Mr. Sheriff Rultan
(the most influential churchmen in the District), have expressed
themselves in favour of it in the strongest and warmest terms; as
have Mr. Keefer, of Thorold (who is a magistrate of wealth, leisure
and benevolence,--was foreman of the Grand Jury at the late assizes
in the Niagara District, and has, at the request of the District
Council, consented to superintend the schools in that district);
also Dr. Beadle, who is an old resident, and I believe, an American
Presbyterian.

Up to this time (April), Dr. Ryerson had decided to take no part in the
controversy between Sir Charles Metcalfe and his Councillors, but to
devote his energies to the great work of founding a system of education
for his native country. Much to the surprise of his friends, and (as he
says in his prefatory paper) "without consulting a human being," he felt
that it was his duty--after the issue of the manifesto of the Toronto
League--to relinquish the work assigned to him, and once more to take up
his pen in defence of one whom he believed to be in the right, and yet
who was left single-handed to meet the storm of popular clamour which
had been excited against him by combined and powerful enemies. Dr.
Ryerson, therefore, determined to decline the appointment offered to
him, and to abide the issue of the impending contest in which he
proposed to take a prominent part. In the opening remarks of this
memorable "Defence," he said:--

I was about entering upon the peaceful work--a work extensive and
varied beyond the powers of the most untiring and vigorous
intellect--a work down to this time almost entirely neglected--of
devising and constructing (by the concurrence of the people,
through their District Councils) a fabric of Provincial common
school education--of endeavouring to stud the land with appropriate
school-houses--of supplying them with appropriate books and
teachers--of raising a wretched employment to an honourable
profession--of giving uniformity, simplicity, and efficiency to a
general system of elementary educational instruction--of bringing
appropriate books for the improvement of his profession within the
reach of every school-master, and increased facilities for the
attainment of his stipulated remuneration--of establishing a
library in every district, and extending branches of it into every
township--o