IV 



should obtain the distinguished favour of being 

 honoured by your approval, I shall ever con- 

 sider such a circumstance as an additional testi- 

 mony of the readiness with which your Royal 

 Highness patronises any work that may convey 

 information of real utility, however humble, 

 rather than as an indication of superior talent 

 on my part. A servant of our revered Monarch 

 for the greatest part of my life, I have ever be- 

 lieved it incumbent to repay the trust reposed 

 in me, by making the public service a con- 

 sideration paramount to all others, whenever 

 the performance of my duties or other personal 

 exertions could in any way contribute thereto. 

 This desire, acting as the main spring of my 

 endeavours, has induced me to think, that 

 whatever has a tendency to demonstrate the 

 actual state of the Canadas, and to place their 

 greatly improvable resources in a true point of 

 view, as valuable jewels of the British diadem, 

 would neither be deemed unimportant nor de- 

 stitute of advantage ; I have therefore directed 

 all the abilities at my disposal towards that 



