430 CLIMATE, ETC. 



physical traits of the two peoples. As for the possible 

 conquest of the smaller country by the greater, I don't 

 believe that it will be ever attempted. The constitutional 

 disposition, which renders Americans averse to bodily work, 

 renders them also averse to employ force. They would 

 infinitely prefer to acquire the whole of Canada by over- 

 reaching England in a bargain or series of bargains as they 

 have already gained considerable slices here and there. 

 But 1 believe that if any power attempted to gain posses- 

 sion of Canada it would not have a chance of succeeding 

 without the consent of the Canadian people, and it will 

 assuredly be the fault of England if Canada ever wishes 

 to transfer her allegiance to another power. The conquest 

 of a United Canada seems to me to be an impossibility. 

 The hardy races of the north have generally proved able 

 to defend their soil against invaders, and with an English 

 fleet on her shores and in her lakes Canada is well able to 

 hold her own. 



It is now generally thought that the continent of 

 North America is too large a country to be under one 

 government; and it is possible that if the world lasts 

 long enough it will be divided into many republics or 

 kingdoms, as the case may be. When this disruption 

 takes place there are certain natural and geographical 

 lines of division that must greatly influence the partition. 

 Thus, for instance, California, the gate of the Pacific, and 

 the remainder of the Pacific slope is divided from the 

 other habitable parts of the United States by a lofty range 

 of mountains and a sea of desert. The southern and sou'- 

 western states, though not geographically divided from 

 the other states of the Union, are yet divided by a broad 



