ay be able to add the occasional discharge of a cannon,
or the bursting of a bombshell, to the running fire of ordinary
musketry. Though I am no stranger to contests, I cannot divest myself
of palpitations at the approach of an engagement. When once the fire has
commenced, I feel but little concern except to keep cool and
good-natured, and to have an ample supply of ammunition for all
exigencies--satisfied of the righteousness of the cause and the
government of an over-ruling Providence.

In February the Rev. John Ryerson wrote to Dr. Ryerson on the Metcalfe
crisis, and said:--

While I believe that the late Executive Council, in the main, and
in principle, was right, and Sir Charles wrong, yet I am very far
from endorsing all that the Council did as right. I think that they
should not have resigned when they did. I think they were guilty of
a breach of trust in throwing up office in the midst of a session
of Parliament, and when many important measures were pending. I
think, as the "antagonism" which caused the resignation of the late
Council existed before the Parliament was convened, that they
should then have resigned, or remained in office until the
prorogation....

You are not to suppose from these remarks that I have turned
politician, or that I am intermeddling with things which do not
belong to me. I have been endeavouring to attend to my appropriate
work; and though continually pressed with questions, soliciting my
opinions respecting passing events, I have said as little on all
these matters as possible, and I am identified with no party.
Indeed, the state of my health is such as to admonish me to think
about other things than worldly politics, and I blush to think that
I have written so much respecting them. Powerfully convincing
reasoning, with truth on your side, might produce a great effect
among our people; but at the present more than nine-tenths of them,
in these western parts, are the supporters of the late Executive
Council.

In reply to a letter from his brother John, asking his opinion on the
pending dispute between Sir Charles Metcalfe and his late Councillors,
Dr. Ryerson wrote on April 3rd, and said:--

Of the general measures of the late Council I cordially approve. I
cannot say so of their dispute with the Governor-General. Of the policy
which he or they had pursued, I have