The Herald -- 1868-07-29 -- Page 2

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‘THE HERAL

~~ lesen y
meseurnyruesnesacunonaeny soe sae

D, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1868.

a er nc — “- a i fo in nnn ;
8 Vale, Wellington, Inverness, (not plaster-| . During the summer circuit, I have visited one! The students and pupilsdo sitin the same apart! the Company's Agent, was in a difficulty, having passen-
of) Kelen Grove, Grove. one _ | hundred and sixty sehools, and in the winter, up | ment. * gers to A aguante area age

Brack Boarv.— Canoe Cove, (no lock,)| to this time, sixty-eight have been inspected,| There is spaceenough for the No, in attendance, oon eee coned to pay our hotel expenses till the
Unger North River, Fermoy, Campbelton, Lot 21, | making two hundred and twenty-eight since March, | and as long as thére arg only two teachers, two | nr the boat, to which arrangements we consent-

Mar ov rar Wortn.—Pleasant Valley, (new

district, ) Johnson's Road, Brook Vale, Bloomficld,

new t,) Great Miminegash, St. Peter’s &

- Paul’s, (new district,) Ascension, IMorschead,

Foxley River, Wellington, Carleton, Lot 6, (new
+) Inverness, Kelvin Grove.

No Trusrers’ eg Fit sat Vale, Cavendish
Road, Ascension, Sea Cow Pond, Tignish, Fortune
Gove, Canoe Cove, Webster's Creck, St. Cathe-

’s, Mount Pleasant.
No Mar or P, E, L.—Lower North River, St.
Mary’s, Johnson's Road, Brook Vale, Freciand,
Bloomfield, (new district,) Great Miminegash,
Hill’s River, Peter's & St. Paul’s,(new, ) Horse-
head, N » Bea Cow Pond, Tignish, Campbel-
ton, Lot 4, Mount Pleasant, Lot 8, Fortune Cove,
‘Cape Traverse, The Grove, Inverness, Carleton,
K Capes, Foxley River, Hazel Grove,
River, Johnson’s Road, Brook Vale,
F + Bloomfield, Hill’s River, Horsehead,
@ lton, Lot 4, Greenhill, Wellington, Inver-
ness, (new, ) St. Patrick's, Pleasant Valley, (new, )
Ju Road, Irish Town, Greenwich, North
Rustico, Cavendish Road, St. Augustine,

To the Board of Education for the Island of Prince
Ldward, ’
Gextiemey :—

T have now to’report generally on the progress
of Education, aud the state of the District and
Grammar Schools in the Western Section of the
Island, from the 16th April, 1867, the date of my
last printed report, to the present tiie.

In doing so, 1 will refer you epecially to my
Auarterly report, dated the 26th June, the state-
ments and recommendations in which I fully con-
firm from the results of my more recent visits,

T have subsequently made some suggestions
with the view of producing a more regular attend-
ance of the children’ at the schools, and thus re-
moving the greatest obstacle to their progressive
unprovement, One of these suggestions, my re-
port of 26th Sept., is the establishment of County
or District examinations of a number of pupils
aclected from the several schools and asthenia by
any of the Trustees and parents disposed to do so,
and thereapon the award of prizes to the most
deserving, cither by their progress in their studies,
or their regular attendance.

think some such measure, after the example
of New Brunswick, would create a spirit of emu-
lation, not only among the scholars, butalso with
the teachers, and would have a favorable effect
on the parentsy inducing them to make greater
efforts to keep their children regular at school.

Much, under any cireumstauce, depends on
the parents, and they cannot be too strongly ex-
horted to attend, as far as may be in their power,
to the education of their children. There are
many impediments to regular attendance in this
«limate, but I have known instances of girls walk-
ing bare-footed to school, two miles over the snow,
and of others attending in very inclement weather
with very thin clothing. Those who evince so
much anxiety for improvement, should be encour-
aged, but at the same time, every care should be
taken that their health may not suffer, and on this
account the 11th rule of the new regulation should
b> strictly enforced.

