f striving to develop by writing and discourses, in
towns, villages and neighbourhoods, the latent intellect, the most
precious wealth of the country--and of leaving no effort unemployed
within the limited range of my humble abilities, to make Western
Canada what she is capable of being made, the brightest gem in the
crown of Her Britannic Majesty. Such was the work about to be
assigned to me; and such was the work I was resolving, in humble
dependence upon the divine aid, to undertake; and no heart bounds
more than mine with desire, and hope, and joy, at the prospect of
seeing, at no distant day, every child of my native land in the
school-going way; and every intellect provided with the appropriate
elements of sustenance and enjoyment; and of witnessing one
comprehensive and unique system of education, from the a, b, c, of
the child, up to the matriculation of the youth into the Provincial
University, which, like the vaulted arch of heaven, would exhibit
an identity of character throughout, and present an aspect of equal
benignity to every sect, and every party upon the broad basis of
our common Christianity.

But I arrest myself from such a work--leave it perhaps for other
hands, and the glory of its accomplishment to deck another's brow;
and, if need be, to resign every other official situation; and,
unsolicited, unadvised by any human being--inwardly impelled by a
conviction of what is due to my Sovereign, to my country, to a
fellow-man--I take up the pen of vindication, of reasoning, of
warning and appeal, against criminations and proceedings of
impending evil, which, if they be not checked and arrested, will
accomplish more than the infamous ostracism of an Aristides, render
every other effort to improve and elevate Canada abortive, and
strew in wide-spread desolation over the land the ruins of the
throne and its government.

From the date of Mr. Higginson's letter (12th April) until the 7th of
September nothing was done in regard to the appointment of a
Superintendent of Education. On the latter day, however, Mr. Higginson
wrote to Dr. Ryerson as follows:--

We find a great difficulty in making a provisional arrangement for
the Educational duties. The University authorities require the
immediate services of a mathematical professor, and His Excellency