion of academical education, as contemplated and specifically directed by the statute Not only has the annual income of the University endowment been reduced some thousands of pounds per annus not contemplated by the Act, but a portion of those expenditures is for the erection of lecture-rooms, &c, for the Faculties of which the Act expressly forbids the establishment!