both magnetical and meteorological phenomena; the reports of which are of a highly valuable character.

Previous to his return to England, Colonel Lefroy.suggested the establishment of meteorological stations in connection with the grammar schools of Upper Canada. In 1853, an act was passed authorizing their establishment; and in 1855 the Rev. Dr. Ryerson, chief superintendent of education, selected the instruments and completed the arrangements for giving effect to the act in this particular. Up to the end of 1862, eighteen stations were established in connection with senior county grammar schools. The result thus far, however, has not been satisfactory, owing to a defect in the law in not directly providing a specific remuneration for taking and recording the observations.

The Astronomical Observatory, at Kingston, was established in 1855, by means of private subscriptions and a grant from the city corporation. It now receives an annual grant from the legislature. In 1861, it was transferred by deed from the Corporation to the University of Queen's College. It contains an equatorial, a reflecting telescope, and a transit and clock.

7. Museums.

A museum of a greater or less extent exists in connection with all the colleges in Upper Canada, and with some of the other institutions.

The museum connected with the University of Toronto and University College is the most valuable and extensive. It contains nearly one hundred specimens mammalia, affording examples of most of the orders, and including some rare and highly interesting species, besides skulls, horns. Of birds, there are nearly one thousand species, including a very large proportion of the native birds, and illustrations of most of the recognized tribes, besides many eggs and Of reptiles, there are about seventy species, and of fishes there are about one hundred and fifty, with skeletons,

nests.

There are some good crustacea, a few arachnida, and an extensive and valuable series of insects, illustrative of the received divisions, and including many rare and beautiful species. There is an extensive series, including several thousand specimens, of the shells of molluscous animals,— land, fresh-water, and marine, amongst which will be found nearly all the North American land shells, and there are some good echinodermata and zoophyta. In botany, there is a collection including about six thousand species, among which will be found most of our native plants. Some progress has been made in mounting and arranging them. The University Museum of Mineralogy and Geology has been but recently established. Already, however, upwards of six thousand specimens, with various instruments, casts, and models, have been received from Europe, and a special Canadian collection, increased by valuable additions from the collection of the provincial geologists, is now under arrangement.

The museums in Victoria College, Cobourg, and in Queen's College, Kingston, embrace a collection of Canadian and other minerals and fossils; that in Trinity College, Toronto, contains various natural history, mineralogical, and geological specimens. The museum in the Canadian Institute, Toronto, is more varied, and includes numerous specimens of natural history and geology, with Indian and other relics. The museum connected with the educational department for Upper Canada contains some specimens of Canadian natural history and of Nova Scotian geology. It also contains an extensive collection of copies of Italian, Dutch, and Flemish paintings, and of statuary casts. Various smaller museums exist in different parts of the country. 8. Libraries.

Not only do our collegiate and most of our other public institutions possess a library, but many of the public schools have also within the last few years established them for the

benefit of the pupils and rate-payers. As an approximation to the number of volumes in the libraries named, we insert the following table compiled from the best sources at our command:

In connection with the foregoing, it may be interesting to show what has been the extent of the demand for books in Canada during the last twelve years. The facts are highly encouraging, and speak well for the prevalence of an enlightened literary taste and growing intelligence among the various classes of the people.

The following statistical table, which has been compiled from the trade and navigation returns for the province, shows the gross value of printed books (not maps or school apparatus) imported into Canada during the twelve years specified, as follow,

In

Up to 1854, the trade and navigation returns give the value on books entered at every port of Canada separately; after that year, the reports give the names of the principal ports only, and enumerating the rest as other ports. 1854, (a fair average year,) the proportion entered in Lower Canada was within a fraction of a third part of the whole; and, accordingly, in compiling this table for the years 185561, the value entered in other ports is divided between Upper and Lower Canada, in the proportion of two-thirds to the former and one-third to the latter.

CHAPTER IX.

ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY AIDS TO EDUCATION. It is not easy to form an estimate of the number or extent of these additional supplementary aids to education in Upper Canada. They are very numerous and diversified, and are difficult to classify. In a summary sketch like this, no aid to education however humble, should be overlooked; for each in its place performs an important function, and contributes materially to the progress of knowledge and intelligence among the people.

Among these additional supplementary aids we may enumerate the following, although we can, in many cases, scarcely classify them, or estimate their number:

1. The religious, educational, literary, scientific, and sec

ular press; 2. Bible and tract societies; 3. Religious meetings, sermons, and lectures; 4. Mercantile library associa tions and reading rooms; 5. Agricultural and horticultural associations, and their exhibitions; 6. Youthful asylums and similar benevolent institutions.

These all perform their duty silently and effectively. Separately they are diverse, both in their character and operations; but, combined, they form an active supplementary agency in the after-training of an individual. They cultivate his intellect, call forth his benevolence, promote his taste, extend the range of his sympathies, and give an additional interest to his daily life. Each one, also, having a definite object of pursuit, or taste, or benevolence, give a concentration of purpose or effort, and thus supply a want which mere educational training could not furnish.

Upper Canada is yet in comparative infancy, but she may well be proud of her educational resources. They are princely in their character and priceless in their worth. They demonstrate that her inner life is vigorous and active; and that if she fails in her high destiny, as the brightest colonial jewel in the crown of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen; the fault rests with herself.

As these resources have accumulated and have come down to us in such rich abundance, let us sacredly guard them and seek to extend their value and usefulness. Taking warning by other nations, let us neither dwarf their growth nor extinguish their light; but, through God's blessing, let us transmit them undiminished and unimpaired to our sons who must soon come after us.

PART THIRD CHAPTER I.

VARIOUS ENDOWMENTS AND SUMS AVAILABLE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES IN UPPER CANADA.

1. THE EDUCATIONAL LANDS ENDOWMENT.

THROUGH the munificence of the King and others, the following lands were set apart for the objects named: