THE COLLEGE. REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL TO THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, 1899. Or, allowing for double registrations, 633, as compared with 589, 567, 564, 533, 456, and 432 in the six preceding years. Our class-rooms are now over-taxed; and unless we provide a few larger class-rooms or restrict the attendance, the health of Professors and Students must suffer. The Chancellor has made this the subject of some remarks to the University Council, and the Council has appointed a committee to bring his address to the notice of the people of Kingston and the friends of the University elsewhere. Last session, one class had to be divided into two, but this was a deplorable waste of the time and energy of the staff, and it cannot go farther without a loss to the University graver than that involved in the restriction of our numbers. Now that the need is fully before our graduates and the public, a need which testifies to the demand for higher education and the ever-growing reputation of the University, it would be a libel on our patriotism and intelligence to say that it cannot or will not be met. In giving the number of our students, we do not include those in "The School of Mining and Agriculture," or in the Dairy School or those in classes connected with various forms of University extension. In addition, the following honorary degrees were conferred; on the Rt. Hon. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister, the degree of LL.D., on last University day; and on April 25, the same degree on Rt. Hon. Sir Charles Tupper, G.C.M.G.; and on April 26, the same degree on His Excellency Lord Minto, and on Rev. W. H. Fitchett, Melbourne, Australia; and the degree of D.D. on the Rev. W. G. Jordan, B.A., Strathroy, Ont. LOSSES DURING THE YEAR. The Rev. Dr. Cochrane, a member of the Board of Trustees, has been taken from us by death. We lose in him a sincere and valued friend, one who interested his whole congregation in the work of Queen's. SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER BENEFACTIONS. The following report shows that progress is still being made in founding the Williamson Scholarships : SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEIVED BY THE TREASURER, J. b. maciver, TO THE WILLIAMSON The minimum sum aimed at, $2,500, has thus been reached, and the University Council decided yesterday to keep the fund open for another year, with the hope that the maximum of $5000 may be attained. This is much to be desired, not only because of the great services rendered to the University by Dr. Williamson, but because Queen's has such a meagre list of Scholarships. Everyone knows what a potent attraction they are to the more promising students, who desire to take a University course but cannot, simply because of the res angustae domi. Two years ago, the Chancellor intimated his intention to establish four Scholarships, one in each of the Faculties of Arts, Practical Science, Medicine and Theology; the first to be given last year, and one to be added each year thereafter. At the beginning of the session he announced that they would be established at once; and consequently, while the one in Arts was awarded on the results of the Matriculation Examination held last July, the other three were com peted for at the close of this session. The value of these Scholarships is $310 annually, a notable addition to our list, for which all departments of the University are most grateful. In connection with this subject, it may be pointed out that we need, perhaps even more than Scholarships for students, half a dozen Fellowships for our most promising graduates, to keep them in connection with the University, pursuing post-graduate studies and doing valuable tutorial work, to the relief of Professors and the benefit of extra-mural students. These graduates are as a rule our best men. They have learned enough to know their need of more learning. They are the class which will furnish future Professors and men of learning and research, so sorely needed in a new country. At present they go to the United States, where they have no difficulty in getting Fellowships, established by wise men in connection with Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Columbia, Chicago, and other Universities. Though not lost to the world they are thus lost to Canada. They would rather remain at Queen's; for as a rule their testimony is that they can do as good post-graduate work here, and in some subjects better work. At present our only Fellowships are the two established by the London Exhibition Commissioners of 1851 for research study abroad, of the value of $743 each; besides "the William Nickle" in Mathematics, and the "Robert Waddell" established by Mr. Hugh Waddell of Peterboro, in Physics, of the value of $150 each. We need especially three or four in Classics, Philosophy, English, and Political and Economic Science. The most important benefactions of the year are those which have been given to found "the Sir John A. Macdonald Chair of Political and Economic Science," and to increase the Endowment of the Chair of Mental Philosophy. As regards the former, the following circular was issued last October : SIR-Shortly after the death of the Right Honourable Sir John A. Macdonald, the Honourable Senator Gowan, C.M.G., believing the best monument to a Statesman to be a Chair of Political and Economic Science bearing his name, and convinced that in the case of Sir John such a Chair should be in the University which he took an active part in founding, sent to the Principal of Queen's $500 as the nucleus of an endowment fund for that object. From time to time since, Judge Gowan has sent other sums for the same object. His contributions now amount to over $6000. The University had previously appropriated a sum towards the endowment of such a Chair on account of its intrinsic importance. From those two sources $1300 a year can be depended on, but as the average salary of a Professor of Queen's is $2000, it is desirable to secure sufficient to yield $700 a year additional. It is felt by friends of the University that the work so generously commenced by Senator Gowan should be completed, and the Chair established without further delay. We believe that many will be glad to take part in a movement to perpetuate, by a monument more useful and more enduring than marble or granite, the name and work of a great Canadian and Imperial Statesman, who was largely identified with the building of the Dominion and the Empire. We have the honour to submit the paper annexed, to be filled up as may seem good to you and returned to any one of the undersigned. It is hoped that the Chair may be established at the annual Convocation in 1899. To this circular the following responded, with the subscriptions Almost all of these subscriptions have been received by the Treasurer already. Toward the further endowment of the Chair of Mental Philosophy the following subscriptions have been made, payable 1st May 1899; interest at 5 per cent being due from that date on so much of the principal as may be unpaid. |