LORD ELGIN by SIR JOHN GEORGE BOURINOT THE MAKERS OF CANADA EDITED BY DUNCAN CAMPBELL SCOTT, F.R.S.C., AND PELHAM EDGAR, PH.D. Edition De Luxe Toronto, 1903 [Illustration: "Elgin a Kincardine."] EDITORS' NOTE The late Sir John Bourinot had completed and revised the following pages some months before his lamented death. The book represents more satisfactorily, perhaps, than anything else that he has written the author's breadth of political vision and his concrete mastery of historical fact. The life of Lord Elgin required to be written by one possessed of more than ordinary insight into the interesting aspects of constitutional law. That it has been singularly well presented must be the conclusion of all who may read this present narrative. CONTENTS Chapter Page I: EARLY CAREER 1 II: POLITICAL CONDITION IN CANADA 17 III: POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES 41 IV: THE INDEMNIFICATION ACT 61 V: THE END OF THE LAFONTAINE-BALDWIN MINISTRY, 1851 85 VI: THE HINCKS-MORIN MINISTRY 107 VII: THE HISTORY OF THE CLERGY RESERVES (1791-1854) 143 VIII: SEIGNIORIAL TENURE 171 IX: CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES 189 X: FAREWELL TO CANADA 203 XI: POLITICAL PROGRESS 227 XII: A COMPARISON OF SYSTEMS 239 BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 269 INDEX 271 CHAPTER I EARLY CAREER