Transactions of The Royal Society of Canada 



SECTION II 

 Series III JUNE AND SEPTEMBER 1918 Vol. XII 



The Genesis of the University of New Brunswick. 



With a Sketch of the Life of William Brydone-Jack, A.M., D.C.L. 



President from 1861-1885. 



By Archdeacon W. O. Raymond, LL.D., F.R.S.C, 



(Read May Meeting, 1918) 



There may be seen on the walls of the library of the University, 

 in Fredericton, the original of a memorial to the first Governor of 

 New Brunswick on the subject of the establishment at the provincial 

 capital of "an Academy, or School of Liberal Arts and Sciences." 

 The memorial reads as follows : — 



To His Excellency Thomas Carleton, Esquire, Governor, Captain-General and 

 Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New Brunswick and the territories 

 thereunto belonging, Vice Admiral, Chancellor, etc., etc.: 



Your memorialists, whose names are hereunto subscribed, beg leave to represent 

 and state to your consideration the necessity and expediency of an early attention 

 to the establishment in this Infant Province of an Academy, or School of Liberal 

 Arts and Sciences. 



Your Excellency need not be reminded of the many peculiarities attending 

 the settlement of this country. The settlement of other Provinces has generally 

 originated in the voluntary exertions of a few enterprising individuals, unincumbered 

 and prosecuting their labour at their leisure and as they found it convenient and 

 most for their advantage. Far different is the situation in which the loyal adven- 

 turers here find themselves. Many of them upon removing had sons, whose time 

 of life and former hopes call for an immediate attention to their education. Many 

 publick advantages and many conveniences would result to individuals could this 

 be effected within this Province, the particulars of which it is unnecessary to enumerate. 



Your memorialists do therefore most earnestly request your Excellency will 

 be pleased to grant a Charter for the establishing and founding such an Academy — 

 that proper persons be appointed Trustees, and duly authorized in a corporate 

 capacity to superintend the establishment. That lands be granted to erect proper 

 buildings, and other lands be granted and appropriated for the use of the Academy; 

 particularly they pray for a part, or the whole, of the reserved lands in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Fredericksburg [Fredericton]. 