In the Schedule to my report, T have particular-
ized the condition of the schoolhouses, many of
which are cold and unfit tor winter use. To
remedy this effectually, would require more power
than is at present possessed by your Board, as the
suspension of its school is the only penalty that
ean be inflicted on any District that may allow
its schoolhouse to become dilapidated, and I know
of one instance at least, where this has produced
no good effect. While I am on this subject, I
may perhaps be allowed to quote the words of an
eminent British statesman, who has recently ob-
served that, “if a parent did not educate his child,
he was committing not only asin against that
child, but a positive offence against socicty.”’

Next to the parents of the children, we should
look to the Trustees to promote Education in
their respective Districts, and much more depends
on them, than on any of the other authorities. The
office is one of great importance, and its duties
are too often neglected, or inefliciently performed.
In many cases, however, all of which I have noted
in the Schedule, some of the Trustees have taken
a warm interest in their schools, and wherever
this is the case, good effects are invariably pro-
duced, both on the teacher and the children,

With regard to the teachers, I ean safely report |

that most, if not all of them, are well qualilied,
as far as regards their own attainments in the
several branches of instruction usually taught in
the District Schools, If 1 might presume to make
any suggestions, it would be, that previously to
ting the certificate, some little time should
Se devihed to the actual teaching, under superin-
ndance of some school or large class, And
e-ving that English composition should be made
@ prominent subject for examination. If a third
glass of teachers, consisting of such as should be
willing to submit to a higher examination, to be
regulated by your Board, weve instituted, with an
inc salary, it would, | think, tend to raise
sa general tone of Education throughout the Is-
and. I must repeat what I have before said as
to the deficiency in Black Boards and Maps, and
also the frequent want of Trustees Books. It will
be for your Board to enforce the orders you have
made on these subjects, which do not appear in
the printed regulations.

New Schoolhouscs have been built at Platte
Lot 17, and North Bedeque, Lot 25, These Ihave
omg Moca as well adapted for their pur-
pose. The new Schoolhouse at Cape Wolfe was
gompleted when I last visited the District, but
some differences had arisen with the contractor,
which prevented its occupation, A Schoolhouse
is also byilding in the District of Huntly, late
South Kildare

Tes comer Behoot at Summerside, of which
Mr. A, McRae is master, on my first visit, con-
tained a small number of scholars, but some of

them were well advanced in their Classical and
Mathematical studies. Two of the pupils were

then receiving instruction in Greck, six in Latin,

of whom construed an Ode in Horace, seven

French, four in Algebra, and six in Mathematics,
and I can speak very favorably of the pro

these branches,

27th ult., the more advanced scholars had left

school, but the number was increased to

foyr, of whom two were learning Latin,

: two G , four

1867. I have attempted, in the Schedules, to give
an adequate report of the state of each school, but
it should be remembered, that only a small pro-
portion of the scholars present during the summer
attend during the winter season, It will he seen
that the senior classes generally read and spell
well, and I have endeavoured to ascertain. by
questioning them on the subject of their lessons,
whether they understood their general meaning,
and I have paid particular attention to their pro-
greasion in Arithmetic, notes of which, as well as
the results of the examination in other branches,
will be found in the several columns of the sta-
tistical Schedules, ae
lL have the honor to be, gentlemen,
Your most obedient servant,
W. ILENRY BUCKERFIELD,
Visitor for the Western Section.
Alberton, Feb, Ist, 1868. E

To the Board of Education,

Gextiewen -—

1 received, from your Seerctary, on the 3rd in-
stant, ‘“‘ Notice, that at the regular meeting of the
Board, on the 30th ultimo, a special meeting was
ordered to be held on the 10th instant, at 10 A.
M., and that the Visitors of Schools be notified,
that unless the concluding portions of their re-
ports for the last year be laid before the Board
on that day, they will not be received thereafter.”

