to the local Parliament. Until, however, the functions of his office,
under our amended colonial constitution, are more clearly defined--
until that middle term which shall reconcile the faithful discharge of
his responsibility to the Imperial Government and the province with
the maintenance of the quasi-monarchical relation in which he now
stands towards the community over which he presides, be discovered and
agreed upon, he must be content to tread along a path which is
somewhat narrow and slippery, and to find that incessant watchfulness
and some dexterity are requisite to prevent him from falling, on the
one side into the _néant_ of mock sovereignty, or on the other
into the dirt and confusion of local factions.

Many of his letters exhibit the same conviction that the remedy for the
evils which he regretted was to be found in the principles of government
first asserted by Lord Durham; but there is a special interest in the
expression of this sentiment when addressed, as in the following extract,
to Lord Durham's daughter:--

I still adhere to my opinion that the real and effectual vindication
of Lord Durham's memory and proceedings will be _the success of a
Governor-General of Canada who works out his views of government
fairly_. Depend upon it, if this country is governed for a few
years satisfactorily, Lord Durham's reputation as a statesman will be
raised beyond the reach of cavil. I do not indeed know whether I am to
be the instrument to carry out this work, or be destined, like others
who have gone before me, to break down in the attempt; but I am still
of opinion that the thing may be done, though it requires some good
fortune and some qualities not of the lowest order. I find on my
arrival here a very weak Government, almost as much abused by their
friends as by their foes, no civil or private secretary, and an