ohn Russell (referring to the Address
of the Legislative Assembly, at the session of 1850, to the Queen),
states as follows:--

Before the union of Upper and Lower Canada, such an unjust
proceeding could not have taken place, for, while separate, the
Church of England prevailed in Upper Canada, and had frequently a
commanding weight in the Legislature, and at all times an influence
sufficient to protect her from injustice. But since their union
under one Legislature, each sending an equal number of members,
matters are sadly altered.

It is found, as was anticipated, that the members returned by
dissenters uniformly join the French Roman Catholics, and thus
throw the members of the Church of England into a hopeless minority
on all questions in which the National Church is interested.

The Church of England has not only been prostrated by the union
under that of Rome, and the whole of her property made dependent on
Roman Catholic votes, but she has been placed below Protestant
dissenters, and privileges wrested from her which have been
conferred upon them.

In his recent charge to the clergy of his Diocese, the Bishop remarks
again:--

So long as this diocese remained a distinct colony, no measure
detrimental to the Church ever took effect. Even under the
management and prevailing influence of that able and unscrupulous
politician, the late Lord Sydenham, a Bill disposing of the clergy
reserves, was carried by one vote only--a result which sufficiently
proved that it was not the general wish of the people of the colony
to legislate upon the subject.

I shall first notice that part of the Bishop's statement which relates
to Upper Canada, before the union with Lower Canada. The Bishop asserts
it not to have been "the general wish of the people of the colony to
legislate upon the subject" of the clergy reserves; that the Church of
England prevailed, and had sufficient influence to maintain what he
regards as her just rights. The Bishop has resided in Upper Canada
nearly half a century, and such a statement from him, in direct
contradiction to the whole political history of the Province during more
than half that period, is difficult of solution, though perfectly easy
of refutation. I have already transcribed one of a series of
resolutions, adopted by the Legislative Assembly as early as December,
1826,