THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. II3 



such manner as shall be judged to be most effectual ; first, by the 

 establishment of free Grammar Schools in those districts in whi h 

 they are called for ; and secondly, in due process of time by estab- 

 lishing other seminaries of a larger and more comprehensive nature 

 for the promotion of religious and moral learning and the study of 

 arts and sciences." 



In accordance with the terms of this dispatch half a million 

 acres of land were set apart for higher education, but it was soon 

 found that even this large quantity, at the prices then current, 

 was quite insufficient for endowing a number of Grammar Schools. 

 This scheme had therefore to be abandoned, and in 1807 an Act 

 was passed establishing a Public School in each of the eight dis- 

 tricts into which this Province was then divided, and giving an an- 

 nual grant in support of the same. A Board of Trustees, consisting 

 of not less than five members appointed by the Governor, were em- 

 powered to make rules and regulations for the guidance of teachers 

 and pupils, to appoint, with the approval of the Governor, suitable 

 persons as teachers, and to have the general oversight of all school 

 matters. The location of these schools was fixed by statute. When 

 th's Act was first passed its duration was limited to four years, but 

 in 1808 it was made permanent. In 181 9 it was amended, and 

 three additional schools established, provision being made at the 

 same time for the free education of a limited number of poor but 

 worthy children, and for the holding of public examinations annually. 

 On the 12th of July, 1819, an Act was passed establishing a Public 

 School in the District of Gore. This school was opened in 1820 in 

 the village of Hamilton, then seven years old. Stephen Randall 

 was the first teacher, a clever, scholarly man, educated by the 

 Bishop of Quebec. Dr. Rae, John Law, James Cahill and Patrick 

 Thornton also taught, and so far as I can learn, followed in 

 the order named. Two more schools were established in 1823, 

 and in 1837 the school in Vittoria was removed to the present 

 city of London. In 1839 the name was changed from Pub- 

 lic to Grammar Schools, the principle of local municipal grants 

 introduced, and a permanent endowment of 250,000 acres of 

 crown lands was made. With these changes and amendments 

 the Act of 1807 remained in force until it was superseded by 

 the Grammar School Act of 1853, which brought-these schools more 



