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LXXXVII. Act respecting the Eligibility of Persons to be returned

to the House of Assembly of Upper Canada, 1818 . . 303

LXXXVIII. Sherbrooke to Bathurst, March 14, 1822.

. . 306

Advises the union of the two Provinces, provided that

the popular House can be brought under effective con-

trol. The Upper Canadian House is now tractable,

but will it remain so with the constant influx of

settlers from the United States? Upper Canada is

generally irreligious or "sectary"; and there was in

that Province, during his régime, a bias towards the

American form of Government,-a bias which the

Government need never fear in Lower Canada, where

there is a rooted antipathy to it.

LXXXIX. Proposed Act of Union, 1822

An important factor in the rise of French Canadian

nationalism, as this proposed Act aimed at bringing

the Roman Catholic clergy under the control of the

Government and at abolishing the use of the French

language in parliamentary debates.

XC. Considerations on the Union of the Provinces by J. B.

Robinson, April 23, 1822

The reasons which led to the division of the Province

are not materially changed, so that their validity can
still be claimed for the continuance of the present
scheme; no reasons, however, against union if for the
benefit of the colony and of England. Generally speak-
ing, he sees no reason for believing union necessary.
If the revenue disputes between the Provinces could
be settled by union, well and good; but he sees no
reason to believe that they could. Nor would a union
help the Government in its financial disputes with the
House of Assembly in Lower Canada. Even were the
members of the Upper Canadian House united with
those of Lower Canada, they would be only a minority,
and by no assurances a unanimous minority in uni-
form support of the Executive. A union might doubt-
lessly be beneficial for ultimate good, but the question
is a pressing practical one, and a union does not at
present seem to offer any hope for betterment.

XCI. Papineau to R. J. Wilmot, December 16, 1822

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XCV. Minority Resolutions, Lower Canada Legislative Council,
in favour of Union, 1823

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XCVIII. Petition from French Canadians against Union, 1823
Strongest objection is made to the drastic terms of
the proposed Act of Union (No. LXXXIX.).

XCIX. Petition from Kingston, etc., for Union

Approves of the proposed terms in the Act (No.

LXXXIX.). Commercial reasons are strong in sup-

port of union.

Objects to the destruction of the present Constitu-

tion, especially "without our consent or even our

knowledge, and without any misconduct on our part

amounting to a forfeiture." If the qualifications for
membership of the United Assembly are raised as
proposed, many counties will have no candidate to put
forward and will be represented by someone owning
waste land. Objects to permanent Civil List.

CI. Dalhousie's Speech proroguing the Legislature of Lower
Canada, March 9, 1824

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335

336

338

Amends No. XXVI.

356

. 392

An attempt to rally the Provinces of British North
America to at least the moral support of the Constitu-
tionalists in Lower Canada. A long account of griev-
ances under which the English speaking inhabitants
of that Province suffer. Colonial Office government
too subject to party fluctuations to command respect.

CXVII. Aberdeen to Aylmer, February 11, 1835 ..

The Government has always been prepared to grant

fullest consideration to Canadian affairs. In further-

ance of this, they are sending Lord Gosford, etc., to

make as full investigation as possible. Aylmer is judi-

ciously praised.

CXVIII. Glenelg to Gosford, July 17, 1835

Long instructions embodying what was called the "full

platform of conciliation." The King is prepared to

surrender all his Crown revenues in return for a Civil

List; the independence of the judges; the continuance

of existing pensions; an independent management of

the waste lands. Tenures will be reformed at the

request of the Legislature of Lower Canada. The

question of an elected Legislative Council can only

be approached with care. Little hope held out for

change. No opportunity for a public convention to

ascertain the mind of the people must be given. If any

changes in representation to the Assembly are neces-

sary they may come best from the Lower Canadian

Legislature. The recommendations of the Committee

of 1828 (No. CVI.) are to form the foundation of

all changes.

CXIX. Glenelg to Head, December 5, 1835.

Official direction to Head as to his method of dealing

with the Seventh Report on Grievances of the Upper

Canadian Assembly.

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