The Colonial Policy of Lord John Russells Administration. This item is unavailable.The Colonial Policy of Lord John Russells Administration

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1853. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... 200 LETTER Y. British North America.--Canada. My Dear Lord John, I will now turn to those large and flourishing provinces which constitute the British territory in North America. In the history of these provinces the last six years will form a memorable epoch, since within that period their system of government, which was previously in a state of great doubt and uncertainty, may be said to have been established on what there is good reason to hope may be a permanent footing, and the difficult and embarrassing questions which had arisen, as to the rules to be observed in conducting their affairs, have received a solution in which all parties have practically acquiesced. This has not been accomplished without discussions and controversies which, during their progress, were the source of much anxiety; but we may congratulate ourselves upon having succeeded, before the breaking up of your Administration, in bringing all these various discussions and controversies to a satisfactory termination, and upon having left these, the most important of the Colonial dependencies of the British Empire, in a state, not only far better than that which we found existing on our assumption of office, but such as to afford the most encouraging prospects for their future welfare and rapid progress, both in moral and material prosperity. A very slight sketch of the various transactions and events through which this result has been attained is all that I can attempt. Without going back to occurrences of an earlier date, I would begin by observing, that a new era in the history of British North America may be said to have opened with the passing of the Act of 1840, for the union of the former Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, and with the consequent re-establishment in the latter of c...