92 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



University played a prominent, and with one exception a friendly, 

 part. In the largest and most promising of all, the University of 

 Halifax, Dalhousie reversed her usual rôle and played the part of 

 destructive critic. 



Union was first proposed between King's and Dalhousie in 1823, 

 and union between these colleges has been seriously considered at least 

 five times within the century. It would be wearisome to restate the 

 proposals and to repeat the arguments for and against. Governor 

 Kempt suggested union after the Dalhousie building had been erected, 

 but before it was opened. Dalhousie had the building and the 

 advantage of location, but needed a charter, stafï and students. 

 These King's had, but needed funds for buildings and a better location. 

 Both needed more funds and the united support of the Province. 

 Terms were drafted and submitted to the Board of King's. They 

 failed to receive approval in the face of the opposition of Chief Justice 

 Blowers, who declared that the removal of King's from Windsor and 

 the abandonment of the Royal Charter involved a "breach of trust in 

 which a present and acknowledged good was to be sacrificed for 

 uncertain and future advantage."" 



A second attempt, extending over seven years, met with no better 

 success, though it originated with a despatch from Sir George Murray, 

 Secretary of State in 1832. Two years later Lord Goderich followed 

 with an announcement of the termination of the Imperial Grant. 

 In 1833 Lord Stanley renewed the suggestion, and in 1835 Lord 

 Glenelg asked for the surrender of the Royal Charter. The Bishop 

 and the Legislative Council, which was then engaged in a bitter 

 controversy over the grant to Pictou Academy, protested and invoked 

 the veto of the Archbishop of Canterbury. They succeeded, and for 

 well-nigh half a century the union of King's and Dalhousie ceased to 

 be a living issue. 



Fifty years later, in 1885, Confederation of King's with Dal- 

 housie was again before the King's Board and again the Royal Charter 

 and local feeling defeated the proposal to remove it from Windsor to 

 Halifax. 



A fourth attempt was made in 1901.^^ Meetings were held and 

 negotiations advanced to the preparation of an Act for a Maritime 

 University. In it King's and Dalhousie were to have an equal voice, 

 though Dalhousie was to surrender its name charter and property, 

 without reserve, to the new university, while King's retained its 



"Hind, pp. 60-81. 



'«King's College, Windsor, College Federation, Pamphlet with Report to 

 Diocesan Synods, June, 1902. 