I presume that, in asking reports from your sub-
ordinates carlier than customary, it was not your
intention to order the reiteration of the facts and
suggestions detailed in the usual quarterly com-
munications regularly submitted, as required by
law.

As I interpret your injunctions, you wish your
officers to furnish at the time specified, the com-
plement of statistics and a supplementary report
stating succintly, observations bearing upon the
improvements desirable in our school system, and
in the present organization of the schools, that you
may have time to revise their suggestions, and
select such as you approve of, to be included in
your report to the Government and the Legislature.

In deference, therefore, to your supposed desire
and expectations, as well as in accordance with my
own conviction of duty, I respectfully comply witb
the requirement of your resolution,

The Schedule of statistics is similar in form to
the authorized school registers, The aggregate
of the boys and girls, and also of the pupils in the
five reading classes, corresponds with the number
enrolled, The accompanying synopsis exhibits a
reliable summary of statistics. The entries on
registers in schoolsare remarkably accurate, which
ean be ascertained by inspection and comparison
of the columns to which I have now referred.

The recent amendments in the School Act in
relation to the payment of salaries, has satisfied a
large majority of teachers, especially the fathers
in the profession, but the difference in the salaries
of old and young teachers is considered, by those
classified probationers, as an illiberal and unfair
distinction. They maintain that they entered and
attended the Normal School to be trained in the
art of teaching, and have received license from the
B, of E, without any invidious conditions.

The necessary condition for the prosperity of
schools is, the interest and sympathy of the people;
but the immediate agents in effecting cfliciency
must be good teachers, To supply these is the
object of the Normal School.

The theory of Normal Schools requires that they
should be strictly professional, that those who en-
ter them should be thoroughly acquainted with the
several branches they propose to teach, and the
instruction in them should be confined to the art
of teaching. When our Normal School was estab-
lished, however, nothing like this could be realized.
But as all our teachers, except a few, have been
trained ; the instruction in our schools should now
be so exact and thorough as to make the pupils
really know, as teachers should, the branches
to be taught, so that the art of teaching alone
would remain to be learned; consequently, the
present work in the Normal School should be su-
perseded, being a perversion of its legitimate func-
tions.

In this connection, I referto my communication
of the 27th November ult., incase you wish to re-
vert to the questions you then proposed. 1 now
transcribe your Secretary's letter to me, and Mr.
Webster's autograph answer:

Jharlottetown, Noy. 16th, 1867.
J, Anovckts, Esq., 8. or N.S.

Dear Sir :— :

I am directed to request you to furnish to the
Board of Education, full statistical information on
the state of the Normal School, including the fol-
lowing heads :-—

The No, of students or pupil teachers in atten-
dance,

The No, of ordinary scholars or pupils,
The No. of cach sex,
The No, in the female department, of both sexes
all in the present term,
The hours of instruction, summer and winter,
The No, of pupils from the country.
The No, of pupils resident in the city,
The No. of teaching days in the year,
The No, of teaching days in each week,
The Books used.
The portion of tine devoted by the students to
teach, in the Model School,
Whether there is a Model School, or classes
properly so called ?
Whether the instruction is conducted on Stowe’s
system’? If not, on what system ?
Whether the pupil teachers and the ordinary
= sit in the same department,

hether the accomodation is sufficient in regard
to space and rooms for the largest No. in atten-
dance, and any other information you can furnish
on the subject.
[Signed,| JOIN MeNEILL, See'y B. of E.

Nov. 18th, 1867,
Abstract from Register of Normal School term,
commencing Sept. snd, 1867.

No. of stadents—females, 19, males, 25; total 44.
Pupils taught by master—females 3, males 11 ;
total, 14.

Totalin Mr, Webster's room—femalos 86, males

On my last visit, on | 99..58

Total in Miss MeKinnon's room—girls 44, boys

13=<57, 58x57<115,

Of these 115, 38, all students, are from the coun-

try, The remaining 77 reside in the city.

