EXPLANATION OF MINISTERS.

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the Reformers of Upper Canada, with him, and he did not want to come into power unless as master of the situation.

On the 13th September the House of Assembly was crowded to suffocation in order to hear an exciting debate on the consideration of the reply to His Excellency's speech. Nor were those who crushed into the scant accommodation disappointed. Mr. Forbes introduced the resolutions for the adoption of a reply, and Mr. J. S. Macdonald seconded them. In doing this he drew a very gratifying picture of the prosperity of the country. He called for a response, unanimous and cordial, to the address of the Representative of Her Majesty.

Mr. Draper then spoke at great length and with his usual eloquence. He dwelt on the offers which had been made to Lafontaine, and explained the circumstances which led to the existing state of things. In the course of his remarks, he declared he could not sit in the same Government as Baldwin. About the same time, Sullivan was making an explanation to the Legislative Council. On the death of Lord Sydenham, there was but one opinion amongst the advisers of the Crown, that instead of carrying on the Government by bare majorities, and slavishly courting a few leading men, the Administration should be formed on a broader basis, and liberal offers be made to all parties to come in and work harmoniously together. In order to do this, many of them were prepared to sacrifice their own private opinions. This policy had been urged on His Excellency (Sir Charles Bagot), and they were delighted to find that the advice commended itself to him. Many of them forgetting old prejudices and animosities, had gone so far as, to recommend that the very persons who had poured obloquy on the Government should be invited to forget the past, and to come and give their strength to the conduct of affairs. This was a wise and states manlike resolve. If carried out it would have closed the mouths of the people whom they represented. It would have given confidence to that portion of the people hitherto treated with con

* The newspapers of the day spell the name Macdonnell and sometimes McDonald. There is in the case of many other names a like conflict. In all instances the spelling adhered to has been decided to be the better or the best after the fullest investigation at my command.

tempt. "I never," said Sullivan, " was so vain as to imagine that the people of the other Province would consent to accept of justice at my hands; I knew it must come from some of themselves." The object was frustrated, owing to the difficulty of conferring favour. This had, in many instances, prevented the progress of useful measures. At last this eventful session came. "Now," cried Mr. Sullivan, with what the reporter describes as much energy and emphasis, while his broad square forehead shone over his dark brows- We wish to know whether we are to carry on the Government fairly and upon liberal principles, or by dint of miserable majorities; whether by the latter, or by the united acclamations of the people (cries of 'hear, hear.')—whether, in fact, there is sufficient patriotism to allow us to work for the good of the people?" Kindly and fraternal affections might have prevailed. But they had not; and Sullivan proceeded to tell how Lafontaine and Baldwin and their friends had met all the overtures of the Government.

Now we leave the Legislative Council and go back to the Assembly. Draper having made a speech not unlike that of Sullivan in the Upper House, Lafontaine got up and, speaking in French, read the offer made to him of the Attorney-Generalship east, told how he had refused the position, as well as the appointments for his friends placed at his disposal.

Then Baldwin rose. It was his hour of triumph. The advice he had given twelve months before as to the necessity for conciliating the French Canadians, and of conducting the affairs of the country in accordance with constitutional principles, was acknowledged to be not only sound but imperative by those very persons who had bitterly opposed him then. He concluded by moving an amendment to the address.

Lafontaine again spoke. How could he accept office while the member who had stood forward in defence of Lower Canada was excluded from the Government? This was Baldwin. The attempt to draw away his Lower Canadian support had failed. Lafontaine complained that there was not a single Lower Canadian in the Council.

Other Reformers followed, amongst them Mr. Aylwin, who defended Baldwin, attacked Draper and Hincks, and character

ized the late Governor as the greatest curse which had ever beSome barbs had entered between the joints

fallen the country.

of Hincks' harness.

He started up made a vigorous defence of his conduct, and denied that he had been a pupil of Baldwin. He had fought by his side for Union, which he had advocated for the purpose of securing the interests of Lower Canada, and he proceeded to recount his services as a journalist.

In the course of the debate a very effective weapon was used against him. It was shewn that the Examiner had attacked the character of the "gifted Draper" and of Mr. HarriHis political apostacy was denounced. Baldwin said he had never, prior to entering the Government, consulted him or the party to which he belonged. Nor from the point of view of party morality can Hincks' conduct be defended if we admit that the machinery of party was then in full operation. It was twelve o'clock when Draper closed the debate. Everybody left the House determined to return at three o'clock on the morrow, when a stormy sitting was expected.

From an early hour what the reporter of the period calls the "halls of legislation" were thronged. There was but one desire, wrote a parliamentary correspondent, that the fight should go forward. The reply to the address, and Baldwin's amendments thereto, was the first order of the day. Much to the annoyance of the impatient crowd, a large number of small topics were brought on, causing an irritating delay.

