The Intellectual Development of the Canadian People

The Intellectual Development of
the Canadian People

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Title: The Intellectual Development of the Canadian People
Author: John George Bourinot
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THE INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANADIAN
PEOPLE
AN HISTORICAL REVIEW
BY JOHN GEORGE BOURINOT

PREFATORY NOTE.
This series of papers has been prepared in accordance with a plan
marked out by the writer, some years ago of taking up, from time to
time, certain features of the social, political and industrial progress of
the Dominion. Essays on the Maritime Industry and the National
Development of Canada have been read before the Royal Colonial
Institute in England, and have been so favourably received by the Press
of both countries, that the writer has felt encouraged to continue in the
same course of study, and supplement his previous efforts by an
historical review of the intellectual progress of the Canadian people.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, OTTAWA, February 17th, 1881.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

EFFECT OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CHANGES ON MENTAL
DEVELOPMENT.
Introductory Remarks--Conditions of Settlement in Canada--Her
History divided into three Periods--First Period, under the French
Regime; Second, from the Conquest to the Union of 1840; Third, from
1840 to 1867--New Period since Confederation--Intellectual Lethargy
in New France--Influence of U. K. Loyalists on Political and Social
Life of the Canadian Provinces--Formation of two Governments in the
East and West--Effect of Parliamentary Institutions on the Public
Intelligence --Remarkable impulse given to Canadian Communities by
the Union of 1840--Difficulties of the Old Settlers--Results of the
improvement of Internal Intercourse, the growth of Education and
Political Progress--Population in 1760, 1840 and 1870--Rapid increase
of the Professional and Educated Classes--Wider Field of Thought and
Activity opened to Canadians by Confederation--Effect of Climatic
Influences on National Development--Distinctive traits of French
Canadians--Influence of Union of Races--Usefulness of Religious
Teachers in early times--Labours of the Journalist--Influence of
Political Discussion-- Development of Public Intelligence through the
extension of Political Rights.

CHAPTER II.
EDUCATION.
State of Education under the French Regime--Its slow progress after the
Conquest--Schools in Upper Canada--Dr. Strachan's famous Academy
--Stimulus given to Public Schools by the Union of 1840--Schools in
the Maritime Provinces--Higher Education in Canada--The Quebec
Seminary--King's College--Roman Catholic, Methodist and
Presbyterian Institutions--First Colleges in Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick--Laval University--Kingston Military College and other
Educational Experiments--Female Colleges--Statistics of Educational
Progress-- Status of Teachers--Defects of the Public School

System--Review of the University System--Advantages of Special
Professional Courses as in Germany--A National University.

CHAPTER III.
JOURNALISM.
Influence of the Newspaper Press on the Intellect of the Country--First
Newspapers in Canada--Review of Political Journalism up to
1840--Quebec Gazette, Montreal Gazette, Quebec Mercury, Le
Canadien, etc.--Journalists of mark in old times--Gary, Bedard, Neilson,
Mackenzie, Horne, Fothergill, Gurnett, Dalton, Parent--Mrs. Jameson
on the Upper Canada Press--Advent of Joseph Howe--Journalism since
1840--Sir Francis Hincks--The Globe and Hon. George Brown--Le
Journal de Quebec and Hon. Joseph Cauchon--The New Era and Hon.
D'Arcy McGee--The Hamilton Spectator, Toronto Leader and other
Journals of note established--Oldest Newspapers in Canada--Number of
Papers, and their probable total Circulation--Influential Journals since
1867--Leading Journalists--The Religious Press--Illustrated
Papers--Influence of the Press in Canada--Its Improvement in tone and
its great Enterprise--The Old and New Times, as illustrated in two
Toronto Papers.

CHAPTER IV.
NATIVE LITERATURE.
Society in New France--Intellectual lethargy--First Books published
after the Conquest--Bouchette's Works--New Era in French Canadian
Letters--Periodicals, Histories, Poems--Garneau, Ferland, Cremazie,
Frechette--Antiquarian Research--Canadian Ballads--Literary Progress
of English-speaking People--Society previous to the Union of
1840--Early Libraries and Magazines--Authors of Repute--'Sam