Dr. Ryerson's Letters in Reply to the Attacks of George Brown

What it is

This is a book published in 1859 by Egerton Ryerson, responding to attacks made against him by George Brown, editor of The Globe, over education policy. It was filmed from a copy held by the Library of the Public Archives of Canada.

Why it matters

The letters show that Brown's newspaper campaigns did not go unanswered: Ryerson, a major figure in Canadian education, published his own detailed rebuttal, accusing Brown of misquoting and distorting the record. This exchange reveals how public disputes between powerful men were fought out in print in the 19th century, and shows another side of Brown's combative political style.

Look closer

• Why might Ryerson have felt it necessary to publish a long, detailed reply rather than ignore Brown's attacks?
• What does the language used by Ryerson about Brown tell you about the tone of political debate at the time?
• How might reading only one side of this dispute give a one-sided view of the disagreement?