UNITED STATES AND CANADA 223 



service. I knew that the prospects of my mission 

 were not very hopeful, that they even justified the 

 predictions of absolute failure with which I was 

 assailed ; but at least there was the hope that I 

 might be able to do something to promote peace 

 and goodwill between the two greatest nations of 

 the earth, and to knit closer together the bonds that 

 should unite all English-speaking peoples — (cheers) 

 — and above and beyond that hope I had the cer- 

 tainty that the great majority of my fellow-country- 

 men would approve of this object, and would judge 

 with leniency any one who undertook it. (Hear, 

 hear.) One by one the anticipations of evil have 

 proved to be unfounded. I was altogether un- 

 prepared for the warmth of the hospitality, for the 

 universal kindness and goodwill from all classes and 

 from all parties on the other side of the water. 

 (Cheers.) In the next place, I found the American 

 plenipotentiaries to be men of distinguished ability, 

 thoroughly acquainted with all the circumstances 

 of their case, and firm in the defence of what they 

 believed to be their rights ; but I found them also 

 men of fair and judicial minds, jealous of the honour 

 and good faith of the American people, and anxious 

 to promote, as far as in them lay, an honourable and 

 an amicable settlement. (Cheers.) The Canadian 

 Government and its representatives were equally 

 desirous of terminating the existing irritation. Al- 

 though there were times when our task appeared 

 to be almost hopeless, yet at last we succeeded. 

 (Cheers.) At this stage our duty is discharged, and 

 our work is now submitted to the legislatures of the 



