THE FIRST war: CANADA. 3 



THE FIRST WAR: CANADA. 



IN 1838. 



The first disturbance to the quiet and good promise which heralded 

 Queen Victoria's Reign, canae from Canada. 



Founded originally as a French Colony m 1608, many differences 

 arose between the French Colonists and the English during the first 

 century of its history, until, in 1756, it was conquered by the British 

 troops under General Wolfe, and settled down into comparative 

 peace. 



On the division of the two Provinces, Upper Canada received 

 English laws in full, and had the control of its own affairs, under a 

 Governor and a House of Representatives. In Lower Canada the 

 feudal tenure of the land, and the preservation of the French 

 language, with other customs of their country were granted, in 

 addition to their own Governor, Council, and Legislature. Re- 

 volutionary agents, however, were constantly at work in both 

 Provinces stirring up disaffection. 



The cause of the War in Canada arose out of the revolutionary 

 spirit of a few demagogues taking advantage of every trifling point 

 upon which antagonism could exist between the Colonists and the 

 Government, stirring them up to rebellion, and that the sure and 

 certain remedy was to break with the Government under which they 

 lived. 



One of the leading men in the movement, which afterwards 

 became a rebellion in Lower Canada, was Louis Joseph Papineau. 



This man had risen to high position by his talents and energy ; he 

 had represented Montreal in the Assembly, and afterwards was 

 Speaker of the House. He made himself Leader of the movement 

 against the policy of the Governor-General, the representative of the 

 Government at Home. Lord Gosford, Governor of Lower Canada, 

 dismissed Militia officers who took part in the movement, and amongst 

 them Papineau, also other members of the Assembly, and resistance 

 thereto fanned the flame of rebellion. 



The Rebels fought with desperation in Lower Canada, but the 

 rebellion soon extended to Upper Canada, whose conciliatory 

 Governor was Francis Head; but his policy not being approved 

 by the British Government, he was induced to resign, and rewarded 

 with a baronetcy. 



The Government resolved to suspend the Constitution for a time, 

 and to send out a Governor-General and a High Commissioner with 



