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British troops are at this moment required to repress the smouldering flame of rebellion in that Colony.' I wondered that the Times had not followed up this statement with the equally tenable one made by the Colonial Gazette, that as many militia-men were employed to prevent the regulars from running away.' The article alluded to, in the Leeds Times, proceeded in a strain similar to that of the sentence which I had quoted, and, after much odious misrepresentation, said—'A state of dreadful insecurity exists; credit is unsound, trade languishing, and the Canadians are leaving their own country by thousands, and crossing over the lines, carrying with them their all into the United States.' It was really unnecessary for me to bring these statements before that meeting for the purpose of refutation: their falsehood here was so palpable, that they excited no feeling beyond that of contempt. It might be different, however, elsewhere, where the truth was not so well known; and I was happy to be able to say, that I had in my possession authentic information, from which it appeared, that nearly the whole of last year's immigration had remained in the Colony, and that the Emigrants were in a state that promised future peace and comfort; and that so far from the assertion in the Leeds paper being true, that the people were leaving the province in thousands, numbers had returned from the United States, whither they had proceeded with the impression that the country was more suitable to their views. They had discovered their error, and were now endeavouring, successfully in most instances, to regain in this Colony what they had lost by their trip over the lines. Many who had originally proceeded to the United States for settlement, during the last season, had come to Canada, and the comparison between the two countries was so favourable to the latter as to induce them to remain in it. These were most cheering and gratifying facts, and being facts would go the further to expose the malicious statements of the Leeds Times and some other journals. One more statement only would I take the trouble to refute. A most wanton attack was made on the citizens of Montreal in the following manner :- And if such be the condition of the

Canadian people themselves, how truly deplorable must be the fate of the poorer class of Emigrants, whom the Government may inveigle out to that Colony, in order to relieve the landlord-made "surplus population" at home. The Montreal papers, recently arrived, inform us of British Emigrants landing on their quays, perfectly destitute, and starving of hunger. One journal states-" At the present time, there are at St. Francis, Lower Canada, two hundred Emigrants from the Highlands of Scotland, in a most wretched and destitute situation, and actually on the point of starving." Relief has been asked from the Montreal St. Andrew's Society, but in vain; and the poor creatures are thrown upon the cold charities of an unfeeling world for the bare means of subsistence; failing which, to famish, to sicken, and to die in a land of strangers, far from the silver streams, the green valleys, and wild mountains of their fatherland.'-Now, how plain a tale would invalidate this somewhat poetical statement. The Emigrants alluded to arrived very late in the season, and I certainly could not but condemn the singular improvidence of these poor people, arriving here without means so late as they did; but what would be thought of the heartlessness of this writer when it became known that they were nobly, generously, and promptly assisted by the inhabitants of Montreal, whose zeal and munificence in promoting Emigration deserved the highest commendation? The Emigrants were eventually settled among their friends in the eastern townships, and were likely to prove a valuable, thriving, respectable, contented, and industrious body of settlers, instead of perishing of hunger and disease in a land of strangers. No British subject is a stranger in Canada. It must prove a source of pleasure to every one to learn that more persons, immigrant settlers in Canada, have sent home means to assist their poorer friends, to take passage and come out in the spring this season, than were ever before known to do so this was one of the most, if not the most convincing proofs that could be adduced in favour of this country. It was cheering, as indicating the prosperity of those who have settled here already, and the strong, abiding, enduring affection they

entertain for the government, laws, institutions, customs, and usages in this country. No portion of Canada can be more deeply affected by Emigration than Quebec: to see its noble river filled with vessels bringing an industrious population into the country, which will again send back those vessels freighted with the products of their industry, must be the ardent desire of all who wish well to the maritime and commercial greatness of Canada. The prosecution of the public works, the promotion of Emigration, the settlement of the public domain, and, above all, the cultivation of a good understanding between all classes of the community, were the objects of the Government; and really, when viewing this city, the scene of early enterprise and national valour, and contemplating its people as the descendants of two illustrious nations, renowned for their chivalry and honour, I must say, Jungamus dexteras, Let us join right hands, and mutually glorying in resting under the protection of that meteor flag that has braved a thousand years the battle and the breeze, and that floats triumphant over this lofty and impregnable citadel, consider it to be alike our ennobling distinction, as our highest privilege, to be classed among the most faithful, united, and prosperous subjects of the British Crown. With these remarks I would conclude when I again meet the inhabitants of Quebec, I hope to have much more glowing accounts to give them of the spread and success of Emigration; and before that time, I should, no doubt, have the means of communicating to them a variety of gratifying information."

