Address in Praise of Founders

"The N.B. University. Encoenia Day at Fredericton ...The Addresses and the Prizes ..." The Daily Telegraph (30 June 1882): 1-2.

At the close of another academical year we have in compliance with the time honored custom of over half a century, again met to commemorate the founders of this institution and accord to them that meed of praise which they may justly claim at our hands.

Notwithstanding all that has been said in the year gone by, I feel assured that the knowledge which most of us possess respecting the men who secured to us our present privileges is somewhat hazy, and our estimate of the amount of our indebtedness to them, severally and individually is equally indistinct and indefinite. I have, therefore, thought that on the present occasion it might not be uninteresting to take a backward glance at the provisions which were made in the early days of our colonial history for the advancement of education and the support of a Provincial seminary of learning. This I shall do chiefly from a pecuniary point of view, for if money be the sinews of war, it is no less the lever by which the higher institutions of learning are raised to fame and prosperity.

The fact that many of the Loyalists were men of wide culture and refinement gave assurance that the important subject of education would not be long neglected by them. Accordingly, as early as 1792, Governor Carleton, in his speech at the opening of the Legislature, used the following words:--

A foundation was laid, some years ago, for an academical establishment in this Province, but the lands appropriated to that use, though of considerable extent are not yet sufficiently productive to answer the immediate exigencies of such an institution. If, therefore, it is in your power, after providing for these objects which have been formerly recommended to you, I am confident you will want no argument to induce you cheerfully to contribute some annual allowance in support of a Provincial Seminary of Learning.

Replying to the above, His Majesty's Council says:--

We beg to avail ourselves of this occasion to express our most grateful sense of Your Excellency's regard to the interests of the rising generation in the early foundation you have laid of an academical establishment, an institution so essential to our future prosperity.

The reply of the House of Assembly to the educational part of the speech was couched in equally favorable terms.

Again, at the opening of the Legislative session of 1793, His Excellency says:--

A plan of a suitable building for the decent accommodation of the General Assembly and the Councils of Justice, and for which a convenient situation in the Town of Fredericton has been allotted, was recommended to the consideration of the late House of Assembly, to whom also I suggested the importance of making some annual allowance in support of a Provincial Seminary of Learning, of which a foundation had been laid by an allotment of lands adjacent to this town, but which cannot for many years to come, be sufficiently productive to answer the exigencies of such an institution; and I earnestly recommend to you as a business that calls for your immediate attention to make effectual provision for both these objects, which are of such evident importance.

The House of Assembly in their address in reply, say:--

We are fully satisfied of the importance of the objects so particularly and earnestly recommended by Your Excellency, that some plan of a suitable building for the decent accommodation of the House of Assembly and Council of Justice should be adopted and provided for; and that some allowance should be made in support of a Provincial Seminary of Learning, till the allotment of the lands made for that purpose become sufficiently productive to answer the exigencies of such an institution; and we shall, as the abilities of this infant Province will enable us, make such provision as their respective importance requires.

In the course of the same session it was resolved in committee of the House that an annual sum not exceeding £200 be allowed for the purpose of assisting in erecting proper buildings for an Academy and towards the support of the same, so soon as the expected bounty from the parent state shall be ascertained and a proper place and plan shall be agreed upon, so that with such annual assistance that important object can be carried into immediate effect. The lands alluded to in the above quotations from the journals of the House of Assembly as having been received or allotted for the support of the Provincial Seminary of Learning, were doubtless a portion, if not the whole, of the large tract of land afterwards granted to the Governor and Trustees of the College of New Brunswick. In 1795, an attempt was made by His Majesty's Council to strike out some of the items inserted by the Assembly in the appropriation bill. This put the Assembly upon its mettle, and a long and bitter quarrel ensued between the two Houses. One of the items which the Council persisted in rejecting was the pay which the members of the Assembly had voted for their services; and to strike this cut was evidently hitting the Lower House on a very tender point. A new House, summoned in 1796, proved even more intractable than its predecessor, and the quarrel becoming still further embittered, no appropriation bill was passed till 1799, when harmony was restored by mutual concessions. The members of the Assembly, however, succeeded in gaining the allowance they claimed of 7s. 6d. a day each while the House sat.

