468 MERTON COLLEaE AND CANAiDA. 



In a letter to tlie Bishop, dated Kingston, Upper Canada, April 

 SO, 1795, lie observes : 



" Perhaps the constitution given to Upper Canada, however late, 

 forms the singular exception to that want of preventive wisdom 

 which has characterized the present times. The people of this Pro- 

 vince enjoy the forms, as well as the privileges, of the British consti- 

 tution. They have the means of governing themselves ; and, having, 

 nothing to ask, must ever remain a part of the British empire ; 

 provided they shall become sufficiently capable and enlightened to 

 understand their relative situation and to manage their own power 

 to the public interest. 



" Liberal education seems to me, therefore, to be indispensably 

 necessary; and the completion of it by the establishment of a 

 . University in the capital of the country, the residence of the 

 Governor and the Council, the Bishop, the heads of the law, and of the 

 general quality of the inhabitants consequent to the seat of govern- 

 ment — in my apprehension, would be most useful to inculcate just 

 principles, habits and manners, into the rising generation ; to coalesce 

 the different customs of the variou.s descriptions of settlers, emigrants 

 from the old provinces [the United States] or Europe, into one form. 

 In short, from distinct parts and ancient prejudices to new- form, as 

 it were, and establish one nation ; and thereby to strengthen the 

 union with Gi-eat Britain, and to preserve a lasting obedience to His 

 Majesty's authority. The income contemplated for such an estab- 

 lishment is certainly, of itself, too contemptible to be withheld from 

 the prosecuting of so great an object, on any views of expense." 



In accordance with the usage then almost universal, he takes for 

 granted that the professors will be clergymen ; and he desires that 

 they shall be in the first instance Englishmen ; but he makes some 

 shrewd distinctions : he does not desire the presence of over-refined, 

 over- cultivated clergjnnen. He was acquainted with the character of 

 the New- England people. The inhabitants of the young province of 

 Upper Canada would be, he knew, of a similar temper, and would 

 require to be ministered to, educationally and otherwise, by competent 

 and earnest men indeed, but men also somewhat homely and humble- 

 hearted. He had likewise doubtless often witnessed the bad effect of 

 incompatibility of manijers between pastors and flocks in the mother 

 country. 



" I naturally should Wish," he says, "that the clergy necessary for 

 offices in the University, in the first instance, should be Englishmen, 



