The Domesday Book of Queen's University

annual rental of $50 for ten years and under this condition the land was purchased for the sum of $5540.60/100. But little was done [during] this year towards the further prosecution of the work of the Endowment Fund. The subscriptions were paid on the whole with praiseworthy punctuality, and at no expense to the University. There was however a deficit of $1489 in the University Finances, owing in a great measure to the fact that the annual grant from the Church, of $2450 towards the Theological Department had not been received in full in consequence of the inadequacy of the College Fund, less than half the amount only having been remitted to the Treasurer. In view of the fact that Knox College had reported that it would thereafter require much less than it had needed up to 1875 a request was made to the General Assembly to direct that the College Fund should be divided according to the altered requirements of the Colleges. Considerable additions were made to the Library during this winter, including a large portion of the late Dr. Machars library. Among the advantages enjoyed in connection with the new building, was

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the holding of divine service in the Convocation hall on Sunday afternoons, when distinguished ministers, most of them graduates of the University, though belonging to different demoninations, preached to the students. This practice seemed to the Senate most appropriate to the idea of a Christian University, and was found beneficial in various ways. The question having previously arisen on other occasions as to the Principal's status at the Board of Trustees, it was decided at the October meeting of the Board, that under the provisions of the Royal Charter, he had the right ex offico to sit and vote as a member of the Board and did not as other members of the Board retire in rotation or require to be re-elected. The April Convocation, the first in the new buildings, was largely attended by the Friends and Alumni of Queen's and the closoing ceremonies were marked by unusual enthusiasm. It was announced at Convocation that the Chancellor had intimiated his intention of giving a gold medal every year during his incumbency of the office and that he had announced the subjects of these essays to be competed for in 1881 and attached a prize of fifty dollars to each,

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The honorary degree of LL.D. was at this time conferred on Sir W. Young, Chief Justice of Nova Scotia, M. Louis Frechette of Quebec and Mr. Alphaus Todd of Ottawa. An interesting feature of the day's proceeding was the commencement of the Founders' Avenue, extending from the Southern gate of the Campus to the building. Trees were planted on each side of the drive, each sapling being dedicated to the memory of one of the original founders of the University, and being planted by some friend or relation (See Queen's Coll. Journal Vol. VIII p.159). The Trustees received a letter from Dr. Williamson, announcing his desire to resign the Professorship of Natural Physics, he having filled a position in Queen's for forty years and desiring rest. The letter was heard with profound sorrow by every member of the Board, and while it was necessary to appoint a committee to suggest a successor it was unanimously resolved that Dr. Williamson should continue for a least another session so that sufficient time might be given to the Commitee to look for a man in all respects qualified for so important a chair. The feeling was strong that it was by no means necessary that one so valued and as Dr. Williamson should sever his connection with the University and the

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J.H Taverner Nathins Lecturer on Elocution Rev. John B Mowal Professor of Hebrew Mathaw F. Dufuis M.A.F.B Edin Professor of Chemistry and Mathematics Rev. George Ferguson B.A. Professor of History and English Language and Literature John Watson M.A. L.L D. Professor of Logic, Mental and Moral Philosophy and Pol. Economy. John Flectcher B.A. Oxon. Professor of Classical Literature. Rev. Alex B. Nicholson B.A. Lecturer on Modern Languages and Assistant to Professor of Classics Rev. James Fowler Lecturer on Natural Science. Observatory Board The Principal Professor Williamson. M. Flanagan Esq. Director Professor Williamson. Library Curators. The Principal, Professors Mowat and Watson. Librarian Prof. Fowler Curator of the Museum. Professor Fowler Janitor. John Cormack Graduates 1881 William J. Brown. Hugh McPhadyen Bidwell N. Davis. Daniel Mctavish

Adam R. Langton. Henry Shibley. James G. Downing. William Meikle. Henry C. Fowler. John Moore. John P. Hume. Herbert Mowat. Jamed Hutcheson. Peter M. Pollock. Paul F. Langill. William Rothwell. Alex. MacTavish. William J. Smith George McArthur. Marcus S. Snook. Broderick McKay. James Somerville. Lewis Lewis B.A. of Lampeter College ad undem gradum M.A John C Cattanach B.A. James Ross B.A. Archibald B.M. Callum B.A. B. D. James Ross B.A. M.D. William Gibson B.A. John H. Bells Joseph S. McGurn David A. Johnston. David Wallace. Richard Coughlan. Edmund Oldham John Jamieson. James F. O'Shea. Benjamin J. M. Connell. James M. Dupruis. David H. Rogers. Francis R. Alexander. Samuel H. Snider. Anthony W. Herrington. Thomas J. Symington. William A. Lavell.