At last the supreme moment arrived. What had happened? A change had come over the spirit of somebody's dreams. Member who yesterday were full of excitement to-day chatted and joked or sat listless and meditative. There was a stir among the audience and then a hush of expectancy when Mr. Hincks rose. That incisive tongue would say something which would draw blood. But the Inspector-General merely moved that the debate on the amendment of Mr. Baldwin should be postponed until Friday. Not a voice from the regular opposition was raised against this motion.

One or two independent members, Mr. Johnston and Dr. Dunlop-"Tiger Dunlop," as he was called-opposed delay. But the motion was carried, and the disappointed crowd dispersed.

On Friday, the 16th, the galleries were again thronged. There was, however, no sanguine hopes of a fight, for in the meantime Mr. Draper had resigned, and Baldwin and Lafontaine had been induced to enter the Government. On the 19th, Mr. Duncombe moved a resolution congratulating the Governor on calling Baldwin to his Councils, and inviting that large portion of Canadian citizens who were of French origin to share in the government of the country. The resolution was carried in an amended form. Hincks expressed his gratification at the source whence it came-a British merchant connected with the British people, who had no connexion and no probability of connexion with the Government. The press throughout the Province had abused the change which had lately taken place in the Government. This abuse would have gone to England as the opinion of the people, and the sooner it was corrected by a vote of that House the better.

In reply to Mr. Moffatt, Mr. Hincks said he had never pledged himself to support the Union as it was passed. He was strongly opposed to the Civil List, unless voted by the Assembly and not by the Imperial Parliament. Upon this Mr. Cartwright attacked him. There had been he said "suspicions as to him." Mr. Hincks started to his feet and called the Speaker's attention to the words. Though requested by the Speaker to do so, Mr. Cartwright would not withdraw them. Then followed a scene of dreadful confusion, during which the galleries were cleared.

At this sitting the policy of giving a pension to Mr. Ogden and others was mooted, and was strongly opposed by several members. Mr. Ogden had been a member of the Executive Council. This question was taken up a few weeks afterwards. On the 11th of October, Mr. Hincks moved an address to His Excellency, praying that a pension should be granted to Messrs. Ogden and Davidson. An amendment by r. Neilson, that the consideration of the address should be postponed until the following session, was carried by thirty-five to fifteen. Adequate ground for Mr. Hincks' proposal, there was none.

The House was prorogued on the 22nd of October. Little work could have been done in a session of six weeks, during which a change of government had taken place. Thirty Acts had been passed, most of them of small importance. But the law respecting

DEATH OF SIR CHARLES BAGOT.

483

the vacating of seats by members of parliament on taking office, had been made uniform, and authority was given to raise a loan in England of $7,500,000, for public works.

As the winter of 1842 laid its benumbing fingers on the life of nature, Sir Charles Bagot, unfortunately for Canada, felt his vital powers failing, and requested to be recalled. Like his predecessor, he was destined never to leave our shores. The chestnut trees of Canada excited his admiration on his arrival here. When he fell ill, the trees were bare. But life was in the frozen bough, and ere he lay dead, the rapid vegetation had made all the world green, and scattered white, tower-like blossoms amid the wealth of foliage of the trees he loved so well. He died on the 19th of May, 1843.

On the receipt of Sir Charles Bagot's resignation, Sir Charles Metcalfe was appointed Governor-General. The new Governor had arrived nearly two months before Sir Charles Bagot's decease. He entered Kingston on the 29th of March, 1843.* On the following day he took charge of the government. It was a pity he ever came to Canada. He had been eminently successful. He had climbed up the ladder of promotion, from a writership in the service of the East India Company, until, in 1834, he wielded the government of that vast territory from which Her Majesty is proud to take an additional title to-day. Neither his experience in India, nor as Governor of Jamaica, was calculated to dispose his mind to the study of constitutional government. Rather was it calculated to unfit him for the part of a constitutional ruler. A cancer in his face drove him from Jamaica. His health improved in England. But it was not without hesitation, not without misgivings that he accepted Lord Stanley's offer of the Governorship

MacMullen says he arrived at Kingston on the 25th of March, but this must be a mistake. He writes on the 24th of March, from Albany, whence he did not depart until daylight of the 25th. He took that whole day to get to Utica. From Utica to Kingston was 170 miles by sleighs. Owing to the bad winter, that journey took nearly four days. It must, therefore, have been the 29th when he arrived at Kingston, the day on which his biographer declares he arrived. On the 30th he took charge of the government. The Times of Montreal, writing on the 27th, said Sir Charles Metcalfe had arrived. In Sir Charles Metcalfe's own letter he says he did not arrive until the 29th. -Kaye's Life, Vol. ii, p, 468.