326 Canadian Record of Science 



ing unequalled in splendour in the history of that or 

 any other university. He also made a substantial con- 

 tribution to the finances of Cambridge University, of 

 which he became an honorary graduate. 



Donald A. Smith was suddenly involved in politics. 

 Sensitive to the honour of the great trading company of 

 which he was the official head in Canada, when it sold to 

 the Dominion its rights in the territory over which it had 

 long exercised sway, and there was trouble, in 1869, over 

 the delivery of the country to the Canadian Government, 

 he felt called upon to do what in him lay to see that the 

 bargain was fulfilled and the transfer made. Believing 

 that his former relations to the people on the banks of 

 the Red River would dispose them to listen to him, he 

 offered to the Canadian Government to proceed at once 

 to Fort Garry and endeavour to quiet the disturbance 

 which had taken place against the admission of Lieu- 

 tenant-Governor McDougall into the territory. Accord- 

 ingly he was appointed by the Governor- General to en- 

 quire into and report upon the causes and extent of the 

 disaffection. Armed with this document, he hastened to 

 the scene of trouble, and ultimately succeeded in under- 

 mining the influence of Riel over the settlers around 

 Fort Garry, although he undoubtedly put his life in 

 danger before accomplishing this end. His quiet air of 

 self possession, his coolness and ready judgment stood 

 him in good stead ; and so, before the Red River expedi- 

 tion, under Colonel Wolseleyj reached the scene of hos- 

 tilities, the leader of the rebellion had left the country. 



When, in due time, the Province of Manitoba was 

 constituted, he was urged to allow himself to be nomin- 

 ated for a seat in its first Legislature. The call was one 

 which he felt he could not decline, and he was accord- 

 ingly elected, as he was also to the Federal Parliament, 

 when Manitoba was assigned a proportion of seats there- 

 in. It was not all plain sailing with him, however. 

 Some of the settlers from Ontario and other sections of 

 the east could not at first rid themselves of the suspicion 



