"The love of distinction is natural to man. Three millions
of people cannot be shut up in a colony. They will either
turn on each other, or unite against their keepers. The
road that leads to retirement in the provinces, should
be open to those whom the hope of distinction invites to
return and contend for the honours of the empire. At
present, the egress is practically closed."

"If you was to talk for ever, Minister," said Mr. Slick,
"you couldn't say more than the Prince de Joinville's
hoss on that subject."

The interruption was very annoying; for no man I ever
met, so thoroughly understands the subject of colonial
government as Mr. Hopewell. His experience is greater
than that of any man now living, and his views more
enlarged and more philosophical.

"Go on, Sam," said he with great good humour. "Let us
hear what the Prince's horse said."

"Well," said Mr. Slick, "I don't jist exactly mean to
say he spoke, as Balaam's donkey did, in good English or
French nother; but he did that that spoke a whole book,
with a handsum wood-cut to the fore, and that's a fact.

"About two years ago, one mortal brilin' hot day, as I
was a pokin' along the road from Halifax to Windsor, with
Old Clay in the waggon, with my coat off, a ridin' in my
shirt-sleeves, and a thinkin' how slick a mint-julep