318 MIXTURE OF EACES AND 



mainly agricultural, this district will assume a perma- 

 nent importance, in reference to Canadian strength and 

 resources, which will every year rise in public estima- 

 tion. 



I have alluded but very slightly to the political differ- 

 ences and excitement of which Montreal was still, to 

 some degree, the scene at the period of my visit. I had 

 as yet enjoyed too few opportunities of acquiring a 

 knowledge of existing local and provincial circumstances, 

 feelings, and prejudices, and of their antecedents, to 

 enable me to form a satisfactory opinion as to the right 

 and the wrong of all that had been done. 



In judging of public events that fall out in a place 

 like Montreal, however, much allowance ought to be 

 made for the peculiarly heterogeneous character of the 

 population, and the frequent opposition of their interests. 

 Thus the population of 50,000, which the city is said to 

 contain, consists approximately of — 



50,000 



Out of these different nationalities arise, as separate 

 and opposing parties — 



1. Those of British, or Arglo-Saxon, against those of 

 French blood. 



2. The Canadians, born of British blood — the United 

 Empire Loyalists, &c. — against the home-born, or native 

 British. The seat of these parties is properly in Upper 

 Canada ; but Montreal contains a large section belonging 

 to each. 



3. Among the French— the party of Papineau, op- 

 posed to British connection, against that of Lafontaine, 

 which at present is in favour of such connection. 



