298 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VoL. IL 



comprehend either the civil or military policy of Lord Dorchester in 

 respect to his province. Profound disgust at finding all his objections 

 overruled, combined with failing health, finally determined him to solicit 

 leave of absence for an indefinite period, or if this were refused, per- 

 mission to resign. On the 1st December, 1795, he announced that he 

 had been suffering from a slow fever for nearly four months and that his 

 physician advised him to leave Canada in time to escape the hot weather 

 in autumn. 



Owing probably to ill-health and despondency the closing months of 

 his administration were not marked by the same restless energy which 

 hitherto distinguished it. His mind was evidently filled with gloom at 

 the thought that all his labor had been bestowed in vain. 



The government buildings at York were, however, proceeded with and 

 the military road finished from that place to Oxford. 



The last session of the first parliament began at Niagara in Ma}-, 

 1796, and again all the government measures were passed as smooth!}- 

 into law as anyone could desire. Both houses had become tractable 

 beyond expectation. The great increase of population induced the 

 repeal of certain parts of the act offering a reward for the destruction of 

 wolves. The sole question which threatened to provoke controversy was 

 the presentation of a second petition for the amendment of the Marriage 

 Act which the Governor angrily denounced " as highly improper and 

 menacing" in its language. It was generally believed to have been 

 written by the Reverend John Bethune, a Presbyterian clergyman, 

 formerly chaplain of Sir John Johnson's regiment during the Revolution, 

 of stainless reputation and unquestioned loyalty, yet Simcoe openh- 

 spoke of it with needless and exasperating bitterness as " the production 

 of a wicked head and a most disloyal he^t." Religious ardour seldom 

 failed to reveal the narrowest side of his character. His determined 

 hostility again caused the question to be postponed and the session 

 terminated "with every mark of good-will and respect for the Govern- 

 ment." With the dissolution of the Assembl}^ Simcoe's connection with 

 the province may be said to have ended, although he continued to be 

 Lieutenant-Governor in name for some time longer. 



He returned to England much enfeebled in health and mortified 

 beyond expression at the strangulation of so many ambitious projects 

 for the advancement of his colony. Yet in the face of much apparent 

 failure, Governor Simcoe deserves an honorable place on the stately roll 

 of those who have labored earnestly and well " to lay broad, lay strong, 

 lay deep" the foundations of the British Empire of to-day. 



