The clergy reserves in Canada, so long the bane of
that province, have at last been resigned to the uncontrolled disposal of the local Legislature. Earl Grey takes care, however, that there shall be no mistake as to the temper in which he performs this act of jus- tice. In the despatch which conveys to Lord Elgin the intimation of the final decision of the Imperial Ministers on this point, the Governor-General is earnestly requested to " further inform the House of Assembly," that "her Majesty's servants greatly regret that a subject of so much difficulty as the clergy reserves should have again been brought under discussion." •Moliere's heroes, when they are cudgelled into doing something they dislike, do it with a smirk, as if it were matter of choice ; but Earl Grey makes a wry face to express the strength of the obstinacy that has been drubbed out of him. Lord Grey states that the question of the clergy reserves " is one so exclusively affecting the people of Ca- nada, that its decision ought not to be withdrawn from the Pro- vincial Legislature "; and alleges that this is "the principle on which her Majesty's Government have always held that the go- vernment of Canada ought to be conducted." "Always—since the rebellion," he should have said. The moral of this and all other concessions to the Canadians is, that colonists may get any- thing from the Colonial Office provided they can only frighten it. Might is right in Downing Street. It is for the advantage of the Colonies, though not exactly for the honour of the Mother-country, that this should be known.
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