he amount)
for the promotion of that object. Such an act, under the present
circumstances of the country, would be worse than a former alien bill,
and ought to be deprecated, resisted, and execrated by every enlightened
friend of the peace, happiness, and prosperity of the Province.

In reply to a letter from Rev. Joseph Stinson, urging him to come to
Toronto and oppose this bill, Dr. Ryerson said:--

For me to leave Kingston, under present circumstances, and go to
Toronto would ruin my ministerial influence and usefulness here and
blast all our present hopes of prosperity. You know that by my
continued and repeated absence, I have already lost fifty per cent.
in the confiding hopes of the people, and consequently in very
power of doing them good. You know, likewise, that the financial
interests of the Society have so lamentably declined that we are
already largely in arrears. I cannot, therefore, leave, unless I am
positively required to do so by the Book Committee.

A more serious aspect of the matter, however, was presented to Dr.
Ryerson in the extraordinary silence of the Conference organ on the
subject. In the same letter he said:--

I cannot but feel deeply grieved at not only the tameness but the
profound silence of the _Guardian_ on this bill. Silence on such a
measure, and at such a time, and after the course we have pursued
hitherto, is acquiescence in it to all intents and purposes, and
may be fairly and legitimately construed so by both friends and
enemies. Oh, is it so? Can it be so, that the Editor of the
_Guardian_ has got so completely into the leading strings of that
churchism which is as poisonous in its feelings towards us, and its
plans respecting us, as the simoon blast; that he will see measures
going forward, which he must know are calculated, nay, intended, to
trample us in the dust, and not even say one word, except in praise
(as often as possible), of the very men who he sees from day to day
plotting our overthrow!

I have also observed, in Dr. Strachan's letters to Hon. Wm. Morris,
an attack upon Lord Glenelg, the Colonial Secretary--such a one as
would enable us to turn to our account on the clergy reserve
question (and against Dr. Strachan's exclusive system) the entire
influence of Her Majesty's Government, which would have great
weight both in an