rmers
had maintained in all previous years--that the patronage of the Crown,
like the administration of justice, should be administered impartially
according to merit, without respect to religious sect, or political
party.

Dr. Ryerson also states (26th February) that:--After a prolonged and
interesting interview with the Governor-General, I addressed a letter to
him on the subject of that interview. In it I said: In looking over what
I have from time to time, during the last eight years, written on the
best government for Canada, I find that I have invariably insisted upon
precisely the same views which I expressed to your Excellency, and with
a frequency and fulness that I had no recollection of when I was
honoured with the late interviews by you. These views were then warmly
responded to by that portion of the public for whom I wrote. I am,
therefore, the more fully (if possible) convinced of their correctness
and importance to the best interests of Canada, and that they will be
sustained when properly brought before the public--at least in Western
Canada.

In reply to a note from Mr. Civil Secretary Higginson, dated 2nd March,
Dr. Ryerson, on the 7th, addressed a reply of some length to His
Excellency. In it he said:--

The aspect of things in Western Canada has clearly changed for the
worse during the last two months--since my first interview with
Your Excellency in January. The party of the opposition have become
organized--organized under circumstances more formidable than I
have ever witnessed in Canada. Their ranks and influence have been
increased by numbers who, two months since, were neutral, and who
could have been forthwith brought to the side of constitutional
government. Private letters to me (on which I can rely) speak in a
very different tone as to the state of public sentiment and
feeling. Unless a change to a very considerable extent be affected
in the public mind, I think a dissolution would rather strengthen
than weaken the ex-Council party. I am confident I do not overrate
their strength--and it is a dangerous, though common error, to
underrate the strength of an adversary. They are likewise
organizing their party, and exciting the public mind to such a
degree as to prevent any sentiments or measures from the present
administration from being regarded or entertained at all. Such
being the case, I have fel