142 Canadian Record of Science. 



original work along several lines, achieving most valuable 

 results — as well as to write many popular works on 

 science, more especially in its relation to religion. Origi- 

 nal investigation he always considered to be one of the 

 chief duties and pleasures of a man of science. Most of 

 his work along these lines was done during his summer 

 vacations ; in fact, he was led to accept the position 

 of Principal in McGill chiefly by the fact that the 

 vacations gave him leisure and opportunity for work 

 of this kind. 



He was always very progressive in his ideas relative to 

 the scope and development of University teaching, and 

 was continually urging the endowment of new" chairs and 

 the broadening of University work, so that all young men 

 wishing to train themselves for the higher walks of life 

 might in the University find their need supplied. As an 

 instance of this it may be mentioned that so far back as 

 1858 he succeeded in establishing a school of Civil 

 Engineering, which after a severe struggle for five years 

 succumbed to some unfriendly legislation. 



" Some men may regard these efforts as failures which 

 should not be referred to," said Sir William in an address 

 delivered in 1870. " For my own part, I am not ashamed 

 of them ; there is not one of them which is not important 

 to the material progress of this country, and there is not 

 one of them which by us or by others will not at length 

 be successfully carried out. I do not despair of any 

 of them, and I am prepared should I remain in this 

 University to watch for the opportunity to revive them 

 when favorable circumstances shall occur. We wait for 

 some Canadian Lawrence or Sheffield to endow for us 

 a Scientific School like those of Harvard or Yale, which 

 have contributed so greatly to the wealth and progress of 

 New England." Before many years the great benefactor 

 appeared, and, through Sir William Macdonald's princely 

 gifts, it became possible to revive the old Civil Engineering 



