106 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



declared her disallowance of the bill on the ground that it annulled the 

 pledged faith of the crown so far as regards the sum paid out of the 

 Civil List to the College was concerned. 



In 1859 came the climax in a memorable debate upon a bill to 

 suspend the grant to the college so far as relates to the sum paid out 

 of the provincial revenue and not included in the Civil List. To this 

 bill the Attorney-general, Hon. Charles Fisher, moved the substitution 

 of a bill which had been prepared in 1857 by Hon. L. A. Wilmot, to 

 carry into effect the reorganization of King's College on the lines 

 recommended by the Commission of 1854. This bill was vehemently 

 opposed at every step and by every possible manœuvre. It was 

 amended in several particulars, and it was only by hard fighting that 

 its supporters were able to carry it safely through the House. In the 

 ensuing debate William H. Needham of Fredericton, a member for 

 the County of York, spoke with wonderful power and ability. His 

 address made a deep impression on the House and it w^as afterwards 

 stated by many of those present, "Billy Needham's speech saved the 

 college." The bill readily passed the Legislative Council and finally 

 received the Royal assent. 



Under ihe act of the legislature the Lieut. -Governor became the 

 visitor of the institution instead of the Bishop of the Diocese. The 

 President was to be a layman and no longer an Anglican clergyman. 

 The Professorship in Divinity was abolished as were also all denomin- 

 ational tests. The name was changed to that of the University of New 

 Brunswick and a new governing body was created called the Senate. 

 The first year was a period of transition but in June, 1861, William 

 Brydone-Jack was duly installed as President and delivered the 

 Encœnial address. The outlook was now greatly broadened and 

 provision made for new departments of study. The institution now 

 entered upon a new and progressive career. A few words must be 

 added here with regard to the personality of the new President. 



He was in many ways an admirable representative of the Scottish 

 race. He had the strong moral fibre characteristic of his ancestry, 

 the rugged tenacity of purpose and common sense, the courage and 

 perseverance, the cheerful optimism and energy essential to success- 

 ful leadership. As a young man he was endowed with an unusually 

 fine physique. He was tall, rather more than six feet in height, strong 

 and vigorous. He liked life in the open air, was an excellent walker, 

 and almost as much at home in practical surveying as in the lecture- 

 room or in the college observatory. He was fond of his garden, liked 

 and drove spirited horses and enjoyed the game of curling. He was 

 an entertaining companion, interesting in the affairs of the day and in 

 the wellbeing of the community, patriotic in his sentiments and social 



