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wealth of the people and the demand for collegiate education. In this we follow in the footsteps of similar institutions in Britain. The University of Glasgow in 1450 began with one professor in Theology and three in philosophy. At the first foundation of the University of Edinburgh, only one professor was appointed, and he a minister of the city; nor was it until a considerable time had elapsed that he recieved six co-adjustors. Marischal College, Aberdeen, began with a principal and two professors. And the University of Cambridge, since so celebrated, emerged from nothing in the twelfth century, under no more promising auspices than an abbot and three monks, who hired a barn in a convenient place for public lectures, and when a crowded auditory compelled them, they dispersed to suitable apartments in different
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quarters of the town. With such examples before us we need not be discouraged by the smallest of our beginning or the difficulties that seem to cross our path. Let us rather hope, that if our Canadian college should resemble those ancient and celebrated seats of learning, in the lowness of its origin, it may hereafter rival them in the splendour of its career. Nor have we any cause to hide our heads on account of the means by which we propose to accomplish our object - the combined, extended contributions of our people. Those famous universities to which we have alluded arose chiefly from private munificence. In a few instances they were enriched by royal bounty - but they have been much more indebted to the liberality of private individuals." *** "When we consider the number of persons among us of bettered and improving circumstances, merchants, farmers, artizans, who are
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not indifferent to the cause of religion and education, we cannot fear that the subscriptions of even the highest classes in the schedule will be difficult to realize, and by an extended and active agency the lower and more numerous contribtuions might also by procured. Every child should be encourages and enabled by the favour of their parents to bring a stone for the erection of this fabric. Let even the hands of women prepare the drapery for the walls, and its colums and carvings be memorials of the dead."
The first public meeting of which we have any record, in response to this appeal of the Commission, was held in Toronto on December 10th, 1839. The following account of the meeting is from the British Colonist, of December 11th: - "Last night a meeting was held in St. Andrew's Church. Toronto, on the
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subject of the proposed college to be erected at Kingston, in connection with the Church of Scotland in Canada, the Hon. W. Morris, in the chair, and Mr. Hugh Scobie acting as secretary. On the platform we observed the Hon. James Crooks, John McDonald, E. W. Thomson Esq. M.P.P.; R.R. Hunter Esq. M.P.P.; James Morris Esq. M.P.P.; the Rev. Robert McGill, Moderator of Synod; the Rev. Alexander Gale, Clerk of Synod; the Rev. Messrs Leach, W. Rintoul, David Rintoul, James George, and E. Ryerson; Isaac Buchanan Esq., etc. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. W. Rintoul.
The meeting was addressed by the following gentlemen, successively, on the importance of the subject and the absolute necessity of the college being proceeded with. We regret our inability to give even the outline
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of their excellent addresses: The Rev.Robert McGill, the Rev. W. Rintoul, the Rev. James George, Edward Thompson Esq. M.P.P.; the Rev. D. Rintoul, Dr. Workman and the Rev. Alexander Gale.
The resolutions, on being put severally by the chairman, passed unanimously. They were as follows:
Moved by Rev. Robert McGill, Niagara, and seconded by the Hon. Wm Morris, Member of the Legislative Council -
1. That the circumstances of the Presbyterians in these Provinces require that means be adopted to afford them the benefit of a literary and scientific education, based on scriptural principles.
Moved by Rev. Wm. Rintoul, Streetsville, and seconded by Hon. John Macdonald -
2. That with the view of encouraging
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