the Kingston Whig, of February 22nd, this eminent educationist urged that his University was doing work which deserved Government sympathy and support as much as did that of Toronto University; that in England twenty-five University Colleges, in as many centres, were aided by the British Government; that monopoly, localism and sectarianism should not be interjected into the higher education of Ontario. He thought it possible that the Government might compromise by helping the Toronto School of Practical Science and extending the Kingston School of Mines. Meanwhile the friends of Toronto University were not idle. Alumni Associations were formed in different parts of the Province-notably at Picton, Napanee, Belleville and London. A meeting in Belleville for this purpose was held on February 27th, and the following Resolution passed :—

1. That we desire to put on record, in the strongest possible way, our conviction that the existence and prosperity of the Provincial University are absolutely essential to the educational system of this country, and that any condition of things which interferes with its efficiency is nothing short of a national calamity;

2. That the annually recurring deficits in the University finances, notwithstanding the exercise of questionable economy, prove conclusively that the income has been utterly inadequate for the requirements of the rapidly increasing work of the institution;

3. That the responsibility for maintaining the Provincial University in a proper state of efficiency rests upon the Ontario Government;

We, therefore, urge upon the Government the necessity for making such an annual grant to the University as will reasonably provide for its requirements, and pledge ourselves to support in every possible way any action by the Government to this end.

On March 2nd an Association was formed at London for the County of Middlesex. President Loudon, of the University, in an address, stated that the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbour, had an income of $600,000, part of which was raised by a State tax. Principal Grant's policy he declared to be "an attempt to take down the denominational sign from the front door and place it on the side door." He stated that Toronto University had applied for aid in 1882, and again in 1900, and had received no satisfaction, while Queen's had received $6,000 in 1893, and $12,600 in 1894. Mr. Talbot Macbeth, K.C., was elected President of the Association, and a Resolution passed along lines similar to that quoted above. In the February number of the Toronto University Monthly, Prof. F. S. Maclennan, of Oberlin College, Ohio, stated that the University of Columbia had an income of $750,000 a year; that of Chicago, $723,000; that of Harvard, $1,264,000; that of Toronto, $121,500. He came to the conclusion that for lack of means Toronto University was in an utterly inadequate position.

On February 27th, opportunity was taken in the Legislature by Mr. Richard Harcourt, Minister of Education, to speak at some length on this subject and to intimate that a definite scheme of aid to the University would shortly be submitted. He pointed out that during the past four years the deficits of the institution had aggregated $31,600 and that the University had not been "doing all the work

which its graduates and friends and the thinking public would expect it to do." The important departments of mineralogy and geology were lacking in equipment, a building was wanted in connection with the teaching of physics, a physical laboratory was required and general extension along the lines of industrial and commercial education was desirable. The Minister went on to describe the measure of suitable Government aid as being "exactly the measure of the needs of the institution." Such assistance would be generally beneficial. It would maintain a high standard of instruction in the Secondary and Public Schools, and help to produce more of a muchneeded class--trained assayists, mineralogists, engineers, geologists"men who would build bridges and tunnel mountains." Scientific teaching he regarded as more important now than the study of languages and polite learning. On the departments of mineralogy and geology the University now only spent $2,000 a year where similar institutions across the line expended $50,000. Mr. J. P. Whitney, while favouring assistance to the University in a general way, differed from Mr. Harcourt in believing that educational reform should commence at the bottom instead of the top. The only way to build a house is to start with the foundations. There is no use endeavouring to impart the higher education to a people not already well grounded. The vast number of the youth in this Province will never go to the University, and, therefore, the first step to be taken is to improve the Public Schools."