Hours are, in summer, from 9 to 124, winter,

from 94 to 2.

_ The No. of teaching days is about 215.

The No. of pore Bae in each week, 5.
hool. The students

There is no Model take

, | turns assisting Miss McKinnon, one being al
Salvin er, ‘

The nystom is Stowe’s system, as it now exists

=

as our circum:

in Stowe's Institution in Glasgow, so

rooms are su Hee.

A good Model School, with two or three depart-
ments, is required to make the P. E. 1, Normal
School worthy of the name,

The foregoing are very concise answers to the
questions submitted: I hope you will find them
sutisfactory, ° #*™

[Signedy «' J. If. WEBSTER.

To J. Arbuckle, Fst, }

yr Ss

He A3e

In compliance with the order of the Board for
my guidance in prescribing the course of study
and discipline in the last term in the Normal
School, the students have heen exercised in-prac-
tical lessons without interruption, for the last
month ofthe session, to qualify them for an ex-
amination testing their ability to teach and their
capacity for governing—essential acquirements—
to be in future prominent features in the examin-
ation of applicants for licence ty teach. :

Although the days when teachers were few in
number and poorly prepared for their work, have
passed away ; yet, I regret thatit isa too prevalent
usage to engage teachers without sufficient con-
sideration of their aptness to teach, and of their
zeal and love forthe work, without which the best
intellectual attainments are worthless,

A radical change in the organization of the city
schools is absolutely necessary, and that change
should comprise systematic grading, which 1 re-
peatedly proposed: in former reports, and agsin
respectfully recommend to your sorious consider-
ation,

Schoolhonses on improved principles be would
previded, furnished and equipped in accordance
with the requirements of the system, with regard
to method and discipline.

In our city, a system of three schools—giving
two grades to a school, would be a practicable and
suitable arrangement. The course of instruction
prescribes an average period of “schooling,”
each pupil advances from one grade to another at
the end of cach term of the established course,
and, when the highest class is transferred to the
Grammar School, then cach class below is pro-
moted one grade, leaving a room vacant for new
recruits,

Citizens complain that the school acoommoda-
tion is not commenstirate with the requirements
of the community.” The establishment of the
districts has not affoyled the convenience and com-
fort contemplated,

Children residing in the Fifth Ward, attend
school in the First,’ Several of the pupils in the |
*Kent,’? come front other wards, Practically,
the restrictive regulations prescribed in reference
to districts are disregarded, and the limits defined
transgressed,

Tn all the schools, some of the children do not
live in the district in which the school they attend
is located, and many of them are of various ages
and attainments,

Tn the five reading classes in the city schools,
there are from the Ist class to the 5th, in success-
ion, 118, 102, 106, 9£ and 82 pupils, in the aggre-
gate, 512, so that these data from the records in-
dicate that the systematic classification proposed
is porfectly feasible, and unquestionably Tealtalie,

My conviction of the defects and deficiencies of
our system urge me to recommend the establish-
ment of a few special schools.

An intermediate Seminary is much required for
the instruction of pupils not qualified to enter the
Grammar School, and who are too old and too
large to be placed with the children in the primary
schools, Thisschool should combine in itsscheme,
classes for instruction in the English classics,

(Coutinued on fourth page.)

© orrespondencee,

eT a een

A meeting of the members of the Saint Peter's Bay
Agricultural Society was held at the Head of St. Peter's
Bay, on Wednesday, the 8th instant.

Mr. Angus MeDonald was called to the chair. In
amendment to the bye laws of the Society, the follow-
ing resolutions were passed :—

Resolved, That the Treasurer and Secretary be patd
the sum of three coaprs out of the general fond, as
compensation for his labor for the flest year, and that
the commiltttee shall furnish the said Treasuer and:
Seeretary with a journal and ledger for the use of the
society.

