good, if there is any deliberate attempt at acknowledging its suf ficiency apart from the fear of God and the knowledge of the Gospel.

It is clear, however, that in an establishment like this, supported by the public funds, and admitting persons of various communions, there must be some modification of plan provided, some compromise allowed. And there are some, who may in consequence be inclined to refuse their co-operation, because they cannot have the entire management in their own hands, and everything at their own will. We cannot, however, stand still; we must be doing something for the education of the people; and I conceive that it is our wisdom to do it practically, as best we can, with the means offered to us. And while I protest against the ignoring religion, as the basis of all sound education, while at all times and on all occasions I shall reiterate that protest, and accept the present organization, not as in itself the best, but the best attainable one,-and while, by the arrangements provided, we seek to bring all the students in the school into some direct connection with ther clergymen and under specific religious training, I and those who act with me will endeavour, as far as any small portions of the task may depend upon us, in all good faith, to work out for the benefit of this Lower Province the objects of this Institution.

You, Sir, and the other gentlemen who have been interested in forming this Institution, have, I am well aware, wished to do justice to the work we have, during the last three years, when the ground was quite unoccupied, been trying to accomplish, in our own Normal and Model School in Bonaventure street; and it would have been both unwise, and injurious on our part, to have continued any rivalry, still more so any opposition to this more fully organized establishment; and you have paid a just tribute to the merits of Mr. Hicks, our late Head Master, by placing him over this Institution. Henceforth, Sir, it will be only by acting together in good faith that we can hope to see it prosper; and there will be need of much mutual forbearance and discretion in those who have the conduct of it, and also of that great grace of Christian charity, which thinketh no evil, is not ever ready to impute wrong motives and designs to others. And there will be especial need, when we are thus united together, that there shall be no

attempts, through any opportunities offered by means of this Institution, at making proselytes of any of the students to a different communion from the one to which they originally belonged. And I would wish to take this opportunity of recording my own judg ment of the very great injury that is so constantly done, by the injudicious and rash attempts which are often made to unsettle the faith of others. It may be a most laudable wish to make converts of all around us to our own faith, which we, each of us, I presume, think the true one; but it is far easier to shake our neighbour's faith, in what he has been brought up from a child, than to make a convert of him to our own creed. It requires not only much zeal, but also much self-denial, and discretion, and humility, to attempt such a work with hope of success, lest in seeking to give our brother a purer faith, we leave him with none at all. And while I hope that those engaged in this Institution will act in good faith one towards another, I trust the Church of England and the other religious communions, who have an especial interest in the McGill Normal School and the Protestant Schools throughout the Province, will continue to receive fair and liberal treatment, as compared with the Church of Rome. We are even, when thus associated together, but a small minority in this Lower Province; but we are, nevertheless, not an unimportant part of the community. Still, when it was decided to place the education of this portion of the Province under the direction of a single Superintendent, we could not have expected that he should have been selected from that minority. On this account we have no right to be dissatisfied; but I cannot but remember that while we are certainly at some possible risk and some disadvantage-some necessary compromise thus associated together, the schools provided for your own Church are left under the undivided charge of her own body. And more than this, besides the funds derived from the annual Parliamentary grants, the Church of Rome has had secured to her, by an act of the Government, very large endowments—one special object of which, by the very tenor of the grant, is the education of the people. We have, therefore, some right to expect that in the distribution of the annual Parliamentary grant, as some compensation, and to allay any possible discontent, especially as coming through a Superintendent who is of the faith of the majo

rity, that if there be any favor shown, the balance should rather be thrown on the side of the minority.

I am quite aware that you will have no easy task to fulfil in the administration of your office. Hitherto, as far as I can learn and my own observation has gone, you have given very general satisfaction to all reasonable minds. And, certainly, all must acknowledge the attention and energy and talent with which you have applied yourself to the work before you. At present, to the great credit of this portion of the Province, with which your office is connected, there is, I think, very generally, an exceedingly kind and good feeling between all classes of the population, consisting of such different races and different creeds—a state of things which, I hope, may long continue; and while I will leave others to note the progress that is making in commercial greatness, in arts and manufactures, I would wish to be able, if like be spared to us, to chronicle, as years pass by, the increasing success of these Institutions whose commencement you are now inaugurating, and the good effects of all our efforts in the cause of education; and above all, that while our people advance in intelligence and in worldly greatness, that intelligence may ever be sanctified by heavenly grace, and their earthly treasures far surpassed by those enduring riches which are being laid up in Heaven, not for the worldly wise or worldly mighty, but for the followers of the meek and lowly Jesus.

ADDRESS

DELIVERED AT THE

FIRST CONVOCATION OF THE UNIVERSITY

OF

BISHOP'S COLLEGE, LENNOXVILLE,

AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE ROYAL CHARTER,

JUNE 27TH, 1855.

MR. VICE-CHANCELLOR AND GENTLEMEN OF THIS CONVOCATION, Before proceeding with the more immediate execution of the task which devolves upon me this day, I must briefly state my sincere regret that a necessity has been laid upon me on this occasion to occupy a place, which we had all hoped would have been far more appropriately and efficiently filled by others. I have been myself for some weeks past engaged in holding a series of Confirmations in various parts of the Diocese of Montreal, having so arranged my several appointments that I might reach Lennoxville in order to be present and take my share in the important business and ceremonials with which, under our new Charter, we this day publicly inaugurate the meetings of the Convocation of "the University of Bishop's College." And it was only three days ago that a letter from the Rev. A. Mountain reached me at Brome, informing me that, in consequence of illness, it was quite impossible for the Bishop of Quebec-whom we justly esteem the Father of this Institution, and who was to have delivered the inaugural address —to be present; and not only so, but that another excellent and