PREFACE. 



The surrender of Quebec to the army of 

 Genera] Wolfe, in the year 1759? ultimately 

 gave England possession of the immense extent 

 of territory that now forms the provinces of 

 Upper and Lower Canada. The value of the 

 conquest was highly rated while the glorious 

 circumstances of the victory continued to at- 

 tract universal admiration ; but after the ebul- 

 litions of joy had abated, the magnitude and 

 importance of the acquisition became less at- 

 tended to, and in a short time it obtained 

 scarcely a greater share of consideration than 

 the other North American provinces. In the 

 war waged by the colonies against the mother 

 country, the population of Canada, although 

 so recently become British subjects, resisted 

 with fidelity every attempt that was made to 

 seduce them from their new allegiance, and with 

 bravery repulsed every endeavour to subdue 

 them by force. Such devotedness was highly 

 appreciated, and England, at the termina- 

 tion of that unnatural contest, turned her at- 