It will be well to bear in mind that at this time and up to the introduction of Responsible Government, His Majesty's Council was largely composed of the heads of departments, who, as irresponsible advisers of the Governor, exercised a controlling influence in the management of the affairs of the Province. In the year 1800, the College of New Brunswick was established by Provincial Charter, and His Majesty George the Third, under the Great Seal, then issued to the Governor and trustees of the College a grant of lands lying in the rear and above and below the town plot of Fredericton. I shall try in a few words to give some idea of the extent and value of these lands: Fronting on the river St. John, the line commence at the mouth of Phillis' Creek, above the Roman Catholic Cemetery, and ran along the bank of the river downwards till it reached the upper street of the town. It then ran backward along that street as far as George street, and followed down the length of the latter to Sunbury or College street, at the lower end of the town. Along Sunbury street it ran forward till it again reached the river. It now, with one or two very trifling reserves, followed the upper bank of the river downwards as far as Mill Creek, a little below the lower mills. Such being the frontage it entered back as far as the line of the parish of Maryland and contained 5,950 acres. This on the face of it appears a munificent grant--a truly goodly heritage. But alas! It unfortunately happened that, previous to 1800, and while the lands were held in reserve for the benefit of a Provincial seminary of learning, a portion of them had been granted by the Governor in Council, under the Great Seal of the Province, to sundry individuals, and another portion had been allotted, but not granted, to divers other individuals. The payment of a small annual rent to the trustees of the seminary was made a condition of both grants and allotments. The amount of lands thus granted previous to 1800, was 1,021 acres, and the annual rent of the whole, though in the immediate vicinity of Fredericton, was only £77 13s 7d, or 1s 6d an acre on the average. The amount allotted, also adjoining the town, was 979 acres, at a rental of £33 3s 6d or about 8d an acre. It will therefore be seen that of the 5,950 acres granted to the college, as much as 2,000 acres, embracing the most valuable portion, were already tied up and, in a measure, disposed of. Among the holders I may mention that Governor Carleton claimed of his own right, or under that of others, 482 acres situated above the town; that John Saunders claimed 87 acres in the rear of the town--that is, immediately in the rear of George street. Of the allotted lands, John Saunders claimed 145 acres in the rear of the town and 14 acres below it; Johnathan Odell, the Provincial Secretary, claimed 81 acres; George Sproule, the Surveyor General, 72 acres; and Harris W. Hailes, 29 acres. Governor Carleton build a residence on that portion of his claim where Government House now stands. This residence was, in 1816, purchased from his agent by the Province for the sum of £3,500; and at the same time the title to the adjoining lands were obtained from the trustees of the college for £150. The claim of Governor Carleton to the remainder of the lands held in lease by him from the college was purchased by the Hon. W. F. Odell for a trifling sum. In consequence of its having been discovered that by a statute passed int he 13th year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, college were restrained from making any conveyances of their possessions other than for the term of 21 years; the lessees of the college lands became alarmed about the legality and security of their tenure. After applying to the Governor and trustees of the college begging their concurrence, they laid a petition before the Legislature praying hat a law may pass to confirm and assure to them, their heirs and assigns estates in fee in the lands and tenements comprised in their several and respective leases--their contention being that these leases were meant to be in perpetuity at the annual rents paid in 1800. The leading petitioners were John Saunders, Secretary Odell, and representatives of the estates of George Sproule and Harris W. Hailes, the last of whom acted as president of the Province in 1817. Counsel were heard before the House of Assembly on behalf of the petitioners on the one part and in the interests of the Governor and trustees of the College on the other part. When a bill was drawn up and submitted to the Legislature it, as was to be expected, readily passed His Majesty's Council, but met with some opposition in the House of Assembly, where a provision was added that the Act should not be in force until His Majesty's approbation be thereto had and declared. This was not obtained till four years afterwards. It has always been supposed that in order to secure the passage of the bill, not a little of what now be termed "gerrymandering" was resorted to. By the provisions of the Act those to whom grants of the reserved lands had been issued under the Great Seal of the Province previous to 1800, their heirs and assigns, were allowed the option of either retaining the lands subject to the same rents heretofore paid, or redeeming these rents upon paying to the Governor and trustees of the college a sum or sums of money that would produce an annual interest equal to the same. The rents of the lands allotted were increased fourfold, and might then be redeemed on the same terms as the lands. Within a sort time after His Majesty's assent had been given to the Act, the valuable portions of the lands adjoining the town were mostly redeemed.

