CANADIAN NOMS-DE-PLUME IDENTIFIED. 27S 



respectable form, a liiglier Canadian literature, was tlie Rev. Dr. Mc- 

 Caul, still among its, engaged in the same work ; not now single- 

 handed, so to speak, but surrounded by compeers of the first class, all 

 " minding the same thing," seconded, too, more or less, by a younger 

 generation scattered throughout Canada, who, having received from 

 such hands the sacred torch of leai-ning and light, are ambitious, it 

 is hoped, to pass it on, trimmed and brilliant, to their successors. 



I next make an extract from a volume of a very miscellaneous 

 character, published in Montreal in 1860, beai-ing on its title page, 

 in addition to the real name of the author, the nom-de-plume by 

 which he had previously been extensively known, viz., " One who 

 has whistled at the Plough !" This work is entitled, "The Consei'va- 

 tive Science of Nations ; being the first complete narrative of Somer- 

 ville's Diligent Life in the Service of Public Safety in Britain." 

 The mass of the book consists of matter with which Canada has little 

 concern, but the passage which I quote relates to Canadian afiairs. It 

 criticises, it will be seen, the tone adopted by the editor of the Quebec 

 Mercury towards the Canadian French, and hints that the politics 

 of that paper are, in his opinion, "small," i.e., somewhat narrow in 

 their range. He also gives his views on the Science of Political 

 Economy. 



" Of difficulties in governing Canada, on which you remark with 

 emphasis, 1 do not," the Whistler says to the editor of the Quebec 

 Mercury, " as a stranger, presume to speak beyond this, that the 

 unenfranchised working class of Britain does not inherit an enmity 

 of race, language and religion, against the throne, church, laws and 

 constitution. If you see no difference between the French Canadians 

 who are enfranchised here and the unenfranchised men of Britain 

 I do. You date the difficulties of Canadian Government from the 

 advent of the Whigs to power at the Reform era, 1830, 1831, 

 1832, and rail at me for being their ally, while I call myself a 

 Conseiwative. Sir," he then shrewdly observes, "the difficulty in 

 governing Canada dates from the 13tli of September, 1759. Diffi- 

 culty of government is a penalty of conquest everywhere. Not 

 all the wisest or sternest Tories ever born to the inheritance of 

 power, could govern Canada by a compulsory sword and proscription 

 of race, as you seem to desire, in presence of the United States and 

 of free institutions in Britain. As for Radicals, Whigs, Tories and 

 .7 



