[burwash] a RP:VIEW of the university of TORONTO 39 



interest in this project revived. At this date, the Eev. John Strachan, 

 M.A., Archdeacon of York, had by his abilities and energy secured a 

 position of commanding influence in the affairs of the province. He was 

 a member of the Executive Council of the Upper House, and, as presi- 

 dent of the Council of Education, was at the head of the school system 

 established by the Legislature. He devoted attention especially to mat- 

 ters of religion and education, and began to form plans for founding an 

 institution of higher learning in the province. 



In these projects he had the deep interest and warm sympathy of 

 Sir Peregrine Maitland, and in the year 1826 was commissioned to visit 

 England in order to secure two things necessary to this purpose : first 

 the exchange of the unproductive endowment for other lands in the set- 

 tled parts of the province such a,s might aiiord an immediate revenue; 

 second, a royal charter to give character and dignity to the new univer- 

 sity. In both objects he was successful ; he returned with the consent of 

 the Crown to exchange of lands and with a charter founding a uni- 

 versity in close connection with the Church of England. 



The majority of the inhabitants of the province were not, however, 

 Anglicans, and strenuous opposition was roused by this peculiarity of 

 the charter. In accordance with numerous petitions that the House 

 of Assembly should inquire into " the principle upon which a university 

 is to be established in the province," the House presented an address to 

 the Governor praying that a copy of the charter should be laid before 

 them, together with any information relating to the subject of the uni- 

 versity which it might be in His Excellency's power to communicate. 

 On the basis of the information obtained in this way, as well as from 

 Dr. Strachan's appeal to the " friends of religion and literature," a 

 select committee made a report, the nature of which will be evident 

 from the following extracts : " The sectarian character and tendency 

 of the institution will be manifest; the alarm and jealousy which this 

 circumstance will produce throughout the province," and which " it has 

 in some measure produced," will ^' prevent parents and guardians from 

 sending their children to it " and so " limit the benefits which might 

 otherwise be derived from the institution." '' To be of real service, the 

 principles upon which it is established must be in unison with the general 

 sentiments of the people. It should not be a school of politics, or of 

 sectarian views. It should have about it no appearance of partiality or 

 exclusion. Its portals should be thro^vn open to all, and upon none who 

 enter should any influence be exerted to attach them to any particular 

 creed or church;. . . most deeply therefore is it to be lamented that the 

 principles of the charter are calculated to defeat its usefulness and to- 

 confine to a favoured few all its advantages." 



