[burwasu] a review OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO 83 



opportunity of considering them, and expressing tlieir views upon the 

 changes proposed, or devising in conjunction with representatives of 

 Victoria some new scheme in substitution for the present one. 



" Tlie present selienie, as you are aware, was not approved of in all its 

 details by any of the learned todies accepting it as a whole, but was so 

 accepted as a compromise of conflicting opinions and divers interests; 

 and I cannot conceal from myself that a reconsideration of the details 

 may not be without danger to the common object. I gathered from the 

 deputation that the point on which the Board feels the most anxiety is 

 as to the security there may be for the permanence of the university 

 professoriate, and it was proposed that something more than the vote 

 of a mere majority of the Senate should be required for the transfer of 

 subjects from the university professoriate to University College, and 

 vice versa. The permanence of the university professoriate is an essen- 

 tial part of the Confederation scheme, and hasty or questionable changes 

 are to be guarded against. Besides the vote of the Senate, confirmatioû 

 by the GrOvernor-in-Council would be necessary; and if the security of a, 

 two-thirds or three-fourths vote in the Senate should on consideration 

 be deemed important, I do not see any solid objection to this change. 



" For the reason already intimated, I do not at present remark on the 

 other alterations proposed by your Board, I hope that the Board will 

 look on them all as being of minor importance in relation to the prac- 

 tical working of federation, and as not essential to the adoption of so 

 important and comprehensive a measure as that under consideration. 

 For, looking at the scheme as a whole, I firmly believe that it will be 

 found well adapted to promote the efficiency of the University work of 

 our country, as well as to advance the religious and patriotic objects, 

 with a view to which the scheme was in part devised." 



The following is the letter of the Minister of Education referred to. 



Toronto, 8th May, 1886. 



My dear Dr. Nelles. — The Attomey-Greneral before he left for the 

 West read in Council a letter, which after reading he sent to you, 

 respecting federation. It was stated in this letter that you would hear 

 from me shortly thereafter in regard to a site in the park for your 

 university. The reason for a little delay in writing has been this. In 

 the case of Knox College, a previous Government had refused a site to 

 the trustees of that college notwithstanding their expressed willingness 

 to purchase at full market price. Subsequently the site for McMaster 

 Hall was paid for at the regular market price, and the site for Wycliffe 

 College was leased to the college at a rental. St. Michael's College 

 occupies a location outside the University grounds, procured without 



