Church of England, and are not sustained by the greater part of the
members of the Church of England in both branches of the Legislature.
Not a petition has been presented by members of the Church of England
against the present system of public schools, except one, adopted by a
meeting presided over by the Bishop, and signed by himself; and the
Legislative Council within the last few days, by a majority of more than
two to one, concurred with the Legislative Assembly and Administration
in regard to the clergy reserves and University. The Bishop's extreme
policy and proceedings have been and are a great calamity to the Church
of England in Canada--a calamity which can only be mitigated and removed
by the discountenance of such proceedings, and by the adoption of a more
Christian and judicious policy on the part of members of the Church,
both in England and in Canada.

* * * * *

In reviewing the history of this question from 1840 until its final
settlement by the Canadian Parliament, in 1854, Dr. Ryerson said:--

Messrs. William and Egerton Ryerson had been appointed
representatives of the Canadian to the British Conference in 1840.
On their arrival in England, they found Lord John Russell's Bill
for the disposal of the Canadian Clergy Reserves to the Churches of
England and Scotland before Parliament; and, as representing the
largest religious denomination in Upper Canada, they requested an
interview with Lord John Russell on the subject of His Lordship's
Bill before Parliament. In the interview granted, they pointed out
to His Lordship the injustice, impolicy, and danger of the Bill,
should it become law, and respectfully and earnestly prayed His
Lordship to withdraw the Bill; but he was inflexible, when the
Messrs. Ryerson prayed to His Lordship to assent to their being
heard at the Bar of the House of Commons against the Bill; at which
His Lordship became very angry--thinking it presumptuous that two
Canadians, however numerous and respectable their constituency,
should propose to be heard at the Bar of the British House of
Commons against a measure of Her Majesty's Government. But the
Messrs. Ryerson knew their country and their position, and
afterwards wrote a respectful but earnest letter to His Lordship
against his measure, and faithfully warned him of the consequences
of it if persevered in; they wen