he
non-Episcopal party that their side of the question would (if stated
through official channels), be fairly or fully represented. Even were
their case presented through these channels they were not sure but that
(as strikingly and quaintly put by Dr. Ryerson, on page 94).

In company with some ruthless vagrant--in the shape of a secret
communication from enemies in Canada--it would be slandered,
abused, and tomahawked at the foot of the throne.

As an illustration also of the spirit of the Chief Executive in Upper
Canada in dealing with the questions in dispute, I quote the following
extract from the reply of Sir John Colborne to an address from the
Methodist Conference in 1831.[27] He said:

Your dislike to any church establishment, or to the particular form
of Christianity which is denominated the Church, of England, may be
the natural consequence of the constant success of your own
efficacious and organized system. The small number of our
Church[28] is to be regretted, as well as that the organization of
its ministry is not adapted to supply the present wants of the
dispersed population in this new country; but you will readily
admit that the sober-minded of the province are disgusted with the
accounts of the disgraceful dissensions of the Episcopal Methodist
Church and its separatists, recriminating memorials, and the
warfare of one Church with another. The utility of an Establishment
depends entirely on the piety, assiduity, and devoted zeal of its
ministers, and on their abstaining from a secular interference
which may involve them in political disputes.

The labours of the clergy of established churches in defence of
moral and religious truth will always be remembered by you, who
have access to their writings, and benefit by them in common with
other Christian Societies. You will allow, I have no doubt, on
reflection that it would indeed be imprudent to admit the right of
societies to dictate, on account of their present numerical
strength, in what way the lands set apart as a provision for the
clergy shall be disposed of.

The system of [University] Education which has produced the best
and ablest men in the United Kingdom will not be abandoned here to
suit the limited views of the leaders of Societies who, perhaps,
have neither experience nor judgment to appreci