AND DESIRE OF ANNEXATION. 107 



it ma} 7 be, for a similar reason. I had not observed 

 much feeling- on the subject throughout the province 

 generally; and, if the population were polled, a very 

 large majority, I think, would vote against any proposal 

 to disturb the British connection. 



As another reason, it was alleged to me by a retired 

 Judge of the Supreme Court, himself sprung from an 

 American loyalist, that old recollections the traditions 

 and narratives of their fathers had an influence upon 

 the descendants of those who, at the close of the Ameri 

 can war, left the States, and settled on lands assigned to 

 them in this quarter by the British Government. Tales of 

 happier lives spent in the old colonies, of which the dark 

 days are forgotten, and of possessions which memory 

 represented to old men in brighter colours, have created in 

 the minds of the sons and grandsons an impression in favour 

 of the United States, which is different in kind and in 

 extent, as well as in origin, from that which is entertained 

 by the sons of the original home-settlers in the province. 

 One can imagine, indeed, that upon some minds senti 

 ment may thus sway the reason, and lead sons to desire 

 what their fathers have regretted forgetting their 

 fathers loyalty, and inheriting only their regrets. 



Oct. 3. Another more direct and personal cause, 

 however, has brought these sentiments into play. The 

 failure of the wheat and potato crops for a series of 

 years has awakened dissatisfaction, and made the farmers 

 see causes of complaint where they had never thought 

 of looking for them before. All the crops, with the 

 exception of the hay, have been good in Albert County 

 this year ; and another good season, as one of the county 

 members observed to me yesterday, would amazingly 

 improve the character of the Provincial Legislature in 

 the eyes of the rural population.* 



* Such a good season they have had in 1850 ; and abundance, it is to 

 be hoped, has brought with it thankful satisfaction and political content- 



