er
since been expecting the arrival of the King's new representative. As
for Sir John Colborne, he was in no good humour with the Imperial
Government, although his rigid ideas as to discipline prevented him from
giving utterance to his displeasure except to some of the members of the
Executive, and even to them his views were imparted with great caution,
and in the strictest secrecy.[205] In consequence of his unsatisfactory
communications from the Colonial Office, he had for some time felt his
position growing more and more uncomfortable, and had solicited his
recall; but his deposition had been fully resolved upon before the
receipt of his request by the Colonial Secretary. He had served out his
full term of six years, and somewhat more, so that his removal did not
imply any reflection upon him. His nature and training unfitted him to
carry out the projects of Reform which it had been determined to set on
foot, but, in his proper sphere, he was recognized as a valuable public
servant, who had all his life done his duty according to the light which
had been vouchsafed to him. The leading spirits of the ruling party in
the Province contemplated his departure with gloomy forebodings. They
also had been led to suppose that Sir Francis Head was a Reformer of
wide experience, who was coming among them to introduce a new order of
things. They resolved to put forth one great effort while the chance
remained to them. They induced Sir John, before his departure, to
perpetrate what may fitly be characterized as the most unstatesmanlike
act of his life: an act which aroused a perfect transport of public
indignation, and caused the name of the perpetrator to be execrated
throughout the length and breadth of the Province.

It will be remembered that[206] provision had been made by the
Constitutional Act for the creation and endowment, out of the lands
reserved for the support of a Protestant Clergy, of parsonages or
rectories, according to the establishment of the Church of England. The
discussion to which the Clergy Reserves had repeatedly given rise had
prevented any advantage being taken of this authority. Nearly half a
century had elapsed since the passing of the Constitutional Act, and as
the power had been allowed to remain unexercised during all that time,
there was good reason to believe that there would be no attempt to put
it in operation, more especially in view of the strong feeling
entertained with regard to the Reserv