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enabled him to obtain a new Assembly in which the party he had adopted was supported by a small majority; while from that time the opposition was directed not merely against the advisers of the Governor, but against the Governor himself, and even in some degree against the British Govern ment which he represented.

Lord Metcalfe's health having compelled him to relinquish the Government of Canada, Lord Cath- cart, who commanded the troops in the province, was appointed to the Civil Government not many months before the change of Administration which took place in this country in July 1846. Lord Cath- cart succeeded to the position of Lord Metcalfe, and he found himself regarded as belonging to the party from which bis Executive Council was formed, and to which, though for the moment supported by a small majority of the Assembly, public opinion in the province was becoming daily more opposed.

One of the first subjects which engaged my attention after I became Secretary of State was this state of affairs in Canada, and I was convinced that it was absolutely necessary to entrust the Government of that province to a person who possessed a knowledge of the principles of the Constitution, an experience of popular assemblies, and a familiarity with the political questions of the day which could not reasonably be expected from Lord Cathcart, who had hitherto been almost entirely occupied by the duties of his profession, and had not been accustomed to take any active part in English politics. Accordingly, Lord Elgin, who was at that time entirely unknown to me except by reputation, was selected for Governor- General, and proceeded to Canada in January 1847. Previously to his departure I had had much conversation with him on the line of conduct which it would be expedient for him to adopt, and he was furnished with instructions in accord- ance with the views which he concurred with me in entertaining on this subject. It was to be his object to govern (and to make it generally under- stood that he intended to govern) the province in the strictest conformity with the constitutional principles which we are accustomed to respect in

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