730 FRANK D. ADAMS 
at the same time that the chair of Natural History should be 
assigned to him. In his inaugural discourse he said: “At a 
time when literary and scientific pursuits are so widely ramified 
everyone who aims to do anything well must have his special 
field of activity. Mine has been the study of nature, especially 
in those bygone aspects which it is the province of geology to 
investigate. My only other special qualification for my present 
position depends on the circumstance that the wants of my 
native province have induced me to devote much time to inquir- 
ies and pursuits relating to popular education. I come to you, 
therefore, as a naturalist and an educationalist, trusting that I 
may be enabled in these capacities to render myself useful, and 
asking for my youth and present inexperience in the affairs of 
this institution your kind indulgence, and for the work in which 
I shall be engaged your zealous codperation.” 
The University as he found it had three faculties and but 
sixteen professors, a number of whom gave only a portion of 
their time to university work, while the buildings and equipment 
were wretched. When it is stated that the University has now 
120 professors and instructors of various grades and an equip- 
ment which is in all departments fairly good, and, in some of 
them, unsurpassed, some idea may be gained of the progress 
which the institution made under Sir William Dawson’s care and 
guidance. 
As a professor of natural science Sir William at this time 
delivered courses in chemistry, botany, zodlogy, and geology, 
and natural science became a very favorite study among the 
students, for he was an excellent lecturer, and his enthusiasm for 
these studies was communicated to all who heard him. As 
years went on, the instruction in the first three of these subjects 
was undertaken by others, and a special chair of Geology and 
Paleontology was endowed by his old friend and co-worker, 
Sir William Logan, a chair which he held until his final retire- 
ment. His teaching work, however, formed but a small part of 
his daily labors. In addition to administering the affairs of the 
University he was first and foremost in every movement to 
