206 TKAVEL, ADVEXTUKE, AND SPORT. 



The Ministry of Canada, backed up by public 

 opinion throughout the country, at once passed a 

 Bill for the establishment of a government in this 

 newly -acquired province. We are warned by a 

 French proverb, that the first step in all transactions 

 is a most important one ; and that taken by the 

 Dominion Government towards establishing their 

 authority was no exception to the rule. Their first 

 direct step was to send forward surveyors to plot out 

 the country into townships ; and this was the actual 

 circumstance that gave rise to the first overt act of 

 rebellion on the part of the French people there. 

 The men employed upon this service, as well as their 

 assistants and followers, were all either from England 

 or from Ontario. Around these surveyors, as round 

 a centre, were collected a small band of Canadians, 

 who had followed in their wake, hoping to obtain 

 large grants of land and make fortunes when the new 

 Government was established. 



The people of the country were thoroughly discon- 

 tented at the cavalier way in which they had been 

 treated, as their will had never been consulted by 

 any of the three parties who had arranged the terms 

 of transfer. A feeling of irritation was abroad, which 

 the bearing of the surveyors and other Canadians 

 towards them served to increase beyond measure. 

 Many of the latter began to stake out farms for them- 

 selves, which they openly declared they meant to 

 claim as soon as the new Governor had arrived. 



