46 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



The state of the country was not now such as would admit of com- 

 promise on any of the questions at issue, and just after the opening of 

 the next session of the Legislature, Sir John Colborne obtained his recall 

 and was succeeded by Sir Francis Bond Head. In taking leave, Sir 

 John Colborne merely assured the Legislature that the King would give 

 prompt attention to the wishes of the two Houses, and give effect to 

 " any measure which might be agreed on by them," an assurance which 

 probably covered a little sarcasm. A week later when Sir Francis Bond 

 Head assumed the Government, he, as instructed, expressed regret at 

 the differences of opinion between the Legislative Council and the House 

 of Assembly, and tendered the mediation of the King between them, 

 saying "' that with the previous assent of both Houses, the King will 

 cheerfully resume the consideration of the question in what manner a 

 constitution could be most conveniently prepared so as to promote the 

 interests of science and literature and the study of theology and moral 

 philosophy, with due regard to the opinions which seem to prevail in 

 the House respecting the proper constitution and objects of a university.'^ 



In consequence the bill of the previous year was again passed by the 

 House and again rejected by the Council. The proposal of the latter 

 body that the two Houses should compromise on the charter which had 

 been prepared by Sir John Colborne, with the addition of a Presby- 

 terian professor of theology failed to meet with acceptance. With tho 

 summer of 1836 there came a crisis in the affairs of the province result- 

 ing in the dissolution of the House of Assembly and an appeal of the 

 Lieutenant Governor and his Council to the people. In this election, the 

 dread of impending rebellion and the influence of men who favoured 

 moderate measures, resulted in a majority favourable to the Lieutenant 

 Governor. 



The new House met in the autumn, and a select committee composed 

 largely of Conservatives was appointed to consider the affairs of King's 

 College. In a short time they reported a draft of a bill for the amend- 

 ment of the charter, the bill was read a second and third time on the 

 3rd and 4th of January, 1837, sent up to the Legislative Council, and by 

 them referred to a select committee. The committee returned a very 

 elaborate j-eport reviewing the entire legislative history of the university 

 charter, condemning the amendment bills of 1835 and 1836, expressing 

 doubts as to the right of the Legislature to interfere with a Eoyal Char- 

 ter, asserting the vested rights of the corporation created under that 

 charter, proposing some modifications, but finally giving a qualified 

 assent to the bill. This report, evidently in large part the work of the 

 Archdeacon of York, presents the case for an established church and for 

 a university controlled by that Church with all the vigour and thorough- 

 ness with which he was so richly endowed. It is a complete epi- 



