1868.] .MISCELLANEOUS. 323 



a brilliant career at Oriel College, Oxford, where lie took a first- 

 class, and afterwards a fellowship, entered into educational and 

 literary pursuits as a tutor of Mereton College and a writer 

 of articles in the Reviews. Having attracted attention by the 

 ability displayed in the latter, he was appointed an Assistant 

 Poor Law Commissioner, and subsequently Chief Commissioner. 

 On the reconstruction of the Poor Law Board in 1847, he 

 received the government of New Brunswick, and in 1854 was 

 promoted to be the Governor-General of Canada, from which 

 office he retired in 1861. 



Both in New Brunswick and Canada Sir Edmund was, as 

 might have been expected, conspicuous as a patron of education, 

 literature, and science; and was remarkable, not only for his 

 readiness to give his countenance to every worthy undertaking, 

 but for the judicious advice which he gave, and his willingness to 

 devote time and thought to the consideration of the best means 

 for advancing the interests in view. 



In New Brunswick he more especially took a warm interest in 

 the Provincial University, then in a languishing condition ; and 

 procured the appointment of a Commission to inquire into its 

 deficiencies and difficulties, and the means for their remedy. The 

 labours of this Commission (which consisted of the Honble. J. H. 

 Gray of New Brunswick, Rev. Dr. Ryerson, Principal Dawson-then 

 Superintendent of Education in Nova Scotia,— and the Honbles. 

 J. H. Saunders and James Brown of New Brunswick) resulted in 

 the preparation of a scheme which, if fully carried out, would 

 have placed New Brunswick far in advance of the other colonies 

 m this respect, Sir Edmund was, however, soon after removed 

 to Canada, and the plan devised was only partially acted on ; but 

 it has already given a new stimulus to higher education in 

 New Brunswick, and has resulted in placing the University in a 

 very satisfactory condition. 



In Canada, though checked by the unsettled condition of 

 political affairs and by the want of sympathy with his large views 

 on the part of most of our public men, Sir Edmund did much for 

 the promotion of his own favourite pursuits and for laying the 

 foundation of a high educational culture. The educational 

 measures adopted during his administration all more or less bore 

 the impress of his mind, and the various Scientific and Literary 

 Societies, and the Geological Survey, owe much to his personal 

 influence. In this community, the McGill University, the 