Resolved, That-any of thet committee not present at
this mecting or any other meeting of the society, be ex-
pelled and replaced Hy aarfajority of the meeting pre-
sent, unless showing’ carkie Of absence.

Resolved, ‘That an exibition, fair and cattle show,
will take place at St. Peters Bay in the first week in
October, A. 1D., 1868.

Moved by Mr. Richard Dwan, seconded by Donald R.
McKinnon, that the Right Rev. Dr. McIntyre, Bishop of
Charlottetown, be Patron of the St. Peter's Bay Agri-
cultural socicty. ;
And the following gentlemen were placed in the room
of the absent members of the committee: —Mr, Willlam
Hooper in the room of John Hughes, not present, Mr.
John D. McKinnon in the room of Jolin R. McKinnon,
not present, Mr. Ilenry D, Anderson, Cardigan Road,
in the room of Peter MeAulay, not present, It was slso
agreed that Willlam If. MeEwen, Esq., be a member of
the committee, ;

Mr. Editor, I feel happy to announce to you that the
above meeting described, was well attended by gentle-
men from different parts of this locality, who intend to
take a lively Interest in fostering the society. Although
our society is only newly fledged, we promise by the
encouragement received from its members and others,
amd especially the support granted by the Legislature,
that our society wi} at and be a benetit to the
farming population of King’s County. Several mem-
bers of the soclety gave most excellent observatioZ
on the subject of their farming operations, &e., &c.
Spoke highly on the use and the benefit resulting from
agricultural societies,

The Secretary of the society read a document from
His Excelleney in Council, showing the appointment of
the following gentlemen, who are empowered by His
Exeellewey tn Council to expend the £100, granted
the Legislature for the St, Peter's Bay Agrieultural,

—;
‘on, Andrew McDonald, M. L. C.

Anthony MeCormack, Esq., M, P. T.

Willlam Whiteman, Esq.,

William Clements, Esq.,

Alexander J, McDonald, Esq.,

George Moore, Esq.

John Stewart, Esq., Red Polut.

Mr. Thomas Annear, Lot 59.

Mr. Rowald MeCormack, Lot 45.
The committee is desirous to knew from the above
named gentlemen when intend to hold their
meeting, in order to receive their report in dae time in
regard to the exhibition, and the committee also re-
p-cymene sage to be given to the Sceretary in

ANTHONY McCORMACK, See'y.
Soclety's Room, lead ter’s
July sth, 1868, - }

Other papers please copy.

On boar the Heather Detle.
Tharedas, 23rd July, 1868,

To tue Evrron ov rie Tet anpen,
Sir,—On arrival at Sammerside from Shediae,
. onthe steamer Heather Relle, we found, to
as Soe shenenae Wan on dotet to

of Crk, on the 15th Inst.

ed. We were, accordingly, conveyed to the ‘Clifton
House,’ where we received every attention from Mrs.
Mawlev, whose kindness and urbanity of manner, can-
not fail to recommend her houge to the favorable notice
of travellers and excursionlate,

We. the undersigned, passengers of the Heather Belle.
desire publicly to express onr admiration of the kind
attention paid ue by Cpt.R. K, MeKenzie, the Pilot and
Crew of the boat, as well as of the etraightforward and
honorable conduct of the P. E. I, S. N. Co.. in thus
amply providing for our comfort, under the pecoliar
circumstances in which they found themselves placed,
and feel assured that by their pursuing this praise-
worthy line of conduct, they will ensure to themselves
pablie patronage and confidence,

Wishing the company every success, we hereunto
cheerfully subscribe our names—

(Signed)

Rev. Alex, MeWilliam, M. A.: Henry J, Richards,
Hamilton, Can. ; H. M. Churchill, T. G, Wad-
man, John Wil'iams, Charles Pre, R. D. Stearns,
George Kear, George Dodd, Thomas Pve, Miss
A. t Pollard, Miss KE. Saunders, Mrs, II.
Richards, Mrs. John Melnnis, Mrs. G. Kerr,
Miss Margaret McCarter, Mra. Mclean, Mrs. C.
W. Shaw, Mrs, J. EH. Churchill.

