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COPYRIGHT SECURED.

Entered in pursuance of the provisions of an Act of the Legislature of the Province of Canada, 4 and 5 Victoria, Cap. 61, in the office of the Registrar of the Province, at Toronto, April, 1852, by Henry Melville.

PREFACE.

THE only merit claimed for this Work, is due to the industry required for the compilation of the materials of which it is principally composed, and the care bestowed upon its preparation for, and progress through the Press.

The motive which induced its publication, was a desire to preserve in a compact and more permanent form, than that in which they already existed, the various documents, which had from time to time appeared in the public Journals, connected with the establishment of this noble institution and the several interesting ceremonies which have marked its progress.

Such a memorial of their Christian exertions on behalf of Religious education, and of the untiring and successful championship of our Venerable Diocesan, it was hoped, would prove acceptable to the promoters of the enterprise in the Province, and the Church at large.

In connecting the narrative of these interesting circumstances, it was impossible to avoid all comment on the causes which instigated the movement for the establishment of a Church University, or the obstacles which have been

encountered in carrying out the design. For the opinions expressed in these commentaries the compiler alone is responsible. He is under many obligations to the Lord Bishop for permission to use the various documents here published, as well as for the most important information. and assistance in the preparation of the book. To the Honourable Chief Justice Robinson and the Venerable Archdeacon Bethune, his acknowledgments are due for permission to use their respective manuscripts, and for several valuable suggestions. To the Reverend Provost Whittaker he would also express his thanks for a similar favour; and to the Reverend R. J. Macgeorge, for material aid in the completion of the undertaking.

Not the least attractive part of the publication remains to be noticed. The Biographical Memoir of the Lord Bishop, which is incorporated with this history, has been prepared from the most authentic sources; and is offered as a tribute of respect to those who know how to appreciate his sterling character, his benevolence and pastoral care, and who cherish the remembrance of long years of personal friendship and communion with him.

INTRODUCTION.

THE earliest records of Collegiate Institutions afford convincing evidence, that they sprung from an earnest desire entertained by learned and enterprising men, to disseminate among others the knowledge they had acquired after careful and fruitful study; and to awaken and promote an appetite and love for those literary pursuits which they had found so captivating and beneficial. In carrying out so noble and philanthrophic a design, they associated themselves for the purpose of delivering public instruction, to all who were desirous of embracing the opportunity and advantage thus offered to them. The schools then formed, became the models on which the establishments of future ages were founded by public authority, under the style of Universities.

The relative antiquity of the several schools of this early period has been the cause of much learned and keen controversy. Whether Paris or Bologna should take precedence, or whether Oxford and Cambridge should not share in the renown of being the first pioneers of learning with their Continental contemporaries, although a question of peculiar interest to the antiquarian Scholar, is not altogether relevant to our present purpose. The principal and important points which we seek to establish are, that from their commencement, these institutions have been recog

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