Thinking people will recognize that the United States become, year by year, less English and more Cosmopolitan; less conservative and more socialist; less peaceful and more aggressive. Twice within ten years the Presidential elections have pushed the Republic to the very brink of civil war. But for the forbearance of Mr. Tilden and the Democrats, on one occasion; and the caution of leading Republicans when President Cleveland was chosen, disturbance must have happened. We have yet to see whether Provincial Government may not, in the Dominion, lead towards Separation, rather than towards Union. While one Custom-house and one general Government is aiding Union, the Province of Quebec accentuates all that is French; the Province of Ontario accentuates all that is British: the problem, here, is how, gradually, to weaken sectional, and how gradually to strengthen Union, ideas. State rights led to a civil war in the United States: Provincial Government fifty years hence may lead to conflicts in Canada. In the United States there was no solution but war. Surely in Canada we can apply the safety valve of augmenting British aid and influence. Why not try the re-introduction of the red-coat of the Queen's soldier --that soldier to be enlisted and officered, let us hope in the early future, from every portion of the Queen's Dominions--as of the one Imperial army;--an Imperial army paid for by the whole Empire. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PRELIMINARY--ONE REASON WHY I WENT TO THE PACIFIC CHAPTER II. TOWARDS THE PACIFIC--LIVERPOOL TO QUEBEC CHAPTER III. TO THE PACIFIC--MONTREAL TO PORT MOODY CHAPTER IV. CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAYS CHAPTER V. A BRITISH RAILWAY FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC CHAPTER VI. PORT MOODY--VICTORIA--SAN FRANCISCO TO CHICAGO. CHAPTER VII. NEGOCIATIONS AS TO THE INTERCOLONIAL RAILWAY: AND NORTH-WEST TRANSIT AND TELEGRAPH, 1861 TO 1864. CHAPTER VIII. NEGOCIATIONS FOR PURCHASE OF THE HUDSON'S BAY PROPERTY CHAPTER IX. THE RIGHT HONORABLE EDWARD ELLICE, M.P. CHAPTER X. THE SELECT COMMITTEE, ON HUDSON'S BAY AFFAIRS, OF 1857 CHAPTER XI. RE-ORGANIZATION OF HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY CHAPTER XII. THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY AND THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF 1748- 9 CHAPTER XIII. THE HUDSON'S BAY POSTS--TO-DAY. CHAPTER XIV. "UNCERTAIN SOUNDS" CHAPTER XV. "GOVERNOR DALLAS" CHAPTER XVI. THE HONORABLE THOMAS D'ARCY McGEE CHAPTER XVII. 1851--FIRST VISIT TO AMERICA: A REASON FOR IT. CHAPTER XVIII. THE RECIPROCITY TREATY WITH THE UNITED STATES. CHAPTER XIX. THE DEFENCES OF CANADA. CHAPTER XX. INTENDED ROUTE FOR A PACIFIC RAILWAY IN 1863. CHAPTER XXI. LETTERS PROM SIR GEORGE E. CARTIER--QUESTION OF HONORS CHAPTER XXII. DISRAELI-BEACONSFIELD CHAPTER XXIII. VISITS TO QUEBEC AND PORTLAND: AND LETTERS HOME CANADA AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNTRY. CHAPTER I. _Preliminary--One Reason why I went to the Pacific._