CANADA IN THE BODLEIAN. 397 



Another Oxford, on the Atlantic shores 

 Still fond, a thousand ages hence, to chaunt 

 Some future hero born of Brunswick's line." 



The establisliment of universities on this northern continent early 

 entered into the schemes of philanthropists. Harvard University was 

 founded in 1636, and Yale in 1700. Bishop Berkeley's name is asso- 

 ciated with a chivalrous effort of the kind in the reign of George II. 

 But his institution was to be set up in Bermuda, or '' the Summer 

 Islands," for the benefit of " the youth of our English plantations." 

 Swift, in a letter to Lord Carteret, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in 1724, 

 introduces Berkeley and his scheme in the following humorous style: 

 " He (Berkeley) is an absolute philosopher with regard to money, titles 

 and power, and for three years past hath been struck with a notion of 

 founding a university at Bermuda, by a charter from the Crown. * * 

 He shewed me a little tract, which he designs to publish, and there 

 your Excellency will see his whole scheme for a life academic-philoso- 

 phic of a college founded for Indian scholars and missionaries, where 

 he most exorbitantly proposeth a whole hundred a-year for himself, forty 

 pounds for a fellow, and ten for a student. His heart will break if his 

 deanery be not taken from him, and left at your Excellency's disposal. 

 * * Therefore do I humbly entreat your Excellency," Swift continues, 

 " either to use such persuasions as will keep one of the first men for 

 learning and virtue quiet at home, or assist him by your credit to com- 

 pass his romantic design, which, however, is very noble and generous, 

 and directly proper for a great person of your excellent education to 

 encourage." Berkeley's famous lines, written in prospect of the speedy 

 establishment of his college, partake of the exalted ideas indulged in 

 by the Oxford versifier : 



" There shall be sung another golden age. 



The rise of empire and of arts, 

 The good and great inspiring epic rage. 



The wisest heads and noblest hearts. 

 Not such as Europe breeds in her decay; 



Such as she bred when fresh and young, 

 "When heavenly flame did animate her clay. 



By future poets shall be sung." 



■ The establishment of a university formed, it will be remembered, a 

 part of Governor Simcoe's scheme for the organization of his new 

 province of Upper Canada. To account for the epithet ^ romantic," 

 applied to Lake Erie, we must have recourse to the early French 



