THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY. 367 



the colonists and the home subjects who may wish to emi 

 grate. But in all likelihood she does not now possess the 

 power of carrying proper views into effect. The land of the 

 province being held at a monopoly price, operates as a 

 barrier to British emigration, and is a tax on the industri 

 ous who reach the province, principally for the benefit of ab 

 sentees. 



Much as Upper Canada appears to me to have been misgo 

 verned, her evils are not likely soon to end. The properties of a 

 great portion of the industrious farmers are either mortgaged 

 to store-keepers or capitalists, and almost the whole of the 

 influential inhabitants are interested in land. The men rilling 

 official situations generally having large estates, the managers 

 of the Canada Company, and of other extensive tracts of 

 land, will oppose, from selfishness, the introduction of a better 

 system, and endeavour to perpetuate the present state of 

 things. I had little opportunity of judging if the inhabitants 

 are fit to govern themselves. They will, however, find it a 

 most arduous task to get rid of the present party in power, 

 and a separation from the mother country would, in all pro 

 bability lessen their chance. Upper Canada is likely to sepa 

 rate from Britain in seeking to retain monopolies. 