Meanwhile, the graduates of the University, after organizing their Associations in different parts of the Province, sent representatives to Toronto, and, on March 13th, a very large deputation waited upon the Government. Dr. R. A. Reeve, President of the City Alumni Association delivered an address in which he claimed that the University belonged to the state as much as the Customs Houses or the Experimental Farms. The Rev. James Allen, Mr. P. W. Ellis and the Hon. S. C. Biggs, of Toronto; Mr. E. V. Clergue, of Sault Ste. Marie; Dr. Otto Klotz, of Ottawa; Mr. James Chisholm, of Hamilton; the Rev. W. H. Bradley, of Berlin, and Mr. John Campbell, of St. Thomas, also spoke. Mr. Biggs pointed out that the Government could find money for the material development of railways and pulp-mills. "Why not develop the men who are to manage these things." The Premier, in his reply, recognized the necessity of encouraging the scientific side of the University, deprecated the idea of the Government being expected to make the institution equal to the great Universities of Germany or Great Britain, pointed out that the financial resources of Ontario were not unlimited and concluded by promising aid in some form to be shortly indicated. Speaking in the Legislature on the preceding day, Mr. Whitney had referred in strong language to the condition of the University-its difficulties and limitations. He had then, as follows, outlined the Opposition policy on the subject:

The situation has at last become acute, and indeed intolerable. We must either support or abandon the University. We have arrived at the parting of the

ways, and we must decided whether we will go forward or drop back. Being convinced that the people of the Province are unwilling that the present condition of blight and mildew shall become chronic and permanent, we, on this side of the House, are determined that, so far as lies in our power, a remedy, immediate, permanent, and lasting, must be applied. We take the responsibility, sir, of insisting that the finances of the University be put on a sound, stable, and permanent footing, by providing such an annual payment as will fairly and fully meet the desires and propositions of those best able to judge of its necessities to-day, and that this be done forthwith.

Further, that as soon as reasonably may be, with a due regard to the financial ability of the Province and to careful outlay, appropriations for necessary buildings should be made, and, in order to ensure the due carrying out of this latter suggestion, it may well be considered wise and prudent to submit the question of buildings to a Commission of gentlemen who, from their standing and experience, may be trusted to arrive at a conclusion which will be satisfactory to the Legislature and to the people. Such a Commission need not be costly.

We further urge that in thus dealing with the University, the direct control of the Government over it be relaxed to a certain extent, so that the experience and judgment of the governing body of the University shall have more influence and power in the appointment of Professors and in the internal management of the institution than at present. The fees should be regulated so that the sons and daughters of the relatively poor may find practically an open door" at the University.

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On March 21st, Mr. Harcourt introduced into the Assembly "An Act to amend the Act respecting the University of Toronto and University College of Toronto.' By this measure the scientific department of the University was given a sum estimated at $20,000 for the current year in addition to the sum which it already drew out of the previous Government grant for general University requirements. Land was also set apart for buildings for the mineralogy and geology departments and for an extension of the present School of Practical Science. A Board of Trustees was to be appointed to control financial and property matters and to keep them apart from academic or educational affairs. A Principal of University College was to be appointed distinct in function and position from the President of the University. Special provision was made for the possible entry of Trinity University into the federation of Colleges known as the University of Toronto, and a site was reserved for new buildings, should it decide to do so. Various minor matters of reform and re-arrangement were also defined and dealt with--the most important being the withdrawal of Government nominees from the University Senate--only the Minister of Education remaining an ex-officio member. In addition to the specified financial conditions of the measure it was announced on the succeeding day that a new building for the science department would be at once commenced at an estimated cost of $200,000.

These undertakings were not considered sufficient by the University authorities, and, on March 26th, an influential deputation headed by Sir William R. Meredith, Chancellor of the University, and by the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Justice Moss, waited upon the Prime Minister. The Chancellor, in speaking, quoted Resolutions passed by the University Senate regarding the matter. They had protested against any legislation which did not recognize the general as well

