[RAYMOND] UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK 105 



pelled to go abroad in order to acquire a University education. The idea, therefore, 

 of abolishing or suspending the endowment of King's College cannot be entertained 

 by the Commissioners for a moment. On the contrary, we think there should be 

 an advance rather than a retreat in this respect, and that the youth of New Bruns- 

 wick, whether many or few, who aspire to the attainment of the best University 

 Education, as preparatory to professional or active pursuits, should be able to 

 secure that knowledge in their native land." 



In spite of the able report of the Commission in its favor, the 

 continuation of King's College, even in a modified way, was stoutly 

 opposed in the General Assembly. To quote Dr. Jack: — 



"Long opposition had roused feelings of bitterness and exasperation in the 

 breasts of those unfriendly to the college. Strong passions and prejudices influenced 

 their actions. Moreover an extreme party — always dangerous because fierce and 

 vindictive — had at length arisen which declared that nothing less would satisfy them 

 than the complete subversion of the college. In terms not always either chaste 

 or truthful they inveighed against the uselessness of the institution, and the heavy 

 expense at which it was maintained, and triumphantly asked whether all attempts 

 to improve it had not invariably ended in signal failure ? The same result, they 

 asserted, was to be expected in future, and hence the only sure and effectual remedy 

 was its total destruction. The cry now raised, if sadly wanting in stern dignity 

 and patriotism, resembled in passionate and fanatical vindictiveness that of Cato 

 of old, who at the close of every harangue against Carthage made the senate-house 

 resound with the ominous and inexorable words, delenda est Carthago.'^ 



The recommendations of the Commissioners did not at all suit 

 the views of many members of the House of Assembly who, blind to 

 the importance of institutions for higher education and impatient 

 for their prey, now almost within their reach, were determined that 

 King's College, however changed in name and character, should 

 cease to exist in New Brunswick. 



In 1856 Hon. Charles Council, a member for Carleton County, 

 introduced in the Assembly a bill to suspend the grant to King's 

 College, which was carried in the House but did not pass the Legis- 

 lative Council. Two years later Mr. Connell, with dogged persistency, 

 introduced a yet more summary bill, the first section of which read as 

 follows: — "All sums of money payable to the Chancellor, President 

 and Scholars of King's College, Fredericton, and their successors, by 

 any law and usage, shall from the first day of November next be 

 discontinued, and all acts relating thereto shall be repealed." This 

 bill was strenuously opposed but was finally passed, was concurred in 

 by the Council and assented to by the Lieut. -Governor on the 6th of 

 April, 1858. Lieut. -Gov'r. Manners Sutton, however, following in the 

 footsteps of Sir Edmund Head, sent to the Colonial Secretary a dis- 

 patch reviewing in masterly fashion all the circumstances of the case. 

 In consequence Her Majesty, with the consent of her privy council, 



