to which he was unable to accede. At least he was determined
to give them a fair trial. Writing on the 17th of March he says:--

The late Ministers tendered their resignations in a body on Saturday
4th, immediately after the division on the address, which took place
on Friday. I received and answered the address on Tuesday, and then
sent for Messrs. Lafontaine and Baldwin. I spoke to them in a candid
and friendly tone: told them that I thought there was a fair prospect,
if they were moderate and firm, of forming an administration deserving
and enjoying the confidence of Parliament; that they might count on
all proper support and assistance from me.

They dwelt much on difficulties arising out of pretensions advanced in
various quarters; which gave me an opportunity to advise them not to
attach too much importance to such considerations, but to bring
together a council strong in administrative talent, and to take their
stand on the wisdom of their measures and policy....

I am not without hopes that my position will be improved by the change
of administration. My present council unquestionably contains more
talent, and has a firmer hold on the confidence of Parliament and of
the people than the last. There is, I think, moreover, on their part,
a desire to prove, by proper deference for the authority of the
Governor-General (which they all admit has in my case never been
abused), that they were libelled when they were accused of
impracticability and anti-monarchical tendencies.

[Sidenote: News of the French revolution.]

It was only a few days after this that news reached Canada of the
revolution of February in Paris. On receipt of it he writes:--

It is just as well that I should have arranged my Ministry, and
committed the Flag of Britain to the custody of those who are
supported by the large majority of the representatives and
constituencies of the province, before the arrival of the astounding
intelligence from Europe, which reached us by the last mail. There
are not wanting here persons who might, under different circumstances,
have attempted, by seditious harangues if not by overt acts, to turn
the example of France, and the sympathies of the United States, to
account.

[Sidenote: Three difficulties.]

But while congratulating Lord Grey on having passed satisfactorily through
a crisis whic