was wholly unqualified.

I have endeavoured, as far as it was possible, in a work
of this kind, to avoid all personal allusions to _private_
persons, or in any way to refer to scenes that may he
supposed to have such a hearing. Should any one imagine
that he can trace any resemblance, to any private occurrence
I can only assure him that such resemblance is quite
accidental.

On the other hand, I have lost no opportunity of inculcating
what I conceive to be good sound constitutional doctrines.
Loyal myself, a great admirer of the monarchical form of
government; attached to British Institutions, and a
devoted advocate for the permanent connexion between the
parent State, and its transatlantic possessions, I have
not hesitated to give utterance to these opinions. Born
a Colonist, it is natural I should have the feelings of
one, and if I have obtruded local matters on the notice
of the reader oftener than may be thought necessary, it
must be remembered that an inhabitant of those distant
countries has seldom an opportunity of being heard. I
should feel, therefore, if I were to pass over in silence
our claims or our interests, I was affording the best
justification for that neglect, which for the last half
century, has cramped our energies, paralized our efforts,
and discouraged and disheartened ourselves. England is
liberal in concessions, and munificent in her pecuniary
grants to us; but is so much engrossed with domestic
politics, that she will bestow upon us neither time nor