The extent to which the passage of this act affected the value of the grant made to the college may be judged by the following statement: "Only six years afterwards, when Sir Howard Douglas selected the site of the present University building, the college obliged to pay £500 for the 38 acres comprised in the purchase. This formed part of Lot No. 20, and was a portion of the large tract which, shortly after the erection of New Brunswick as a separate province, had been reserved for the benefit of a Provincial Seminary of Learning, but which, previous to its being granted to the College of New Brunswick in 1800, had been allotted by the Governor in Council to Charles Earle, subject to an annual payment of 16s. 3d., or less than sixpence per acre. No improvements had been made, and in 1826 the claimant was Archdeacon Best, to whom the £500 was paid.

Let us now retrace our steps a little and ascertain what was done for the advancement of the higher education from the establishment of the College of New Brunswick till the time when the institution, ceasing to exist under that name, became to royal charter King's College, Fredericton.

In 1805 an act was passed for establishing a Grammar School in St. John, whereby £100 was granted to assist in building a school house, and £100 annually towards the salary of the master. In the same year a bill was passed granting a like amount in aid for the support of the College of New Brunswick. From this date to 1816 the St. John Grammar School and the College of New Brunswick received from the Legislature an annual allowance of £100 each, with occasional additional grants for buildings and repairs.

The Legislative session of 1816 was fertile in grants for the encouragement of education. An act was passed for granting further aid in support of the College of New Brunswick and of the Public Grammar School in St. John. By this it was provided that there be annually included in the estimates of the ordinary expenses of the province and granted to the governor and trustees of the College of New Brunswick the sum of £150, in addition to the sum of £100 heretofore granted. Precisely the same annual allowance was made to the president and directors of the Public Grammar School in the city of St. John. This year, also, on petition of the trustees, the Governor in Council granted to the College of New Brunswick Lot No. 7 in the town plot of Fredericton.

In the same session grammar schools were established in several counties of the Province with an annual allowance of £100 to each; and it was enacted that in the said schools the scholars shall be taught English Grammar, the Latin and Greek languages, orthography, the use of the globes and the practical branches of the mathematics, and such other branches as may be deemed necessary. The grammar school in St. Andrews was established by a separate act and was treated more liberally than the others--the trustees being named and incorporated as a permanent body, with power to fill vacancies in their ranks, and a grant of £200 was given them to assist in purchasing or erecting a building, and £ annually towards the support of the master. The latter sum was increased to £200 per annum in 1820 and the amount given to the other grammar schools was raised to £195 yearly.

At a full meeting of the Governor and trustees of the college, held on the 10th March, 1823, it was resolved unanimously that an application be made to the Legislature of the Province for an act to authorize the corporation to surrender their present charter on obtaining a Royal charter under the Great Seal of Great Britain in lieu thereof. The authority sought was given and by order of the Trustees, a petition was drawn up and despatched to His Majesty, praying that they be allowed to surrender their present charter, and that in lieu thereof His Majesty will be pleased to grant a Royal charter, corresponding to the provisions of the Act of the Legislature, together with such further endowment and pecuniary aid as His Majesty may be pleased to bestow.

In 1824, Sir Howard Douglas was appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Province, and in his opening speech at the meeting of the Legislature on the 1st February, 1825, he says:--

I have great satisfaction in acquainting you that our Most Gracious Sovereign has condescended to patronize the College of New Brunswick with his gracious favor, and to bestow a grant, from His Royal revenues in this Province to place that Institution upon a very improved establishment, and I rely upon such gradual provisions being made hereafter, in addition to your last vote, as may enable the Governor and Trustees to proceed in the erection of a suitable building.

