adjustment of doubtful boundary.” Unfortunately Mr. Webster but too well described our share of the advantages obtained by this “treaty of equivalents.” The consequences to us in a war might be more disastrous than those he indicated. CHAPTER XVII. The Acadian Confederation--Union is Strength--The Provinces--New Brunswick--The Temperature--Trade of St. John--Climate and agriculture of Nova Scotia--Prince Edward Island--Newfoundland--The Red River District--Assiniboia--The Red River Valley--Minnesota and the West--The Hudson’s Bay Company--Their Territory--The North-West Regions--Climate of Winnipeg Basin--Its area--Finances of the Confederation--Imports, exports, and tonnage--Proposed Federal Constitution--Lessons from the American struggle. We have now seen the dangers which threaten Canada, we have to some extent examined the means of resisting them, and have followed the process by which a severe injury was inflicted on her powers of defence. Mr. Webster was a grand specimen of unscrupulous intelligence--he was a colossal “Yankee.” It will be observed that he regarded the acquisitions so dexterously made--_quocunque modo rem_--as valuable on account of their military capabilities--that he took the highest point accessible to the American mind when he showed that his work could be made available for the annoyance and injury of Great Britain. In so far he betrayed--if indeed there is any deception in the matter--the animating principle of American political life. Let any public man prove that he has hurt the English power or affronted it--that he has damnified its commerce and lowered its prestige, and the popular sentiment will applaud him, no matter the agency by which his purpose was effected. Recent events have greatly inflamed the spirit which always burned against us. The very events which have broken up the Union may resolve its fragments into a new combination more formidable and more aggressive. The course open to Canada, which may feel once more the force of that permanent principle in the American mind, is plain. Great Britain may be too far off. She may be too much engaged to be able to aid Canada efficiently and fully. But on the borders of Canada there are provinces with great resources and a great future, which have hitherto been prevented by various considerations from welding themselves into a Confederation. The time has come now in the white heat of American strife for the adoption of the process. The Confederation of States with divers interests under a weak executive has fallen to pieces. All the more reason for a Confederation of States with common interests and with one governing principle. If we accept the common governing principle of all the Colonies and Provinces to be their attachment to Monarchical institutions, any pressure from the influences of Republican institutions can but consolidate their union.