easures disallowed. Advice,
the compliance with which could not fail to be prejudicial to the
interests of the colony, was also sent across the Atlantic through the
Lieutenant-Governor, to whom it came back by return post in the shape of
Imperial instructions to be acted upon. The Colonial Minister, whoever
he might for the time happen to be, knew little and cared little about
the British North American colonies, and did not generally concern
himself with despatches to colonial Governors any further than to sign
his name to them. He was thus the unconscious means of furthering
Executive tyranny, and to some extent of alienating the loyalty of the
colonists.

Among other drawbacks, sufficiently serious in themselves and in their
ulterior consequences, but of minor importance when compared with the
all-permeating grievances already referred to, may be mentioned the
quartering of military men upon the colony in the capacity of
Lieutenant-Governors; the unequal representation of the people in the
Assembly; the exorbitant salaries of certain public officials; the union
of judicial and legislative functions in the same persons; the
appointment of judges, sheriffs, magistrates, and other officials during
the pleasure of the Executive, and not during good behaviour.

The evils attendant upon placing the local administration of the
colonies in the hands of military officers, who were inexperienced in
constitutional government, and unfitted by training for such duties as
were demanded of them, have already been glanced at.[44] Such persons
naturally enough found themselves altogether out of their proper element
upon their arrival in the colony, and looked to the Executive
Councillors for advice and instruction. That they should follow the
instruction received, and that they should surrender themselves to the
judgment of those enemies of the public weal, followed almost as a
matter of course. In this way the strength of the oligarchy was
consolidated and enlarged, and its members rendered more and more
independent of public opinion. All that can be urged on behalf of the
Home Ministry, by way of excuse for committing the direction of our
affairs to such persons, is that the position of Lieutenant-Governor of
Upper Canada was not a sufficient inducement to make it sought after by
really capable men. The office, in at least one instance to be hereafter
recorded, went a-begging.

Unequal representation was a fruitful source of dis