486 MBUTON COLLEGE AND CANADA. 



of analogies, some of them bearing pai-ticularly on the natui-e of the 

 duties of the members of the University here assembled. In the 

 first place, I never see a building of this style of architecture — 

 whether it be ecclesiastical or civil — but I regard it as a type of 

 modern civilization. It is the adaptation to modern purposes of 

 forms which originated long ago— it is the adaptation of Roman 

 architecture to modern civilization. Where did you get these 

 forms 1 Where did you get the processes which give birth to munici- 

 palities — those municipalities which, under different names, are 

 spreading over the continent of America, caiTying the principles of 

 local self-government with them 1 They are from Rome, from whence 

 comes this Romanesqiie architecture ; they are the adaptation of 

 forms derived from Rome to the wants of modern society. Many 

 things in modern Eui'ope are," he added, " precisely analogous to the 

 style of the building in which we are this evening assembled. I will 

 say, moreover," he continued, "that the style of the architecture of 

 this building suggests some reflections upon the duties of the Univer- 

 sity itself; for it is the business of the University to give a sound 

 classical education to the youth of our country, and to impart to them 

 that instruction and information which are essential to the discharge 

 of their duties as citizens, both in public and private life, according 

 to the wants and usages of modern society. I say, sir, we may take 

 the building in which we are assembled as the type of the duties 

 standing before the University to discharge." 



It should be added, that previous to the ascent of the great gate- 

 way tower, for the purpose of placing the cope-stone on the apex of 

 its turret. Sir Edmund Head, in the true Mertonian spirit of the 

 olden time, had addressed the assemblage present with the words : 

 " Before j^roceeding to the work, let us join in supplicating the Divine 

 blessing ; " when an appropriate prayer was said by the President of 

 the University, the Rev. Dr. McCaul. 



Thus have I endeavoured to occupy your attention, for a short 

 space, with three disting-uished Governors of Canada, who were some- 

 time members or fellows of Merton College in Oxford, and who, in 

 relation to the higher education of the Canadian people, shewed 

 themselves, by their words and deeds, worthy descendants of the 

 enlightened Walter de Merton, of the reign of Henry III. Cana- 

 dians, when they visit Oxford, remembering these things, will, I am 

 sure, look with an added interest on Merton College, for the sake of 