as specific functions and requirements of the University; declared that the proposed measure did not afford "sufficient financial relief to prevent the recurrence of deficits immediately;" expressed the belief that a department of biology should be added on account of its important relation to agriculture, forestry, the fisheries and sanitary science; alleged that the proposed new building would be required largely for the purposes of the School of Practical Science, and suggested that "in order further to maintain the efficiency and provide for the proper expansion of University and College instructions there should be annually paid to the Board of Trustees an adequate percentage of the income derived from the (Provincial) Succession duties, which sum should form part of the permanent property of the University and the College under the Act." Principal Caven, of the affiliated Knox College, followed the Chancellor, and declared that there were many branches of study which were as important to the University and the Province as those of mineralogy and geology. He also urged the wisdom of setting aside the Succession duties, in part at least, for the use of the institution. Mr. Byron E. Walker estimated a deficit in the Arts department of $27,000 at the end of the next financial year, and expressed the hope that this side of the educational system would not be overlooked. Others spoke and, in reply, Mr. Ross said he would again consult with his colleagues in the matter. It was the general feeling of the University Senate as expressed at its meeting on the previous day, and repeated by members of this deputation, that at least $50,000 was required to relieve the institution of its difficulties.

A few hours after the Premier had listened to these arguments, the Minister of Education moved the second reading of his Bill in the Legislature. He went into details of the Government's proposals which included the assumption of expenses in connection with instruction in mineralogy, chemistry, geology and physics to the amount of $20,000 for the current year; an addition to the teaching staff which would involve $6,000 more of an expenditure; and the erection of a special building which would cost some $200,000. He expressed a strong belief that the connection of the University with the Province should be maintained, and spoke of the probability of Trinity University coming into the federation of Colleges. Mr. Whitney, who followed the Minister, denounced the high fees charged to students and spoke of some persons, in his own experience, who had been compelled to give up their efforts for higher education on this account. On behalf of the Opposition he declared that: "We think the time has come when the just demands of the University of Toronto should be met in no niggardly spirit and that everything the University asks in reason should be assumed by the Government of the Province in order that this deplorable state of affairs should be remedied." expressed the opinion that the Government control was too direct and complete; that there were serious objections against all the teaching appointments being in the hands of the Government; that the speech just listened to from the Minister of Education was very

different in tone and character and hopefulness to that of a few days before; that if the University really required a larger sum than that promised by the measure it should be given; that "somebody other than the Government should have the appointment of all the teaching staff of the University; and that the shackles of Government control should be loosened without, however, destroying connection between the Province and the University."

The

Mr. Andrew Pattullo, though a strong supporter of the Government, declared that "the whole duty of the State lay with the elementary schools. Beyond that the duty became divided between the State and the individual." The High Schools should not be entirely free-only 3 per cent. of the population attended them and 97 per cent. went through the Public Schools. "It was not the function of the State to supply professional men but to supply those who desired to become such with the necessary facilities.' He believed that the University had been liberally dealt with and that some of the demands made on its behalf were not in accordance with public opinion. He approved, however, of the proposed encouragement to scientific education and thought that Queen's University should also be assisted. Premier then replied to the speeches made and objections raised. The Government had been generous to the University. A grant of $150,000 had been given after the destruction of its main building by fire and, quite recently, an annual grant of $10,000 to $12,000 had been set apart for its use. He believed the proposed grant would remove any danger of deficits in the near future. As to heavy charges they were smaller than in many heavily endowed American institutions and a general course only cost $52 a year. In the School of Science the fees averaged $75 as against $140 at McGill University in Montreal. He favoured State control and the Government's responsibility for appointments. He could see no present way of increasing the annual grant though there were many things he would like to have accomplished by the University-such, for instance, as the foundation of a Chair in Colonial History. The great point was to promote by education the industrial development of the community. Referring to the question of aiding Queen's University Mr. Ross declared that "they drew the line at aiding denominational institutions." But they would build up the School of Mining and Agriculture at Kingston, and "if Queen's is aided thereby all the better.' The measure was then referred to Committee and on April 11th passed its third reading after an amendment moved by Mr. Whitney regretting that "the Government have not, in the Bill, taken steps to put the finances of these institutions on a sound, stable and permanent footing," had been rejected by 44 to 34 votes.

Speaking at the University Alumni Dinner on June 7th, following, Sir William Meredith expressed the opinion that the Government had "missed a great opportunity in not making a fuller and more ample provision for the University and University College." Under existing circumstances he deprecated the aid given to a sister University. With the assistance now afforded them there would still