Confederation of British American provinces advocated by British American League, 37, 38; the proposal attributed to various persons, 129; D'Arcy McGee says it was due to events more powerful than men, 129, 130; Brown's course leads up to confederation, 130; his letter to Luther Holton treating it as an open question, 131; advocated by Dorion, 132; by A. T. Galt, 132; failure of attempt made in 1858, 133; Liberals of Lower Canada declare for federal union, 133; convention of Upper Canada Reformers, 133, 134; the evils of the legislative union set forth, 134; account of the convention, 134; divided between dissolving and federalizing the union, 135; Sheppard's acute criticism of plan of federation, 135; convention declares for local legislatures, with joint authority for matters of common interest, 136, 138; George Brown opposes dissolution of union, 137; the legislature rejects Brown's resolutions founded on those of the convention, 139; becomes an urgent question, 147; causes of that change, 147; Canada urged by Great Britain to take measures for defence, 147; effect of the American Civil War, 147; abrogation of reciprocity treaty and loss of American trade, 148; fears of abolition of bonding system, 148; isolated position of Canada, 148; the credit of the country low, 148 (note); the dead-lock in the government of Canada, 149; attempts to form a stable government fail, 149; Brown describes the situation, 150; Brown brings into the House report of a special committee favouring federation as a remedy for difficulties in the government of Canada, 150; the Tache' government defeated, 151; negotiations with Brown, 151; Ferrier's account of the meeting, 152; Brown's account of negotiations, 152, 153; Sir Richard Cartwright describes a scene in the House, 153; official account of negotiations, 154; Brown reluctant to join coalition ministry, 154; question whether federation should include Maritime Provinces and North-West Territories, 155, 156; Brown consults Reform members for Upper Canada, 156; they approve of confederation and of coalition, 157; the governor-general (Monk) urges Brown to enter coalition, 157; Brown consents, 158; letter from Brown, 158; formation of the coalition, 159; predominance of Conservatives in government, 160; the bye-elections generally favour confederation, 160, 161; movement for Maritime union, 161; meeting of Canadian and Maritime representatives at Charlottetown, 161; conference at Quebec, 163; anxiety to avoid danger of "State sovereignty," 163; powers not defined to reside in central parliament, 163; constitution of the senate, 164; Brown advocates nominated senate, 164; Brown describes result of conference, 165; the Maritime delegates visit Canada, 166; cordial reception at Toronto, 166; Brown there describes scheme of confederation, 166; Brown visits England, 167;