RECIPROCITY WITH THE UNITED STATES.

A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held in
the rooma of the Marine Insurance Company on Mon-
day evening, the 21st inet. Tn the absence of the Hon,
D. Brenan, President, the Hon, J. C. Pope was called
to the chair,

Mr. Pope stated that the object in ealling a special
meeting of the Board was in conseqnence of certain re-
solutions introduced ino the United Statea Congress,
relating to a free trade between that ecoantry and
Prince Edward Island. The question waa one of very
great importance, and this Association, representing to
some extent the commercial interests of the Colony, he
thought, ongit to take some action on the subject.

1. C. Mall, Esq, laid upon the table a printed copy
of the resolutions enbmitted to Congress by Mr. B. FP.
Butler, relating to Free Trade with P. E. Tsland, which
the chairman read. They are as followa:

Resoleed, by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

That the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and
directed to admit into the Several Ports of the United
States, free of duty, the actnal productions of Prince
kdward Island, including fish, accompanied by satis.
factory vouchers of the place of production, under such
regulations as he may deem necessary, whenever the
Colonial Government of P. E, Island shall provide by
law.

First ; Free admission of all productions of the United
States to that Island,

Second: 'To adinit to its bays, ports and harbors, for
shelter, to obtain supplies, and to refit, free of duty of
Impost, all American Fishing vessels,

Third: To give license to fish In the waters adjacent
to said Island upon such terms that the Hense fee stall
not exceed five dollars for any one vessel, or such less

a per centage of, or excise on. licenses granted by the
Colonial Government of said Island,

Non. G. Coles. D. Laird, Beq., Hon. B. Davies.
Hon. W. W. Lord, 1. C. Uall, W, Heard, E, Reilly.
and others, severally addressed the Board, expressing
themselves in favor of Free Trade with the United
States, and after a lengthened discussion the following
resolution was agreed to :—

Wuerras it appears from certain printed resolutions
submitted by Mr. B. F. Butler, cn the 6th of July, inst.,
that the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States have under their consideration the sub-
ject of Free Trade between that country and Prince
Edward Island; and this board being of opinion that
such Trade would be most conducive to the financial
interests of both countries, will use their best efforts to
promote so desirable an object.

Resolved therefore, That a Committee of five gentle-
men be appointed from this Board, to correspond with
Boards of Trade, and other persons Interested in Re-
ciprocal Free Trade between the United States and
British America, for the purpose of obtaining such In-
formation as may lead to’so desirable a result,

The following gentlemen were then named as a Com-
mittee to carry ont the foregoing resolation :—Wm.
Ueard, Feq.. Hon. B. Davies, I. C. Hall, L. C. Owen
and 1). Laird, Eaqra.

The meeting then adjourned until Monday evening
next, when a general meeting of the Association will
take place in the City Hall, for the election of office
hearers, &c,

July 22, 1868,

A, H. Yares, Sec'y.

Mr. A. IL. St. Genwats, Proprietor of the Canadian
Advertising Agency, Toronto, Ont., 8 our Sous

for U& paper.

Ghe Herald.