On the 23rd of March we arrived at Liverpool, and a few days afterwards proceeded to London. On the 4th and 12th of April, meetings of the Nova Scotia Baronets took place at the Thatched House Tavern, at both of which I attended. On the latter occasion, the Marquis of Downshire presided. On the 13th of April, I was presented to Her Majesty at the levee, by Lord Stanley, on my appointment as Emigration Agent for the Government of Canada, and, in conjunction with my friend Sir Allan Macnab, delivered addresses entrusted to us for presentation. On the 21st, the North American Colonial

Committee re-assembled to commence their labours for the season; and on the day following the Consulting Council of the British American Association held their first meeting, which was presided over by the Duke of Argyll, as President. On this occasion, the minutes of a meeting of the Baronets of Scotland, held on the 17th of March, were read; letters were produced from about fifty Peers and Baronets of Scotland, (proprietors of upwards of 800,000 acres of land in Nova Scotia,) consenting to join the Association as Vice-Presidents or Members of the Council; the constitution of the Association, or regulations for its management, as matured at a series of meetings, commencing on the 9th of January, 1841, and continued from time to time to the 14th of April, 1842, was laid upon the table; a report was read from the Board of Executive Commissioners, setting forth that arrangements had been entered into for the purchase of several extensive seignories on the north bank of the river St. Lawrence, which, from geographical position, were admirably adapted to be the centre of the operations of the Association, and that, also, with a special view to providing for such settlers as had (like his Grace's tenantry of Tyree and Mull) been accustomed to fishing pursuits, negotiations had been entered into for an extensive tract of land in Prince Edward's Island; the prospectus of the Company, preparatory to its being issued to the public, was revised; Sir Allan Macnab and myself severally addressed the meeting, and expressed our opinion in reference to the value of the lands contracted for, and the great advantages which would attend the operations of the Association; and a resolution was moved and unanimously adopted, "That the objects of the Association should be immediately proceeded with; the meeting regarding the question of Emigration and Colonization to be one of paramount importance to the Colonies in British North America, as well as to the people of the United Kingdom."

On the 27th of April, the Colonial Society gave a grand public dinner at the Thatched House Tavern to Sir Allan Macnab. The Earl of Mountcashell filled the chair, I having

the honour to act as croupier. A large and distinguished company attended. The proceedings were fully reported in the leading journals of the day; and here I shall only give the addresses made by Sir Francis Bond Head, Bart., Mr. Urquhart, and myself:

Sir Francis, on returning thanks, spoke as follows:-"Gentlemen, I rise to return you my best thanks for the honour you have done me in drinking my health. With respect to my own services, to which your noble chairman has just been pleased to refer, I beg leave to sum them up in one word. I did all I could, I did the best I could; and having said this, I dismiss the subject. I now turn to a subject infinitely more interesting to you all; to your gallant and distinguished guest, in honour of whom you have assembled, and whom I am so happy to see present. The generous welcome he has met with in this country, has afforded me pleasure which I will not attempt to describe. From persons of the highest rank, and of both political parties, he has received the most gratifying marks of their approbation of his conduct. I have pleasure in announcing to you, that at a public meeting of the members of the Senior United Service Club, especially convened for the purpose, Colonel Sir Allan Napier Macnab was this morning elected by acclamation an honorary member of that institution; an unprecedented honour, which could only be conferred upon him by dispensing with a standing rule of the club; and I have now only to look around me, to explain to you the high compliment which he is this evening enjoying by the presence of so many talented individuals, distinguished for their disinterested affection for our North American Colonies. Gentlemen, I believe no one present more cordially congratulates your honourable and gallant guest on the facts I have just stated than I do. At the same time I must confess, that what gives me most pleasure, and what, during the whole evening, has been uppermost in my mind, is to reflect how proud and gratified the noble fellows who inhabit our splendid Colonies will be when they hear of the honour which has been conferred in their beloved mother country upon their leader in the senate as well as in the field;

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