to the English Conference, and designed to form
the basis of articles for the proposed union between the two bodies.
Rev. Robert Alder was present at the Conference, and was a consenting
party to the basis of union.

_December 7th, 1832._--The prospects of Union with the British
Conference were not encouraging in various parts of the Connexion, and
chiefly for the reasons mentioned by Rev. George Ryerson in his letters
from England (see pp. 107, 8). Rev. John Ryerson, writing to Dr. Ryerson
from Cobourg, also says:--

The subject of the Union appears to be less and less palatable to
our friends in these parts, so much so, that I think it will not be
safe for you to come to any permanent arrangements with the British
Conference, even should they accede to our proposals. I am of the
opinion that, except we give ourselves entirely into their hands in
some way or another, no Union will take place. I tell the
preachers, and they and I tell the people, that, Union or no Union,
it is very important that you should go home; that you will
endeavour, in every way you can, to convince the British Conference
of the manifest injustice and wickedness of sending missionaries to
this country.

_November 21st, 1832._--The proposed union with the British Conference
excited a good deal of discussion at this time in various parts of Upper
Canada. Dr. Ryerson, therefore, addressed a note on the subject to Rev.
Robert Alder, the English Conference representative. I make a few
extracts:--

At the Hallowell Conference (1832) the question of the union was
principally sustained by my brothers, and was concurred in by the vote
of a large majority of the Conference.... But in some parts of the
country, where Presidential visits have been made, certain local
preachers have found out that the Societies ought to have been
consulted; that they have been sold ("by the Ryersons,") without
consent; that no Canadian will henceforth be admitted into the
Conference; that our whole economy will be changed by arbitrary power,
and all revivals of religion will be stopped, etc. The first of the
objections is the most popular, but they have all failed to produce the
intended effect, to an extent desired by the disaffected few. The object
contemplated is, to produce an excitement that will prevent me going to
England, and induce the Conference to retrace its steps. The merit or
demerit of the measure ha