MERTON COLLEGE AND CANADA. 469 



if possible, (conforming therein to Mr. Secretary Dundas's opinion, 

 and indeed, in this respect, to my own). But as in an object of such 

 magnitude no explanation can be too minute which fairly and distinctly 

 elucidates these points, which ought not to be misunderstood, I only 

 refer to your lordship's slight experience of the habits and manners 

 of the American settlers, to say how very different they are from 

 those of Great Britain ; and how unlikely it is for clergymen, educated 

 in England, with English families and propensities, habituated in 

 every situation to a higher degree of refinement and comfort than can 

 be found in a new country, or possibly anywhere without the precincts 

 of Great Britain — -how unlikely it is that such persons should obtain 

 that influence with their j)arishioners which may effectually promote 

 the object of their mission." 



And he looks at the matter, likewise, from the politician's point 

 of view, regarding the Church and its ministers as instruments of 

 government. 



" In the infancy of such a government as that of Upper Canada," 

 he observes, " and in the general indisposition of these times to all 

 restraint, it seems to be of peculiar importance to prevent the public 

 interest, both in Church and State, from suffering through any ill-will 

 or disregard which the King's subjects may bear to those persons who 

 are in any manner concerned in its administration. 



" On the other hand," he continues in the same strain, " I am 

 persuaded if, at the outset, a few pious, learned men, of just zeal and 

 primitive manners, shall be sent to this country, with sufficient 

 indixcement to make them support this honourable banishment with 

 cheerfulness — and that in the first instance your lordship shall not 

 too strenuously insist upon learning as a qualification for ordination, 

 where there are evident marks of religious disposition and proofs of 

 morality — I am confident the rising generation will be brought up 

 competently learned and properly endued with religion and loyalty; 

 and it is probable that they may at least be equal to those of Con- 

 necticut in this continent, whose clergy are, in general, inferior to 

 none in those points of learning and of acquisition in the dead 

 languages, which may be generally considered as the necessary 

 materials and instniments of their sacred profession. 



" In short, my Lord," he then adds, " if the maintenance of religion 

 and morality be mei'ely considered in a commercial light, as so much 

 merchandise, the bounty which I have proposed, and most earnestly 

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