On the 14th of the same month, His Excellency communicates to the College Board His Majesty's confirmation of the law enabling them to surrender their present charter, and the result of the communications with the Minister in relation to the further endowment of the College, from which it appears and His Majesty has given a grant of £1,000 for the year 1824, and £1,000 for the year 1825, upon condition that the legislature of the Province will make an equal grant. This the Legislature did for the current year; and on the last day of December following, His Excellency informs the College Board that he had received instructions from Lord Bathurst to appropriate a further sum of £1,000 for the year 1826 out of the King's casual revenue. The trustees now felt warranted in taking the initiating steps towards carrying out their resolution to erect a suitable building for the College; and early in 1826 an application was made to the House of Assembly, stating that the Governor and Trustees of the College had fixed upon a plan for a new College building, to erect which, in addition to the funds in hand, about £6,000 further would be required and that if the House would grant that further sum, to be drawn only as it may be wanted, the trustees will immediately proceed to the making of contracts for the erection of the building as speedily as possible. At the close of the session, the Speaker in an address to His Excellency says on this point: "We have attentively considered the several plans and estimates for the erection of a suitable building for the College, and although the ordinary grant only has been made by law, we have pledged the House by vote for a sum which we hope will, in conjunction with the liberal donations from Her Majesty's casual revenue, be found sufficient for that highly important object." Several plans for the new building were submitted for the approval of the governor and trustees of the college, but finally that of Mr. Woolford, the barrack master at Fredericton, was adopted. It originally provided for a large central dome to crown the edifice, but as it was found that this would add largely to the cost of the building, it was resolved to dispense with such an imposing ornament. On the 17th of July, 1826, the trustees entered into a contract with Messrs. James Taylor Co., and Messrs. Cross and Murray for the erecting of the new building for the sum of £10,300. It appears that the contractors lost very heavily by the work, and on applying to the House of Assembly for some remuneration for their losses they were granted £1,000 additional on the completion of the building in 1829. The House of Assembly had voted towards the erection of the building £2,500 in 1827 and £2,300 in 1828, in addition to previous grants. On the 27th of March, 1828, Sir Howard Douglas, in a message to the House of Assembly says: "The Lieutenant Governor has the pleasure of communicating to the House a copy of the charter received by the last mail from England for the college of New Brunswick. The House will perceive that the pledge of a charter by which no religious tests should be required of students, either on matriculation or admission to degrees is fully redeemed; and the Lieutenant governor confidently trusts that a foundation is thus laid, which, under the patronage of our blessed Sovereign and the fostering care of the Legislature of the Province, will prove a source of great and permanent benefit to new Brunswick." The act for the endowment of Kings College, Fredericton, now established by Royal charter, in lieu of the College of New Brunswick, was passed on the 10th of February, 1829. By its provision the sum of £1,100 per annum was to be paid from the Treasury fo the Province, on condition that His Majesty will be graciously pleased to grant for the further endowment of the College the annual sum of £1,000 sterling out of His Majesty's casual revenue of the Province. His Excellency, Sir Howard Douglas, by the payment of £100 into the Provincial Treasury, secured an annual allowance of £10 therefrom, to be applied to the purchase of a suitable medal or prize, to be awarded annually, forever, for the best composition in prose or verse, in the Greek, Latin or English language, on such a subject as the chancellor of the college for the time being may be pleased to appoint. To the devoted zeal and untiring effort of Sir Howard Douglas we are mainly indebted for the establishment of King's College and the liberal endowment with which it started on its career; and to him above all others our praises on this Encoenial day are deservedly due. It remains to examine the condition of the revenues of the College of New Brunswick on their passing into the possession of King's College; and here, notwithstanding the large grant of lands and the annual subsidy from the House of Assembly, we find a very sorry exhibit.

From a statement made by George Frederick Street, the registrar and treasurer of the College, and laid before the House of Assembly on the 22nd of January, 1829, we learn that:--

(1.) The interest of the monies invested in real estate was 157 14 0

(2.) The nominal amount of land rents was 141 13s. 2d., but owing to the poverty of some of the tenants and the absconding of others, the average for each of the last three years was only 78 13 7

(3.) The annual rent of the Fredericton ferry, estimated at 30 0 0

Making in all an annual income of 266 7 7

But against this is set down a debt of 2,400, incurred by the old corporation, the interest of which is 144 0 0

On deducting the interest, there is left of disposal of King's College, after payment of the debts and independent of Government grant, the annual sum of only 122 7 7

It will surprise many of you to be told, that the ferry alluded to above, and valued at £120 per annum, is the now abandoned ferry between Waterloo Row and the lower side of the Nashwaak, and which no one would now engage to run if given free of rent, nor probably with the inducement of a ferry boat thrown into the bargain.

