THE RED RIYER EXPEDITION. 221 



The event was pregnant with every element cap- 

 able of calling forth the most violent feelings. The 

 national rivalry between the English and French 

 races, stronger in Canada than it has ever been at 

 home, and the intense hatred which Orangemen, Low 

 Churchmen, Presbyterians, and sectarians generally, 

 entertain for Popery, were acted upon. Had 10,000 

 soldiers been required, they might have been enlisted 

 with ease in Ontario. On the other hand, amongst 

 the French Canadians popular sympathy Avas entirely 

 with Eiel ; so much so, that when subsequently it 

 was determined to despatch two battalions of militia 

 to put down the rebellion, and to raise them in the 

 two old provinces of Canada, one in each, it was 

 found impossible to obtain more than 80 French 

 Canadian recruits. The priesthood throughout the 

 country had preached against the expedition, warning 

 their flocks not to take part in an undertaking 

 planned to injure their compatriots in the 2s"orth- 

 AVest, who spoke their language, were descended 

 from the same ancestors, and who belonged to their 

 faith. Over and over again they were told from 

 the altar that the Protestants were anxious to send 

 forth this expedition for the purpose of overturning 

 the Catholic Church in that territory. Eiel was 

 painted in the most glowing colours as a patriot and 

 a hero, struggling and prepared to fight for the rights 

 of his race and the maintenance of the true faith. 



With such antagonistic feelings abroad in the 



