346 TALENT ON THE SIDE OF CHANGE. 



tion, to take up a new political position, very consider 

 ably in advance of its past professions, or be content to 

 surrender all hope of materially influencing for the future 

 the affairs of the new State. 



One who has been in these colonies, however, who has 

 looked candidly about him, and has weighed fairly what 

 he must have heard from the lips of some of the colo 

 nists, will unwillingly perhaps to himself, yet of neces 

 sity confess that the talent and ambition of these North 

 American provinces, of all parties, is either secretly or 

 openly on the side of change. And it cannot be otherwise. 

 Talent and ambition abound among the 2,000,000 of 

 British subjects in North America, as much in propor 

 tion, at least, as among the 30,000,000 of our home 

 islands. Yet how different the sphere in which these 

 talents may be employed how much humbler the posi 

 tion, the dignities, and the commands to which the 

 ambitious Canadian or Nova Scotian may look up ! 

 Although, therefore, the final and permanent position of 

 every man, and that of his family, must be obtained and 

 retained in his own State and country, yet it is plain 

 that Washington presents to every citizen, to every 

 stripling in the United States, a field of ambition which, 

 under the existing political adjustments of our Imperial 

 Government, London can never offer to the aspiring 

 spirits of the provinces. Annexation would open the 

 same field to those who now fret and fume within the 

 narrow spheres of colonial power and office. Besides 

 rendering accessible the single high dignity now held by 

 the nominee and representative of the Crown, new offices 

 would be created, which would carry a favoured few to 

 the seat of the central Government. Those who now 

 rule or agitate the provinces, would expend their fire 

 and energy as members of Congress, or as senators from 

 their own State. Within the political life of those who 

 brought about the union, Canada might be expected, 