From what has been said, it will, I think be conceded that the early years of our colonial history, and while it was yet the day of small things in the Province, the great importance of the higher education was fully recognized and provision made for its advancement with no illiberal hand. Has this fair and promising Spring-time been followed by a genial Summer and abundant Autumn? It is within the memory of most of you that King's College had it winter of discontent, and with much difficulty weathered the storms it encountered. Of its struggles for existence I do not now mean to speak. But has the University of New Brunswick, since its establishment on the principle of equal rights and privileges to all classes and denominations, met with the sympathy and encouragement it might have reasonably expected? Has it through the liberality of friends and well-wishers been enable to go on continuously widening and extending its course of instruction, so as to keep up with the requirements of the times? Has it been fostered and aided as kindred institutions have ben elsewhere, and been provided with the means for reaching the high standard which some of them have attained?

We need not search far for an answer. In the neighboring States the desire of giving to the higher institutions of learning amounts almost to a passion. The donations from individuals, which year after year pour into the coffers of some of the Colleges, puzzle the authorities to decide how they can best be utilized. The annual income of Columbia College is now $315,000; that of Harvard $231,000; that of Johns Hopkins $180,000; that of Yale $136,000; and that of Cornell $100,000. These sums are independent of the large amounts given from time to time expressly for college buildings, halls and museums, books and philosophical apparatus.

In the Dominion of Canada none of the colleges are yet blessed with such a plethora of funds; but some of them are far from being neglected. All of you know what the munificence of Mr. Munro, the New York publisher, has lately done for Dalhousie College, Halifax. Nor has the Sackville College, in our own Province, been without warm friends and generous benefactors, whose liberality on more than one occasion, since its foundation, has enabled it to spring with renewed vigor like a Phoenix from its ashes. Under like trying circumstances Acadia College also has been fortunate in meeting with sympathy and support from generous and open-handed patrons. All honor to such helpers in a noble cause. Last autumn the friends of McGill College, Montreal bestirred themselves, and having called a public meeting they asked for an addition of $200,000 to their endowment fund. Subscriptions flowed in freely, and before the annual report was published the handsome sum of $71,300 was realized. Dr. Grant, of Queen's College, Kingston, about two years ago, undertook to raise $150,000 for the better endowment of that institution, and by last accounts he had well nigh accomplished his object. His wants, however, seem to increase with the ability to gratify them, for I see that at the last meeting of the convocation of the college, he asks to be guaranteed $7,500 a year, chiefly for the founding of two additional chairs in the faculty of arts. the guarantee has, I believe, been given. You will therefore perceive that it is the order of the day for colleges to seek for the means of enlarging their course of instruction and extending their sphere of usefulness. In this respect the University of New Brunswick cannot afford to be an exception unless she is content to stand still and be left behind in the race. We must bear in mind that the thoughts of men are widened with the progress of the sciences, and if we are to compete with similar institutions in the Dominion we must be enabled to offer equivalent attractions. To meet the ever increasing demands of science and give greater freedom of choice to our students the course of instruction needs to be extended and made more varied and comprehensive. For this purpose we must be able to employ a remunerative salaries additions professors eminent in their respective branches of learning and our equipment in many respects calls for expansions and improvement. But the endowment which over half a century ago was fairly sufficient for our wants is no longer equal to the demands above indicated.

While the benefactions of individuals have been from time to time swelling the resources of kindred institutions is a remarkable and anomalous fact that during the fifty years of our existence as a college no helping hand has been stretched out to aid us in adding to our original endowment. We may, therefore, well ask how it happens that in this respect we have fared so much worse than others. I venture to asset that it is not because our professors are incompetent, careless or remiss in the discharge of their duties or because the instruction imparted is inferior in quality for our graduates, whenever an opportunity has been afforded them, have shown that they are well able to hold their own with those of better endowed and more pretentious institutions. Can we then assign any reason for the neglect under which we have so long labored?

