uch pleased with the conduct of the Council.
The Governor General had received an idea from Mr. Ryland, with which
he was quite delighted. It now seemed to His Excellency that he would
soon bring the Commons of Canada to their senses. Had Mr. Ryland been
called upon to point out a remedy for the existing difficulties in the
government, he would have said to lord Dalhousie:--either unite the
legislatures of Upper and Lower Canada, or, by giving a fair
representation to the townships, secure an English influence in the
House of Assembly. Perfect the constitution by creating an hereditary
aristocracy, for which the Crown Reserves were originally set apart,
and make the Legislative Council so respectable as to render a seat
therein an object of ambition to every man of character and talent.
Exercise decidedly the patronage of the Romish Church, and give the
Romish Bishop clearly to understand that the slightest opposition on
his part to this regulation would put an end to his allowance of L1,500
sterling per annum. Admit no more coadjutors, secure a permanent
revenue, adequate or nearly adequate to the expenses of the civil
government. Ascertain to a farthing the monies that actually are or
ought to be in the Receiver General's chest. Give to that officer an
adequate salary, and take effectual means to prevent one shilling of
the public monies from being employed by him in future in commercial
speculations. Accomplish these objects, as you easily may, and be
assured that good sense and upright intentions, on the part of His
Majesty's representative, will thereafter be fully adequate to get the
better of every difficulty that has hitherto attended the provincial
government. This scheme of a remedy for existing difficulties was
submitted by the Earl of Dalhousie to the government of England. A bill
was indeed introduced into the imperial parliament, for a legislative
union of the two provinces, and for the regulation of trade in Canada.
A majority of the Commons of England would not, however, listen to the
proposal for a legislative union of the provinces, for which no desire
had been expressed by either Upper or Lower Canada. The sense of the
inhabitants of the Canadas should first have been obtained. To this
opposition the imperial ministry were compelled to yield, and therefore
that part of the bill which related to the union was relinquished. The
other part of the bill, afterwards known as "The Canada Trade Act,"
became la