1829.] The Case of the Canadas. 57 



affection to the government of this country — all of them putting forward 

 complaints of a very gi-ave nature — and all so numerously and respect- 

 ably signed, that inquiry into the ti*uth of their statements became un- 

 avoidable. On the motion of IMr. Huskisson, a select Committee, con- 

 sisting of about twenty gentlemen, some acquainted with the particular 

 affairs of Canada, some officers of the crown, and holding offices under 

 government, and all men of intelligence and impartiality, was appointed to 

 inquire into the state of the civil government of Canada, as established by 

 the Act of the 31. Geo. III., and to that Committee the petitions were 

 referred. They proceeded in the execution of their task with most 

 laudable diligence : examined first the petitions, and then called before 

 them witnesses, among whom, besides gentlemen connected with the 

 Canadas, were Mr. Stephen, junior, the Law Adviser of the Colonial 

 Department, and Mv. Wilraot Horton, (a member of the Committee) 

 and who is known also to have paid great attention to the business of 

 that department, while he was officially engaged in its administration. 

 The Committee, who were not appointed until the 2d of IMay, made so 

 good use of their time, that by the 22d of July they had their report 

 prepared, and the whole of the evidence they had taken annexed, which 

 the House of Commons ordered to be printed. The report, if com- 

 pared witli the evidence that accompanies it, is short : but together, they 

 make a folio volume of 359 pages. The report, to avoid needless 

 repetitions, refers to the evidence for the materials on which the several 

 recommendations it contains ai-e founded, and in that evidence is the 

 fullest and most minute statement of the several complaints made by 

 the petitioners, and of the facts by which they are supported. A whole 

 vacation, and a whole session have intervened since the government and 

 the House have been in possesssion of this report ; but no notice what- 

 ever has been taken of its contents, of the suggestions made by the 

 Committee, or of the disturbed and discontented state of both the 

 Canadas ; nor, as it should seem, would any of the officers of the colonial 

 department, have thought it necessary to say one word upon the subject, 

 if it had not been forced from them by Mr. Labouchere's question. 

 Now really we cannot help thinking, that considering the importance of 

 the /Canadas to this country, in a commercial and political point of view — 

 considering that it is in a state of serious disquiet, and that a popular 

 feeling exists against the governor personally, as well as against the 

 system which it is his duty to administer, and that the disaffection has 

 reached such a point, that if the opportimity offered, it might soon be 

 changed into open revolt ; and considering too, the proximity of the 

 United States, and the pernicious influence which they already exercise 

 in Canada, we cannot but think that the government of this country 

 might have found time to obtain the information, which it is said they 

 are still in want of — to have cleared up what was obscure — to have 

 verified and investigated what appeared vague in the report of the 

 commissioners — and, above all, to have made some effort towards doing- 

 justice to the loud complaints of the people of the Canadas ; and 

 to have provided for the safety of a possession, in the acquisition of 

 which, much money and exertion has been expended, and which the 

 most obvious principles of self-protection, would counsel us to preserve 

 at all hazards. Either from the pressure of other business, or from some 

 cause which it would l>e idle to attempt to penetrate, the govern- 

 ment has, however, not found it expedient to take one single step in the 

 matter. The complaints remain unnoticed and unredressed, and the 

 M. M. New .SVra'i._VoL. VHI. No. 43. I 