In the first place the fact of our original endowment being unusually liberal for the times, and coming as it did from the hands fo the Government seems to have impressed men's minds with the idea that with such powerful backing we would always be amply provided for under every change of circumstances. The prevalence of the idea which is as yet far from being eradicated continues to operate against us. In the second place the mere fact of our being established on such a broad and liberal basis that no denomination can lay claim to exclusive jurisdiction over us, weakens the interest which each feels in the institution, and begets apathy and indifference to the providing of the means necessary for our continuous progress and development. For the maxim holds true in this as in other cases, that "what is everybody's business is nobody's business." If any denomination could have looked upon us as belonging more peculiarly to themselves there is little doubt but they would have taken pride in our success, and in contributing in every way to our further advancement and prosperity. All the credit and renown gained by us would be reflected more immediately upon their body, and their wealthy members would have taken care that our reputation for thoroughness and efficiency did not suffer for want of mean. As matters now stand, to whom are we to look for the supply of our wants? It must be evident to all intelligent men that our Government will do nothing more for us; nor do I think it reasonable to expect that it should. Our hopes for the future must be on the spread of a more truly liberal and catholic spirit among all denominations of our people; and we must depend for the further assistance we need on those who have the will and the means to aid and encourage the higher institutions of learning, on the Alumni of the University, and on those who have benefited by its establishment.

Something might have been expected from the wealthy men who, through a long course of years as trustees or members of the Council or Senate, were successively entrusted with the management of the affairs of the Institution, more especially as some of them, like Archdeacon Best, already mentioned, profited more than the college itself by the large grant of lands set apart for its support. To none of them, however, have we been indebted for the smallest benefaction; and consequently no sacer vates has been required to celebrate their praises on occasions like the present. I trust the hint will not be lost on the existing members of the Senate, and that some of them will hasten to make amends for the shortcomings of their predecessors.

Nothing can be reasonably expected from our professors, for with their present inadequate salaries it is as much as they can do to keep the wolf away from their doors.

Our Alumni have now become a numerous body, but as yet none of them have distinguished themselves by contributing anything towards the further endowment of their Alma Mater, and thereby enabling her to climb to a higher level of usefulness. Which of them will have the honor of being the first to set the example? An Alumni Society has been formed and incorporated and has no feeble voice in the direction of the affairs of the institution--but I regret to say that not a tithe of our graduates have joined it. This should not be the case, and strong efforts should be made to increase its numbers, and infuse new life and spirit into the general body of the graduates so that a deeper and more personal interest may be felt in the welfare and progress of the University. That Fredericton profits both in purse and reputation by being the centre of the principal institutions of learning in the Province cannot be doubted. The professors and officers of these establishments being permanent residents of the city spend their salaries therein and every student or pupil in attendance contributes more or less to its prosperity. Yet it seems to me that the citizens generally have never done much to show their appreciation of having such institutions placed in their midst; but were a serious effort made to remove them they would soon wake up to the importance of retaining them. As contrasting with the indifference and want of appreciation hitherto exhibited by Fredericton, I may be allowed to mention what has been done by Kingston, Ontario, a city of only a little more than twice its size. Last year the citizens handed over to the corporation of Queen's College, a new college building which they had erected at a cost of $45,000, the money having been cheerfully contributed by men of all denominations. The Mayor, also, on whom Queen's College has not such a direct claim as we have on the present Mayor of Fredericton, gives annually a gold medal for competition among the students; and I see that another gentleman has signified his intention of following his worthy example. I have endeavored to set forth as briefly as possible what has been done for the University in the past, and to point out what will be incumbent on its friends to do for it in the near future, if it is to retain its place among the higher institutions of learning in the Dominion. The public will scarcely need any assurance from me that on the part of the Senate and Faculty every effort will be made to use to the best advantage, whatever means they may have at their disposal. The Senate however change and the Faculty change, but there is a ceaseless succession of students and graduates, and to them, more particularly, are entrusted the honor and reputation of the University. Seeing then how much lies in their power to make or to mar the fortunes of the institution, it behoves each of them individually, whether throughout the bright and happy days of their college career, or when playing his part--not always an easy one--on the busy stage of the world, so to regulate his conduct as to deserve the appellation of a true gentleman and good and virtuous citizen, so that while thus enabling his own life he may maintain in untarnished lustre the fair fame of his alma mater.