98 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



The college was publicly opened on January 1st, 1829, and Sir 

 Howard Douglas installed as its first Chancellor. 



As originally built the edifice was of the proportions and design 

 represented in the Douglas gold medal, founded by His Excellency 

 at this time. Its cost was only £1L300 currency, a very moderate 

 sum considering the excellence of the work. In his opening address 

 Sir Howard observes: — 



"I shall ever rejoice that it has fallen to my lot to lay with my own hand the 

 corner stone of this building, and that I have been spared to witness its completion. 

 The architect of the material fabric has been careful to make his selections of the best 

 qualities and of materials the least perishable and to put them together with a 

 master hand." 



« 



The building was planned so as to admit of the addition of another 

 story, and in 1876, through Dr. Jack's efforts supported by the Uni- 

 versity Senate, another story with a fine central dome was added, 

 at a cost of S8,500.00. Again the sum seems very moderate in view 

 of the wonderful improvement in the appearance of the building and 

 the increased accommodation afforded. 



The first and only President of King's College was the Rev. 

 Edwin Jacob, D.D., who filled the position for thirty years. He was 

 a native of Gloucestershire, England, and sometime Fellow of Corpus 

 Christi College, Oxford. He entered on his duties at King's College, 

 October 19, 1829. In the assignment of work Dr. Jacob took the 

 chairs of Classics, History and Moral Philosophy: Rev. George Mc- 

 Cawley took the chairs of Logic, Mathematics and Hebrew; and Dr. 

 Somerville the chairs of Metaphysics and Divinity. 



A very interesting account of the opening of King's College and 

 the attendant ceremonies has been preserved.^ From this it appears 

 that next to His Excellency Sir Howard Douglas, the most prominent 

 personage on the occasion was Dr. Somerville, w^ho was not only 

 eminent as a scholar but was an orator. He continued to fill the chair 

 of Divinity until 1840. His portrait in oils may be seen in the 

 University Library. It was presented to the College by a number 

 of his old pupils including such men as Hon. L. A. Wilmot, 

 Hon. Judge Fisher, Attorney-General John Ambrose Street, and 

 William H. Odell as " a tribute of affection and gratitude." Dr. 

 Somerville retired from his duties as a professor in King's College in 

 1840. Rev. Geo. McCawley resigned his professionahip in 1836 to 

 become president of King's College, Windsor, a position which he 

 held for thirty-nine years; his work at Fredericton and Windsor 

 covering the long period of fifty-five years. 



'See Lawrence's "Judges of New Brunswick and their Times, "pp. 244-252. 



