MERTON COLLEGE AND CANADA. 481 



to render it, a neutral territory on which persons of opposite opinions, 

 political arid religious, may meet together in harmony and forget their 

 differences for a season. And I have good hope," he adds, " that this 

 will be the case for several reasons, and, among others, for one which 

 I can barely allude to, for it might be an impertinence in me to dwell 

 upon it. But I think that without any breach of delicacy or decorum 

 I may venture to say that many years ago, when I was much younger 

 than I am now, and when we stood towards each other in a relation 

 somewhat different from that which has recently subsisted between 

 us, I learned to look up to Sir Edmund Head with respect, as a 

 gentleman of the highest character, the greatest ability, and the most 

 varied accomplishments and attainments." 



(On this is a note in Walrond's memoir : " Sir Edmund Head, who 

 succeeded Lord Elgin as Governor-General of Canada in 1854, had 

 examined him for a Merton Fellowship in 1833. Those who knew 

 him will recognize how singularly appropriate, in their full force, are 

 the terms in which he is here spoken of.") 



Sir Edmund Head visited Lord Elgin, at Toronto, in 1850. A 

 letter to Earl Grey thus opens: "Toronto, Nov. 1, 1850. Sir H. 

 Bulwer spent four days with us, and for many reasons I am glad 

 that he has been here. He leaves us knowing more of Canada than 

 he did when he came. I think, too, that both he and Sir E. Head 

 return to their homes reassiired on many points of our internal 

 policy on which they felt doubtful before, and much enlightened as 

 to the real position of men and things in this Province." 



It may reasonably be conjectured that Lord Elgin's personal regard 

 and high esteem, united with the weight of his judgment with the 

 home authorities, helped forward Sir Edward's advancement to the 

 high position of Governor-General of British North America. 



III. — Sir Edmund Head was not, like his predecessor, a copious and 

 fluent orator. Hence we have not been able readily to find in the 

 local periodicals, reports of addresses of his on the subject of educa- 

 tion. No formal Memoir of his Life has been published. His 

 Letters would be woi-th reading ; especially his confidential commu- 

 nications with the home authorities and his English friends, on 

 Canadian afiairs as they struck him. His Public Despatches must 

 be valuable documents. 



Like some others among the more remarkable of our Canadian 

 Governors, he was probably not fully understood by those who ex-oficio 



