466 MERTON COLLEGE AND CANADA, 



"This, Sii-," he says, "is the outline of my plan, and I trust it 

 will force its way, notwithstanding what circumscribed men and self- 

 interested monopolists may allege against it. It must stand on its 

 own ground ; for my extensive views are not what this Country is 

 as yet prepared for, though the New England Provinces are by no 

 means averse to them ; and they are the strength of America." 



And then he speaks of the alluring contrast, literary and political, 

 which, if he can only obtain proper cooperation and help, his domain 

 will present, when compared with the United States, 



" Now, Sir," he continues to Sir Joseph Banks, " not to trespass 

 on your time, you will see how highly important it will be, that this 

 Colony (which I mean to shew forth, with all the advantages of 

 British protectorate, as a better Government than the United States 

 can possibly obtain), should, in its very foundations, provide for every 

 assistance that can possibly be secured for the Arts and Sciences, and 

 for every embellishment that hereafter may decorate and attract 

 notice, and may point it out to the neighbouring States as a superior, 

 more happy and more polished form of government. I would not, 

 in its infancy, have a hut, nor in its maturity, a palace, built without 

 this design. 



" My friend, the Marquis of Buckingham," he next proceeds to 

 say, " has suggested that Government ought to allow me a sum of 

 money to be laid out for a Public Library, to be composed of such 

 books as might be useful to the Colony, He instanced the Encyclo- 

 psedia, extracts from which might occasionally be published in the 

 newspapers. It is possible private donations might be obtained, and 

 that it would become an object of Royal munificence, 



" If any Botanical arrangement could take place [this project he 

 knew it would be in Sir Joseph's power to promote,] I conceive it 

 might be highly useful, and might lead to the introduction of some 

 commodities in that country which Great Britain now procures from 

 other nations. Hemp and Flax should be encouraged by Romulus." 



Then comes the passage in which he moots the idea of a University, 

 or College of high class, for the community which he is about to 

 found, and to which I have already referred. 



" In the literary way," he says, " I should be glad to lay the 

 foundation of some Society that, I trust, might hereafter conduce to 

 the extension of Science. Schools have been shamefully neglected. 

 A College of a higher class would be eminently useful, and would 