Wednesday, July 2D, 18GS8.,

eae ae oorenaaes

NOVA SCOTIA,

Dr. Tupper, delegate of the Dominion, and Messrs,
Hlowe, Annand, Troop and Smith, delegates of Nova
Scotia, arrived at Malifax together, in the Steamer City
On stepping ashore, the
Doctor was greeted with a storm of hisses from those

assembled on the wharf. We cleared out of Nova
Scotia to Ottawa the following day.
his brother delegates, on presenting themselves on the
deck of the steamer, received a very different weleome
from their fellow-countrymen.
says the Recorder, * vent the alr when Mr, Towe step-
pet on the gangway to come on shore, and every one

Mr. TWowe and
“Cheer after cheer,”

present, with the exception of some Dominion toadies,

seemed eager to grasp the hand of the great patriot,—
onee more among his countrymen, whom he has served
so honestly and well.” Previous to their leaving England,

the delegates put on record thelr protest against the
manner in which the Imperial Government and Parlia-
ment dealt with the petition for Repeal presented to
them, The “Protest” possesses a bitterness of spirit
which might have been expected from men who have
heen defeated in obtaining through legal means a re-
storation of constitutional rights treacherously taken
away—and which they find themselves unable to ro-
store by physical force. The tenor of the document
may be gathered from the following paragraphs, with
which It concludes :—

“But what of the future? Tho question Is natural,
but we have no answer to give. ith the publication
of this paper our responsibilities end. We have pro-
— our remedy, it has been rejected. His Grace the

Solonial Secretary and Lord Monck have assumed the
task of making things pleasant and harmonious. They
will have had time to try their experiments before the
Legislature of Nova Scotia meets in August,

“ In the Interim, we presume the future of our coun-
‘ry will be anxloysly considered 7 ies * the
A — guide them Having discha our duty to
the empire, we go home to share the perils of our na-
tive land, in whose service we consider it an honour to
labor, w fortunes in this the darkest hour of her
history it would be cowardice to desert.”

Tt is diMcult to say what the people and the Local
Government of Nova Scotia will attempt in the present
orisis, or what course of action they will adopt. It in
evident that they are feightfully exasperated, and will
be inno mood to obey the behests of the Dominion
Government. There are rumours of a secession ordl-
nance being passed In August when the Legislature re-
assembles. This might be all very well if the difficulty

jyras simply between the Dominion and Local Govern-

sum as may be demanded by the Canadian Dominion as |

Agent for procuring American Advertisements, and |
is authorized also to receive Canadian Advertisements |

ments. Its solution would be short and simple. But
as there are Imperial interests and rights involved jn
the question, its satisfactory adjustment is not so easy,
The Chronicle, which is the organ of the Local Gov.
ernment, points to revolution, as the Inevitable goal to
which the Province is hastening. ‘In their final pro.
test,” says this paper, ‘ the delegates have temperately
related that we are just nearing the narrow boundary
which divides insulted allegiance from revolution. We
yo slowly but surely to the goal, Before we reach it
we trast that England will learn the truth and do us
justice.” The Citizen, another Anti-paper, looks to the

local legislature as the medium by which independence

is to be gained. It says: A
“Tn such a crisis as that which has arisen, it is rather
for the legislature to speak than the press; but the
action of the legislature must be largely influenced by
the feclings to which we have referred. Nova Scotia is
now exposed to the dangers which beset a Colony that
the sit respect ofits peop no withia tho Penpite fa wrhio
the self- e a
she has been reared, and is driven to look abroad for
*

snecour,
* * * *

°

‘Upon the wise discretion of our legislators, rests in
a large measure our future destiny. The duty of the
press is rather subordinate, because all the materials for
action are ready at hand. Itis not necessary that the
people should be wrought up to a state of indignation
or that appeals should be made to secure the confidence
of their countrymen for those who will guide the public
counsels, However bold those counsels may be, the
will be somewhat behind the popular feeling, and will
leave no chance fr suspicion and mistrust to creep into
our ranks,”

Time will soon tell what all these mautterings mean;
but we must express our conviction that the hope of
obtaining ‘* suceour” from “ abroad” is a delusion and a
snare which may lead many persons into positions of
danger, If not to introduce them to the acquaintance of
Caleraft, without the slightest chance of obtaining Re-
peal,

LIBERTY AND LICENSE.

