been sent home by opponents of the measure. The clergy of the Church
of England and of that portion of the Presbyterian Church which
preserves its connection with the Established Church of Scotland, are
generally unwilling that the question of the reserves should be left
to the decision of the Local Legislature. They are, to a considerable
extent, supported by their flocks when they approach the throne as
petitioners against the prayer of the Assembly's Address, although it
is no doubt an error to suppose that the lay members of these
communions are unanimous, or all alike zealous in the espousal of
these views. From this quarter the petitions which appear to have
reached Lord Grey and yourself have, I apprehend, almost exclusively
proceeded. Other bodies, even of those which participate in the
produce of the reserves, as for example the Wesleyans and the Roman
Catholics of Upper Canada, have not, that I am aware of, moved in the
matter, unless it be in an opposite direction.

[Sidenote: in Upper Canada;]
[Sidenote: in Lower Canada;]

Can it then be inferred from such indications that public opinion in
the province does not support the cause taken by the Assembly in
reference to the 'Clergy Reserves'? or, what is perhaps more to the
purpose, that a provincial administration, formed on the principle of
desisting from all attempts to induce the Imperial Government to
repeal the Imperial statute on this subject, would be sustained? I am
unable, I confess, to bring myself to entertain any such expectation.
It is my opinion, that if the Liberals were to rally out of office on
the cry that they were asserting the right of the Provincial
Government to deal with the question of the 'Clergy Reserves' against
a Government willing, at the bidding of the Imperial authorities, to
abandon this claim, they would triumph in Upper Canada more decisively
than they did at the late general election. I need hardly add, that
if, after a resistance followed by such a triumph, the Imperial
Government were to give way, it would be more than ever difficult to
obtain from the victorious party a reasonable consideration for Church
interests. These remarks apply to Upper Canada. It is not so easy to
foresee what is likely to be the course of events in Lower Canada. The
party which looks to M. Papineou as its lead