A proponent of bilingualism, his will established travelling fellowships for the McGill University Faculty of Law that paid the costs for English-speaking Quebec lawyers to study the French language and the history of the French Civil Code in France. The money Macdonald donated to philanthropic causes was unparalleled in the history of Canada yet despite his wealth and good works, he remained a humble man who avoided publicity.
A supporter of bilingualism, his will created fellowships at McGill University Faculty of Law to assist English-speaking Quebec lawyers in studying French and the history of the French Civil Code in France. The funds Macdonald donated to charitable causes were unprecedented in Canadian history; despite his wealth and good deeds, he remained a modest individual who shunned attention.