The Board of Victoria College took no part in the University
question until after the introduction of a Bill into the
Legislature which affected the chartered rights and relations of
Victoria College. On that occasion a special meeting of the Board
was called, to decide whether it would, under any circumstances,
acquiesce in that Bill, and upon what terms. The Board expressed a
strong opinion in favour of the general terms of the Bill, but
expressed an unfavourable opinion respecting some of its details,
especially the project of the "Extra mural Board," and the
non-recognition of Christianity. The Board also objected to the
smallness of the amount proposed to be given to Victoria College.
It stated that Victoria College, having been erected by public
subscription, for the purpose of "teaching the various branches of
science and literature upon Christian principles," could not cease
to be a literary institution, as some supposed the Bill
contemplated; it stated the peculiar hardships of the aspect of the
Bill to the Methodist institution, under all the circumstances
(which it explained), and submitted them to the honourable and
generous consideration of the Government.... Mr. Baldwin's Bill
proposed to grant the sum of L500 per annum each for several years
to no less than four seminaries [besides the University].... It was
objected to on the part of both Presbyterians and Methodists, that
its application to them was not liberal enough; it was objected to
on the part of King's College Council that it gave even a farthing
to any of them.

Afterwards King's College Council objected to the Bill, and
employed counsel to oppose it, on the ground that the Legislature
had no right to interfere with their charter, or to divert any
portion of King's College funds in aid of other institutions. To
this plea of the King's College Council an individual member of the
Victoria College Board offered an argumentative reply, contending
that the endowment of King's College was the property of the
Province, and upon legal, constitutional, and equitable grounds,
came within the limits of Provincial legislation. This principle, I
believe, is now generally admitted.

From this summary of well known facts it is evident--1. That Mr.
Baldwin's Bill did contemplat