Speaking later of the decade between 1870 and 1880, Principal Dawson referred to it as the middle period in his connection with McGill, "a period of routine and uniformity, succeeding the period of preparation and active exertion and preceding the period of culmination. During these ten years," he said, "the University outlived for the most part its earlier trials and struggles. Its revenues expanded considerably.... The number of its students greatly increased, as did also its staff of instructors. Gold medals and scholarships were founded. The beginning of a museum was formed, and the library, although still small, was growing rapidly, by donations and occasional purchases. A suitable building on the College grounds was provided for the Medical Faculty. A new Faculty of Applied Science was active and prosperous, though as yet without any building of its own. The statutes and regulations had become fixed and settled, and the whole machinery of the institution was moving smoothly and regularly. It had, in short, reached a position in which it could challenge comparison with its sister institutions and rivals and which to many seemed adequate to all the requirements of the time. Still, there were many wants unsupplied, and constant difficulty was experienced in meeting the demands made upon us, from our limited resources, whilst many promising fields of usefulness had to remain uncultivated.... On the whole, the ten years had been characterised by steady, if slow, advance, achieved by much toil and many sacrifices." But the Principal was not yet satisfied with the University's service to the community. "It has been a matter of sorrow to me," he said, "that we have been able to do so little, directly, for the education of the working class and of the citizens generally, more especially in science." [Illustration: _Peter Redpath_ _Founder of the Redpath Library and the Redpath Museum_]