PROCEEDINGS FOR 1895 LXXX VII 
the “ Fountain Head of Power.” Probably never was he more powerful 
than under the administration of Sir James H. Craig. His . Excellency 
despatched him to England, charged with a public mission three fold in 
its scope, the ostensible object of which was, Ist, To get the Imperial 
Government to amend or suspend the constitution. 2nd, To render the 
government independent of the people by appropriating towards it the 
revenues accruing from the estates of the Sulpicians of Montreal, and of 
the order of the Jesuits. 3rd, To seize the patronage exercised by the 
Roman Catholic bishop of Quebec, the curés or church livings in his 
diocese, contending that no Roman Catholic bishop really existed in 
Canada, (but merely a superintendent of curés) none having been 
recognized by the Crown. 
It has been stated that he had a fair chance of succeeding on two 
points, had not the great Chancellor Lord Eldon intervened to thwart 
the scheme. 
The correspondence exchanged between Mr. Ryland and his Excel- 
lency Sir James H. Craig, to be found in the sixth volume of Christie's 
“Parliamentary History of Canada,’ exhibits Mr. Ryland at his best 
Withdrawn from public life, he expired at his country seat at Beauport, 
near Quebec, on the 29th July, 1838. 
Sir James H. Craig, though he had served with credit in Canada 
during the invasion of 1775, was scarcely the administrator to be en- 
trusted with the rule of the colony in such troublous times. His idea of 
governing seems to have savoured more of the military discipline of the 
camp ; he failed to win the support of the discontented majority, making 
himself disliked by parliament, though seemingly inspired by the best 
intentions. 
Among other matters referred to in his voluminous correspondence 
with the home government one subject was constantly uppermost in his 
mind, as early as 1807—a rupture close at hand between the United 
States and England, though it only actually occurred five years later, in 
1815, after his departure for England. The obnoxious right of search at 
sea was the ostensible pretext, possibly not the real cause of the outbreak 
A split had taken place in the American congress ; two hostile parties 
had sprung up, the federalists representing the New England states. 
They were opposed to war and agitated for neutrality in the event of 
hostilities, with the secret intention of seeking the protection of England, 
The other party, the democrats, apparently spoiling for a fight, thought 
the time propitious, when England. battling against coalesced Europe, 
led by the greatest captain of modern times, had her hands full at home. 
The secret correspondence on this matter will repay perusal. One 
John Henry, of Montreal, seems to have made himself very officious, 
visiting Boston and the state of Vermont, collecting and conveying to Sir 
James H. Craig secret information about popular feeling in these centres 
