112 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS. 



without at least having the governing classes well educated, and no 

 nation has attained a high degree of excellence in commerce, or 

 manufactures, or agriculture, without having the benefits of educa- 

 tion widely diffused among the masses. 



The ruling principle of government in this Province being more 

 democratic than aristocratic in its tendencies, it follows as a natural 

 sequence that the proper education of the masses is a matter of 

 prime necessity. The reign of the common people has steadily ad- 

 vanced in influence, until now, freedom, education and religious 

 equality are the inalienable rights of all. There was a struggle, long 

 and at times very bitter, before these blessings were secured to us, 

 and nowhere are the effects of this struggle to be seen more clearly 

 than in our early educational history. The leading actors in this 

 drama have passed away, but they have bequeathed to us an educa- 

 tional system, of which it may be truly said, that it is a monument 

 more durable than brass or marble, and more noble than the con- 

 quest of nations, or the destruction of armies. 



To the early educational history of this Province, we shall now 

 turn our attention and endeavor to trace the growth and develop- 

 ment of those principles which underlie our present system. Owing 

 to the sparseness of the population, and the poverty of the majority 

 of the people in these early days, only a few private schools were 

 opened. Kingston has the honor of having had the first school of 

 any kind in Upper Canada. In 1785 the Rev. Dr. Stewart opened a 

 school in Cataraqui, now Kingston, in which the study of classics 

 was a leading feature. This was followed by one at Port Rowan, 

 in 1789, one at Niagara in 1792, one at Ancasler in 1796, and one 

 at York in 1798. About the beginning of the present century, other 

 schools were opened, the principal ones being at Cornwall, Sandwich 

 and St. Catharines. These were entirely supported by fees, and 

 were patronized by the more wealthy people. 



The Legislature of Upper Canada in 1797 sent a memorial to 

 His Majesty, George III, asking a grant of land for the endowment 

 of District Grammar Schools, and of a Provincial University. In 

 reply to this memorial the Duke of Portland, then Colonial Minis- 

 ter, sent a despatch to the acting Governor, in which he says : — 

 " His Majesty has expressed his gracious intention to comply with 

 the wishes of the Legislature of his Province of Upper Canada in 