eee

Wr are not of those who would deny to the press
& large amount of liberty, We commenced jour-
nalism with very extensive ideas on the subject, but we
were not long in discovering to our cost that our views
of the privileges and freedom of the press were alto-
gether too magnificent for the eommanity in which we
lived. Chief among those who Instructed us in the
hard lesson, was the Editor of the Patriot, and if we
now return him the compliment in part, he will admit
at least that we have been an apt pupil. As a general
rule, then, we admit that public men are amenable to
acertain amount of censorship from the “ Fourth Es-
tate.” ‘This liberty is conceded in all free countried,
where the law recognises aud punishes under the name
of libel any gross attacks, not founded on fact, upon
the personal character and reputation of individuals.
A press, however, may often descend into license, with-
out strictly coming within the offence of libel, and the
power of the Court. For example, whilst a journal
might be perfectly justifiable In holding any public
oficial responsible for his political views and opinions,
it can claim no such privilege with respect to private
individuals. It can never be Justified in bringing be-
fore the bar of publle opinion, a private Individual, be-
cause of certain opinions which he holds with respect
to private Educational institutions, because of his con-
victions In matters of either Church or State, or be-
cause of his attendance or non-attendance at any public
or private gathering. Were such a license allowed the

press, no person in the community would be safe from ,

attack. Any Individual,against whom an Editor had an
instinctive animosity, or upon whom, unjustly perhaps,
he looked zs the light of a rival for popular favor,

might be singled out and held up to opprobrium becattso** “

he attended certain conventions and not others,because
he paid a visit to certain friends and not to others—or
because he gave expression to certaln opinions on one
subject and remained silent on others.

Now, to make a personal application of these remarks.
~-It appears that the ITon. Col. Gray was Invited to at-
tend the late examination at St. Dunstan's College,
which invitation he was pleased to accept. In response
to the request of the Rev. Rector of the College, the
Ilon. Col, Gray offered a few congratulatory remarks to
the students and thelr professors. His Lordship the
Chief Jastice did the same. There is nothing in what
the Colonel said which could offend anybody. He was
at perfect liberty to act as he did. An trreparable
family afliction had caused him to withdraw from pub-
lic life long ago, and in attending the College and
speaking as he did, he neither insulted nor compromis-
ed any religious or political body In the Island. As a
private gentlemen, he spoke his private opinions, and,
therefore, we are at aloss to know why the Patriot blindly
pounces upon him and imoutes to him all sorts of mo-
tives for his actions and his words. The Chief Justices
fvas quite as amenable to censure as Colonel Gray ;
bat whilst the former is passed over in silence, the Jat-
ter is made the subject of a three-column editorial.
Why this invidious distinction? Is there any private
grudge to satiate, in the person of the Colonel, which
does not exist with regard to the Chief Justice; or is it
presumed that the former may seck to re-enter public
life through the Belfast District, to the prejudice of Mr.
Laird’s prospects in that quarter? We do not know
that Colonel Gray ever intends to mix In local politics
again, nor do we think that Mr. Laird has any positive
knowledge on the point. What excuse, therefore, can
he give for his invidious and savage assault upon a pri-
vate gentleman, who, so far from having political ends
to serve, in attending lectures, examinations, rifle com-
petitions and other non-political gatherings, may be
simply seeking relief from the sorrow which naturally
plerees the soul for the loss of a companion who waa
the joy of her own houschold, and the comforter
of the afflicted throughout the community, We
have been as mach opposed to Colonel Gray upon
political questions as any weiter in) the Colory,
We are still opposed to his views upon confederation;
but we must certainly say that we would be guilty of
coarse brutality, now tiat he has retired from public
life, If we allowed our opinions to pursue him into
private life, aud attribute some sinster motive to his
every action, Colonel Gray demands no defence at our
hands, We offer none, We simply protest against the
license of the Patriot, which would, even under the most
afflicting circumstances, and contrary to the ordinary

right to
ated ncollege over whieh Gemmation
odious your co-religionists for all time to