est of his ability Lord Sydenham's policy.

FOOTNOTES:

[112] In the _Guardian_ of October 7th, 1840, Dr. Ryerson says:--Lord
Sydenham well knows the feelings of reluctance and apprehension under
which I assumed the responsibility of giving my humble and earnest
support to the measures of his government in Upper Canada.... He well
knows that I adopted the course I did with a deep consciousness that it
would be attended with personal sacrifice, with no other expectation or
wish but justice to the church to which I belonged--equal justice to
other churches--and the hope of prosperity to my native country under an
improved and efficient system of government. I did not indeed expect
that hostility against me from London would be prosecuted to the extent
it has been.... I have incurred the censure of the British Conference
for supporting, and not for opposing, the government when it needed my
support, and when it was in my power to have embarrassed it.... As it
respects myself personally, I shall not repine at having made the
sacrifice, if the new system of government but succeeds, and the land of
my birth and affections is made prosperous and happy. Note on page 199.

[113] This the Editor has been assured was also Rev. Dr. Potts'
experience of Dr. Ryerson as a hearer, several years afterwards, and
during the time that he (Dr. Potts) was pastor of the Metropolitan
Church, Toronto.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

1841.

Dr. Ryerson's attitude toward the Church of England.

The constant references in this volume to Dr. Ryerson's attitude of
hostility to the exclusive claims and pretensions put forth on behalf of
the Church of England in this province, require some explanation. His
opponents sought to neutralize this opposition by endeavouring to make
it appear that, because he opposed these claims and ignored these
pretensions, he was hostile to the Church of England as a great
spiritual power in the land.[114] He had himself often pointed out the
fallacy of this reasoning, and drawn so clear a distinction between men
and things in the controversy--the Church and her representatives--that
I cannot add any thing to what he has written on the subject. In one
letter he said:--

I am often charged with hostility to the Church of England. Did I
know nothing of the Church of England except what has been
exhibited in this province, ... how could I have any partiality for
that Church? There is a large and growi