ore than a competent
support for them;--that to appropriate it for them would give most
satisfaction to the country. This resolution had five votes in
favour of it. All these amendments, and several others, having been
lost in Committee, the original resolution moved by Mr. Cartwright,
to revest the clergy reserves in Her Majesty, for "the support of
the Christian religion in this Province," was adopted by a
majority of three or four. A bill was then brought in and read a
first time, and ordered to a second reading next day, but was never
afterwards taken up--the exclusive church party being anxious to
keep it out of sight. Thus the question is laid over for another
year, to the great disappointment and dissatisfaction of thousands
who have promptly come forward to the support of the Government of
the country.

As an indication of the determination of the party then in power in
Upper Canada to carry their scheme for the re-investment of the Reserves
in the Crown, before the close of this friendly Parliament, I quote the
following extract from a despatch from Sir George Arthur to Lord
Glenelg, dated 11th July, 1838:--

At the first meeting of the Legislature, I propose to cause a bill
to be introduced for re-investing the lands reserved for the clergy
in the Crown, to be applied for religious purposes, and I have
reason to think that it will be carried by a considerable majority.

In June, 1838, Dr. Ryerson became Editor of the _Christian Guardian_. It
was, as I have shown, at a most critical period in our provincial
history. He was called to that post by the unanimous voice of his
brethren. That call, too, was emphasized by the fact that the object of
the dominant party in decrying the loyalty of their opponents was now
clearly seen; and that, therefore, none but a man of undaunted courage,
unimpeachable loyalty, as well as unquestioned ability, could
successfully cope with the powerful combination of talent and influence
which the ruling party possessed.

Nor should it be forgotten, that in the unfortunate crisis through which
the Province had just passed, the prestige of the party which had always
claimed the whole of the reserves as the patrimony of the Church of
England, had, from political causes, immensely increased. This gave them
a double advantage; while, on the other hand, the prestige of the party
which for years had firm