last wrote, a week of unusual tranquillity....
but I regret to say that I discover as yet nothing to warrant the
belief that the seat of Government can properly remain at Montreal.

The existence of a perfect understanding between the more outrageous
and the more respectable fractions of the Tory party in the town, is
rendered even more manifest by the readiness with which the former,
through their organs, have yielded to the latter when they preached
moderation in good earnest. Additional proof is thus furnished of the
extent to which the blame of the disgraceful transactions of the past
four months falls on all. All attempts, and several have been made, to
induce the Conservatives to unite in an address, inviting me to return
to the town, have failed; which is the more significant, because it is
well known that the removal of the seat of Government is under
consideration, and that I have deprecated the abandonment of Montreal.

The existence of a party, animated by such sentiments, powerful in
numbers and organisation, and in the station of some who more or less
openly join it--owning a qualified allegiance to the constitution of
the province--professing to regard the Parliament and the Government
as nuisances to be tolerated within certain limits only--raising
itself whenever the fancy seizes it, or the crisis in its judgment
demands it, into an '_imperium in imperio_,'--renders it, I fear,
extremely doubtful whether the functions of Legislation or of
Government can be carried on to advantage in this city. 'Show vigour
and put it down,' say some. You _may_ and _must_ put down
those who resist the law when overt acts are committed. But the party
is unfortunately a national as well as a political one; after each
defeat it resumes its attitude of defiance; and, whenever it comes
into collision with the authorities, there is the risk of a frightful
race feud being provoked. All these dangers are vastly increased by
Montreal's being the seat of Government.

There were other arguments also of no little force. He was assured that
some Members had declared that nothing would induce them to come again to
Montreal; and he himself felt that it must do great mischief to the members
from other parts of the Province, to pass some months of each year in that
'hot-bed of prejudice and disaffection.' Moreover, so long a