scences_, etc., pp. 14, 15.

[201] The Colonial Office could not even plead, in extenuation of such a
fatal blunder as the appointment of Sir F. B. Head, that it was unaware
of the importance of the crisis in colonial affairs. In the beginning of
the instructions prepared for Sir Francis, dated "Downing Street,
December 15th, 1835," the following words may be found: "I have the
honour herewith to transmit to you a Commission, under His Majesty's
sign-manual, appointing you Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Upper
Canada. You have been selected for this office at an era of more
difficulty and importance than any which has hitherto occurred in the
history of that part of His Majesty's dominions. The expression of
confidence in your discretion and ability which the choice implies would
only be weakened by any more formal assurance which I could convey to
you." What a commentary upon such language was furnished by the mere
fact of the appointment of such an one as Sir Francis Head!

[202] See a brief account of Sir F. B. Head's life published in _The
Courier of Upper Canada_ of June 11th, 1836, written by Alan Fairford
(John Kent), and prefixed, with notes, to the collection of his
Excellency's _Speeches, Messages and Replies_, published at Toronto
during the same year.

[203] _Canadian Portrait Gallery_, Vol. II., p. 169, where the sentences
above quoted form part of a tolerably full sketch of the life of Sir F.
B. Head.

[204] He seems to have been provided with a duplicate copy by Joseph
Hume. See that gentleman's letter to Mackenzie, dated 5th December,
1835, and included in the third chapter of Head's _Narrative_.

[205] See _Report of a Select Committee of the Assembly_, etc., 1838.
See also _The Rectory Question_, p. 2. Toronto, 1836.

[206] _Ante_, p. 63.

[207] The intention was to create fifty-seven rectories, and patents for
that number were actually made out, but thirteen of them were left
unsigned by the Lieutenant-Governor, and the authorities refused to
complete them or to admit their validity. See _The Rectories of Upper
Canada, being a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of
Commons_, etc. Colonial Office, Downing Street, 1839. See also _The Last
Forty Years_, vol. ii., p. 199: _Religious Endowments in Canada; a
Chapter of Canadian History_, by Sir Francis Hincks, K.C.M.G., C.B.;
London, 1869.

[208] See _The Clergy Reserves, their History and Present Position_, by
Charles Lindsey,