or Mr.
Punshon's visit to Canada, as clearly as you or his friends in this
country could wish. His removal from us, even for a space, will be a
great loss to us; and on grounds of friendship, especially so to myself;
but I hope it is all right. It is our earnest prayer that he, and the
Conference in his case, may be guided rightly. I should very much like
to accompany him. I do not give up the hope of seeing you and the
Canadian world, during his residence among you. I have formed a secret
resolution to steal away for a few weeks within the next year or two.
But perhaps it is wrong to anticipate. "Ye know not what shall be on the
morrow."

_Toronto, 24th July._--I was thankful this day to receive from Rev. Wm.
Morley Punshon a letter dated Bristol, 10th July, acknowledging mine to
him of the 19th June. He says:--It brought me the only intimation which
I have yet received of the request of the Canadian Conference that I
should be appointed to preside over its next session. I feel humbled and
thankful for this mark of the confidence of my brethren over the water,
and, if Providence opens my way, shall regard myself as favoured with no
mean opportunity of getting and doing good. No step in this whole matter
has been of my own motion. I am simply passive in the hands of God and
of His Church. You have very truly interpreted my wishes and feelings in
what you have said to some of my brethren. All our affairs are in higher
hands than our own; and if by God's overruling providence, I shall be
assured of welcome in Canada, and enabled to work for Christ upon that
continent, which I have so often longed to see, I shall regard the
disruption of all older ties, and the sacrifice of present position in
this country, as a small price to pay--the more, if I can aid in the
establishment of a grand Methodist confederacy which shall be one of the
great spiritual powers of the New World.

Dr. Ryerson adds, With a grateful heart at God's goodness in this
matter, I replied to the letter on the 1st of August, 1867.

While I was in England in 1867, Dr. Ryerson wrote to me (_Toronto,
August 1st_,) to say that:--The Rev. W. M. Punshon, M.A., is coming out
to Canada, in October, with his family. He has addressed me several
inquiries, which I answer by this mail; but I wrote him to say who you
were, what your address was in London, and that you could give him every
needful information and suggestion as to his best mode of proceedings. I
told