Session 1881-1882 The classes during the session 1881-82 were as follows. Arts 186 Divinity 16 Medicine 68 270

These numbers showed an advance of thirty on the previous session, and of these six were women. At the autumn convocation Professor John Fletcher M.A. Oxon. was installed as Professor of Classics in the place of the late Professor Mackerras. This appointment gave satisfaction to all concerned, owing to Mr. Fletcher's reputation as a teacher, scholar, & man. A little was done during the year 1881-82 in prosecuting the work of endowment, but a decided check was given to the payment of subscriptions by the decision of the Privy Council in the matter of the Temporalities Fund. The case as it stood at this point [promised] to be of serious importance to Queen's University. The ministers of the Kirk of Scotland in old Canada, who had refused to go into the Union of 1875 had instituted an action, claiming that the Temporalities Fund of the Church belonged to them. The Privy Council decided that the Provincial Legislatures had

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not the jurisdiction to warrant them giving the legislation which the Synod of the Kirk of Scotland in Canada had obtained prior to the Union. The decision implied that the legislation should have been obtained from the Dominion Parliament. The Board of Trustees felt that, by inference, the Ontario Act, under which Queen's was declared to be in the same relation to the United Church in which it had been to "the Kirk" in Canada, could also be declared unconstitutional. They therefore applied to the Dominion Parliament for a Bill which was in substance a reproduction of the Provincial Act. The Principal appeared before the Private Bills Committees of the House of Commons and the Senate, where representatives of the Anti-Unionists opposed him with warmth. The Bill however passed the Committees, and subsequently both Houses of Parliament unanimously. By the act of the last General Assembly a Common Fund had been established for the benefit of its Theological Colleges in Ontario and Quebec. The appeal was responded to by the Church, and during this year Queen's received nearly $3000. $4000 was delcared to be the smallest contributon from the source on which the Theological Department could be maintained, even in its then imperfectly-equipped state. But the growing needs of the University imperatively

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demanded an increase of the teaching staff, and the want of an additional chair both in Arts and Theology was felt to be a necessity. In view of these facts a considerable addition to the revenue of the University was urgently called for, and at the Annual Trustee Meeting in April, 1882 it was unanimously agreed to take steps for raising the necessary funds. The following resolution was then passed "It is resolved that an appeal be made to the graduates and friends of Queen's College to subscribe to its revenue in the following manner. I. That inasmuch as an additional revenue of $7500 is immediately required, subscriptions be solicited payable in annual instalments during five years, of such sums as the donors shall see fit to give the first instalment to be payable on the first day of May 1883, and no such subscriptions to be payable unless at least the sum of $5000 be annually subscribed. II. That inasmuch as it is further necessary to provide for the growth of the University during the currency of the said five years, any subscription if secured in excess of the said sum of $7500 be funded to meet any increase of expenditure that may become essentially necessary during such period of five years. III. That all donations or legacies hereafter received and not specifically designated be funded in order to increase the capital of the institution.

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IV. That a central committee composed of the Principal, the Rev. Dr. Smith and Messrs. R.V. Rogers, G.M. Macdonnell, and A. Gunn, M.P. be appointed to carry out this proposal and that such committee be empowered to appoint special committees elsewhere, and to adopt such other means of accomplishing the result as they may see fit. At the April meeting the resignation of Dr. Williamson was with [great] regret accepted, and the feeling of the Board was expressed in the following minute: "In accepting the resignation of Dr. Williamson to date from 1st of October next, the Board record with deep regret the necessity of his retirement from the active duties of the Chair he has so long filled to their satisfaction and the prosperity of the College. After forty years of loyal service he retires from the full work of the Professor's Chair, crowned with the most honorable laurels that man can wear, the esteem of the Trustees and the Church, the devotion of the students and affectionate reminiscences on the part of every graduate. Commencing his connection with Queen's College in 1842, his service as a Professor has embraced almost the whole period of its existence. In the immense difficulties connected with the founding and supporting of a higher institution of learning in a new country, in the struggle for its maintenance which continued for

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many years in the conquering of difficulties which at several times threatened its very existence, in faithful service as a professor, a Trustee and Vice Principal Dr. Williamson has by his faithfulness contributed very largely to success in the past, and to the present hopeful position of the University. His general spirit and thorough kindness to all with whom he came in contact have won for him the special title of "the Students Friend." The Board have much satisfaction in bearing in mind, that while retiring from active duty as a Professor, he will still retain the position of Vice-Prncipal and Director of the Observatory." It was also decided that in view of the proposal of Dr. Williamson, expressed in his letter of resignation, to continue to render to the University any services still in his power, he should be appointed Astronomer and Observer to the University, with the status of a Professor, and that he should receive for his services, the allowance of $500 made by the Government to the University, for the Observatory. A further expression of the love and esteem universally felt for this constant friend of Queen's was given on the evening of Convocation Day, at the Conversazione, when Mr. James Maclennan, Q.C. of Toronto, presented Dr. Williamson on behalf of the Alumni of the University with

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