ty to repair the shattered empire
and restore it to a modified splendour. A general union of the
colonies had been mooted before the Revolution. The idea naturally
cropped up again as a means of consolidating what was left. Those who
on the king's side had borne a leading part in the conflict took to
heart the lesson it conveyed. Foremost among these were Lord
Dorchester, whom Canada had long known as Guy Carleton, and William
Smith, the Loyalist refugee from New York, who was appointed chief
justice of Lower Canada. Each had special claims to be consulted on
the future government of the country. During the war Dorchester's
military services in preserving Canada from the invaders had been of
supreme value; and his occupation {3} of New York after the peace,
while he guided and protected the Loyalist emigration, had furnished a
signal proof of his vigour and sagacity. William Smith belonged to a
family of distinction in the old colony of New York. He possessed
learning and probity. His devotion to the crown had cost him his
fortune. It appears that it was with him, rather than with Dorchester,
that the plan originated of uniting the British provinces under a
central government. The two were close friends and had gone to England
together. They came out to Quebec in company, the one as
governor-general, the other as chief justice. The period of confusion,
when constructive measures were on foot, suggested to them the need of
some general authority which would ensure unity of administration.

And so, in October 1789, when Grenville, the secretary of state, sent
to Dorchester the draft of the measure passed in 1791 to divide Quebec
into Upper and Lower Canada, and invited such observations as
'experience and local knowledge may suggest,' Dorchester wrote:

I have to submit to the wisdom of His Majesty's councils, whether it
may not be {4} advisable to establish a general government for His
Majesty's dominions upon this continent, as well as a governor-general,
whereby the united exertions of His Majesty's North American Provinces
may more effectually be directed to the general interest and to the
preservation of the unity of the Empire. I inclose a copy of a letter
from the Chief Justice, with some additional clauses upon this subject
prepared by him at my request.

[Illustration: William Smith. From a portrait in the Parliament
Buildings, Ottawa]

The letter referred to made a plea for a comprehensive p