Bloody Relations

EPILOGUE

Fort St. Louis

Quebec City

September 3, 1838

Dear Marc:

As you have no doubt heard by now, I have decided to cut short my mission here in British North America. The knives have been out for me back home since the end of July. While I expect the Tories to slip the blade in whenever they smell an opportunity to do so, the failure of my own party to support the decisions I have had to make given the gravity of the circumstances has left me feeling abandoned by those I counted as friends. My ordinance permitting the ringleaders of the Quebec revolt to serve their sentences in Bermuda was essential to my plan for a conciliated settlement to that unhappy affair, but its being declared ultra vires by Lord Melbourne-at the instigation of Lord Brougham-in a pathetic and futile attempt to prop up his own government has dashed all my hopes. Moreover, if I were to acquiesce meekly to the prime minister’s whim, I would lose any credibility I have managed to achieve in the four months since my arrival. Hence, I shall wind up matters soon and depart for England in late October or early November.

Nevertheless, I have already formulated a general plan for the future governance of the Canadas. It remains only for my associates-Wakefield, Turton, and Buller-to help me flesh it out. There will be a united parliament with equal representation from each province. The Baldwins may prove me wrong about the French way of life fading away or blending with the British to make something strange and new, but for now a single assembly ought to compel the leaders of the two races to say hello to each other across a parliamentary aisle every day: who knows what may happen then? My principal concern, as you know, has ever been to create some kind of legislative forum in which the people who live in the provinces and have a stake in its future will be given the opportunity to work out their own destiny.

Less optimistically, Wakefield assures me that the atmosphere in the Whig cabinet is now so poisoned that we shall be fortunate to get our report written and seriously considered by an indifferent and self-absorbed Parliament. Moreover, the chances of having responsible government-the linchpin of any scheme I propose-accepted are doomed from the outset. Of course this will not dissuade me from promulgating it loudly from any pulpit provided me!

On a more personal note, Handford has begun to recover from his ordeal. We offered to send him home to recuperate, but when he realized that Lady Durham is essential to me and my work and could not therefore accompany him, he chose to remain here. All in all, I think it was a wise decision. Please write again and let me know how your law studies are progressing.

Yours sincerely,

John George Lambton

Earl of Durham

P.S. My congratulations to Mrs. Edwards on the blessed event you are anticipating next April. I hope your marriage turns out to be as fortunate as mine has been.