Year: 1872




OTTAWA Nov. 90, 1872.
1t Is six months ago since Lord Duterin came
here to assume the duties OF Governor General OF
the Dominion. Most Of this time he has devoted to
making himself acquainted with the country and
the people. He assimilates knowledge very fast
and has that popularity, which biographers say
was prominent feature Of Sir Walter Scotts
character, OF asking questions here there and
everywhere from all kinds Of men. Lord DufIerin
knows more of Canada now than many OF its intel.
ligent natives. He is accurately informed OF all It's
natural resources, knows where the veins Of sand
stone run that contain the petroleum deposits the
value OF the plumbago galena and magnetic iron
ore resources that pierce the soil of this Ontario
province, and on the inexhaustible lumber sup
plies and water communications he becomes abso.
lutely eloquent. But this is not all his
Excellency knows. He is careful stu
dent OF politics and of human nature.
In the brief space OF his sojourn he has managed
to comprehend the local politics OF Canada-a feat
orunprecedented accomplishment for stranger in
SO short a degree OF time. What American ever
unravelled the mysteries OF politics in the District
OF Columbia2 Contemplate dozen such conun-
drums as that of Washington laid Tor solution be-
fore an aristocratic Englishman, who never gave
thought to such matters before, and you are fain
to give credit to the ability that solved all OF them
sertdttm and make comprehensive analysis Of
the whole. The differences and difficulties be-
tween Upper and Lower Canada were understood
by very few at our side of the line. We never had
any heart for the study. We often confounded
geographically, Upper with Lower Canada, because
the latter had more nortnerly position on the
map; but the topography offered no such bewider-
ment as


THE POLITICS OF THE COUNTRY.
Why Frenchmen should be tories and Englishmen
liberals or rice rersd, was something we never
cared to solve by the aid of any very painstaking
process. The establishment of the Dominion has
wonderfully smplifed matters. Upper and Lower
Canada no longer legally exist. In their stead are
five Provinces answering to our States with
federal government at Ottawa and President in
the shape OIL Governor General Dufern, at q salary
OF 100000, paid by the Canadian people. Each
Province has Its Legislature and local Governor,
and puts on as many consequential airs as the
mighty commonwealth OF New York. In the past
Upper aud Lower Canada were always at logger
heads, and the ferceness of party feeling at
times eciipsed almost anything we have ever
known among ourselves. Into all the little local
divisions aud disputes, the little combinations
aud the hundred and one questions that agitated
the minds OF this people in the days gone by Lord
Dufferin went with the zeal OF archeologist. He
gave his days and nights to clear understanding
OF tile horrible muddle, and he Is now as learned in
the past history of the country as Sir John A. Mac
donald or Sir Alexander Gait The HERALD COM
missioner, having no notion OF leaving the Do
mini0n without seeing


THE QUEENS REPRESENTATIVE,


diveged from the line OF the Grand Trunk at Pres
colt, and came hither to Ottawa the capi,a all stu.
ated on the ottawa River, and the great centre of
k,.sI
begun thirteen years ago, are mounted on the top
OF buf five minutes walk from the centre
OF the town. Canadians say there are no
public edihces in the world equal to them.
he Houses OF Parliament are put on
q par with those in London and considerably
ahead OF our Capitoi at Washington. When Aus
traan pebbles are reckoned as valuable as
diamonds of the first water then will these gov
ernment buildings take an equal rank with our
own. They are constructed of bright yellow
stone, cheap and unshapely, but so wonderfully
well disposed in conjunction with common red
brick in the various architectural designs that, at
distance they make an appearance OF much
beauty. They occupy three sides Of plateau, en-
bracng about five acres, ana may be seen for
miles away every srle. For a country like
Canada they are exceedingly respectable


As for the town OF Ottawa it Is


AN AGREEABLE SURPRISE.


IN place so out OF the way you are not prepared
10 expect much OF commercial progress You are
satisfied to think OF it a. OF Washington on small
scale or OF any OF state capitals where the
population hugs the government and basks per-
petually IN its auriferous smiles. A citizen OF
Ottawa assured me It's 900 people could live and
thrive without the presence OF The government,
but to tnis ] can give no credit, since am aware
that its population has doubled within decade,
xyl4fr nj a.s
was transferred has fallen OF proportionatey.
Enthusiastic natives predict that this will ulti-
mateIy be the seat OF empire wDen the various pa
per railroads. one TO the North Pole included, are
constructed and the mineral wealth lying in the
soil around is developed. 1t will be rather cold
seat OF empire and not near 50 pleasant as Wash.
ington. found that obtaining


AN INTERVIEW WITH THE GOVERNOR GENERAL
~as matter slightly different from undertaking
to be delivered into the Presidential presence a.
the White House through the agency OF Brigadier
General Dent. II was natural should forget that
The Governor General represented the queen. The
surroundings were uniavorabe towards conjuring
ap the belief that royalty even by proxy could take
refuge IN country so unkempt in looks and so un-
,ongenial to gentle blood The temperature, /
thought, adapted 70 freeze all the gracious
cess out OF royalty in person by deputy and the
distance from European civilization sufficient TO
Danish all courtly formalites Enough for man
to have a white skin in such region TO recon-
mend him to the warmest Of informal embraces
even from a king Not so, however. There is a
fair share OF democratic feeling among the natives
In the new towns Of Canada; but in such oid-setted
places az Toronto Kingston Prescott, Montreal,
&C. there is proportionately as much exclusiveness
as in London.


l. met with a grimly humorous illustration OF


THE BRITISH SPIRIT OF CASTE


IN short talk with the conductor ol the train al