The appointment of a successor to Lord Metcalfe cannot in
prudence be long delayed; and those who have at heart the Colonial interests of this country feel much anxiety as to the choice of the man. The rumour that it is to be Sir Henry Pottinger keeps up ; no doubt, because his per- sonal qualities, and his success in retrieving the mistakes that led this country into one embroglio, impress most people with an idea that he is calculated to succeed in all embroilments; and the popular notion of Canada is that it ever has been an embroiled colony. It would be a great assump- tion to say that Sir Henry Pottinger could not succeed; but it should be understood that his past achievements constitute no evidence in favour of the opposite presumption. In India and China, somewhat arbitrary con- duct was not adverse to the nature of the institutions, nor inconsistent with the nature of the energy demanded; but succeffs;in such *vices is prima facie evidence against the probability of success where it is only to be at- tained through fostering and developing popilarinfluences and representative institutions. Canada must be governed through and by Canada, or not at all. The one drawback in Lord Metcalfe's administration, was his inaptitude to use and direct Parliamentary influence, rather than to check or evade it. But Lord Metcalfe had a very imperfect training in in- stitutions; though, unlike' Sir Henry Pottinger, after leixving'India he had some experience of the kind in Jamaica. So much of success as Lord Sydenham commanded in Canada Wak'obtaiued through his familiar ac- quaintance with the working of the Britih Parliament. His Canadian intrigues, indeed, were not a very exalted imitation of our practice; but they were an imitation, and they, helped him to his successes such as they were. Sir Charles Begot entered on -the mane of-" responsible, govern- ment" with an honester spirit. No. advance in political organization ap- pears to have been made since his time. Thanks to the hiTh moral cha- racter and moderation of Lord Metcalfes istle, discord has materially sub- sided, and his successor's task will 'be all the easier. But the Canadian Parliament will not suffer many more sessions to pass without coming to some distinct and positive understanding on the subject of its relations with the Governor and with the Provincial 'Ministers; and therefore the suspended task of maturing the political organization of the province cans
not much longer be delayed without the risk of serious consequences. How important, then, the choice of a Governor! how necessary to choose a man versed in the principles and practice of representative institutions!
