circumstances combined to smooth, for the time, the waters on
which Lord Elgin had embarked. The state of political parties was
favourable; for the old Tories of the British 'Family Compact' party
were in good humour, being in enjoyment of the powers to which they
claimed a prescriptive right, while the 'Liberals' of the Opposition
were full of hope that the removal of Lord Metcalfe's disturbing
influence would restore their proper preponderance. Something also was
due to his own personal qualities. Whereas most of his immediate
predecessors had been men advanced in years and enfeebled by
ill-health, he was in the full enjoyment of vigorous youth--able, if
need were, to work whole days at a stretch; to force his way through a
Canadian snow-storm, if his presence was required at a public meeting;
to make long and rapid journeys through the province, ever ready to
receive an address, and give an _impromptu_ reply. The papers soon
began to remark on the 'geniality and affability of 'his demeanour.'
'He is daily,' they said, 'making new 'friends. He walks to church,
attends public meetings, 'leads the cheering, and is, in fact, a man
of the people.' Before long it was added, 'Our new governor is 'the
most effective speaker in the province;' and, thanks to his foreign
education, he was able to speak as readily and fluently to the French
Canadians in French as to the English in English. Added to this, his
recent marriage was a passport to the hearts of many in Canada, who
looked back to the late Lord Durham as the apostle of their liberties,
if not as a martyr in their cause.

[Sidenote: Provincial politics.]

But though the surface was smooth, there was much beneath to disquiet an
observant governor. It was not only that the Ministry was so weak, and so
conscious of its weakness, as to be incapable even of proposing any
measures of importance. This evil might be remedied by a change of
administration. But there was no real political life; only that pale and
distorted reflection of it which is apt to exist in a colony before it has
learned 'to look within itself for the centre of power.' Parties formed
themselves, not on broad issues of principle, but with reference to petty
local and personal interests; and when they sought the support of a more
widespread sentiment, they fell back on those antipathies of race, which
it was the main