this attack upon Dr. Ryerson, Mr. Spencer was proposed, in 1842, as a
candidate for a Mastership in Victoria College. Dr. Ryerson advised him
to attend the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., so as to fit
himself for the post. He did so. But the Board of Victoria College
refused to appoint him. He was very indignant, and so expressed himself
to Dr. Ryerson. He afterwards wrote to him a letter (in 1842) as
follows:--You were no doubt surprised at the remarks I made to you, and
perhaps you thought they were unnecessarily harsh and severe, and made
under the momentary impulse of excited feelings. If so, you are
mistaken. I spoke deliberately, though strongly. You know the
circumstances under which, at your request, I went to the College, and
that the situation, though congenial to my feelings, was not sought for
by me. Of the decision of the members of the Board, to give the
Principal permission to employ me part of the year, I express my decided
disapprobation. Now, Sir, I consider such a resolution a downright
insult. Had I come before that Board as a stranger, or under the
character of a mercenary hireling, and one concerning whose
qualifications you were entirely ignorant, then there would have been
some appearance of propriety in making such a proposition, as a
safeguard, and against imposition. But I am a member of that Conference
under whose direction the affairs of that institution are placed; its
interests are closely connected with those of the Church of which I am
now, and expect to remain, a member. I believed I could render greater
service to the Church in labouring to promote the prosperity of that
institution. I trust I have yet too much of public spirit, and too
ardent a desire for the prosperity of our College, to wish to remain
there if my labours were not conducive to its efficiency. But what is
the spirit of that resolution? "Why, we wish to get rid of you, and the
easiest way to do it is, to employ you for a specified time, and then we
can dismiss you with propriety. But the absurdity of that resolution is
its most prominent feature. I intend, at the first opportunity, to
express my mind more fully to you personally upon this subject." In one
of his letters in this controversy, Dr. Ryerson thus refers to this
Victoria College episode. He says: In regard to Mr. Spencer, I am aware
of his feelings toward me during these many years; ever since he failed
to procure an appointment to the Chair of Chem