of all denominations as a direct infringement of the original intention of the Act, which they maintain was for the purpose of aiding the Protestant cause at large against the innovations of the Roman Catholic Church.  Much ill-will and sectarian prejudice are the natural consequence; in fact, the Act is a perfect apple of discord throughout the Canadas, and has engendered more animosity and resentment than any one legislative act, sanctioned by the Home Government, since the acquisition (if so it can he called) of the country.  It is an indelible disgrace to England, that such a manifestly bigoted and narrow-minded policy should have been allowed to continue so long; and I am fully persuaded that this enactment, which, there is little doubt, originated in sectarianism, perpetuates a degree of rancorous feeling in the minds of people there, that is sufficient to account for the disaffection and tendency to rebellion that ever and anon displays itself; and that to remove this blister, and allow the application of these funds to all creeds alike, would be to restore peace, and convert doubtfully-affected communities to allegiance.  If there is one consideration that ought to weigh in the minds of the British as a people, to endeavour to rivet the affections of the Canadians, more than another, and prevent the ultimate cession of that country to the Americans, it is, that the dependency affords now the only asylum for those persecuted outcasts of humanity, the slaves of the United States.  Canada, the land of freedom, is associated in their minds with paradisaical thoughts of happiness—­and many a heart-stricken creature in the Southern States of America, as I had many opportunities of ascertaining, toils on in content, with “Canada” in view, as the ultimatum of his hopes and the land of his redemption.

The population of Buffalo is fluctuating, owing to the vast number of emigrants who are constantly arriving, en route to Ohio, Michigan, and the far West.  It averages in population, about ten thousand.  The city is not of great extent, and consists in chief of one principal thoroughfare, called Maine-street, which is wide, the lower part terminating at the water’s edge, along which spacious stores are erected for the reception of wheat and goods in transit.  The harbour is formed by an arm of Lake Erie uniting with Buffalo river.  Here are always congregated a large fleet of steamers, many of them of leviathan dimensions, which are employed in running to and from Detroit, in Michigan, and the intermediate ports, as well as in the Upper Lake trade.  Being quite a depot, Buffalo bids fair, ere the lapse of many years, to be the grand emporium of the West.  The public buildings do not deserve much notice; the Eagle Theatre, a joint-stock concern, being the only building of much interest.  There are, however, several spacious hotels, and two or three banks, that boast some architectural merit, although much, I believe, cannot be said as to their stability.  The lateral streets are rather obscure, and, not being regularly built upon, give the city an unfinished look.  These are, however, dotted here and there with chateaux, having good gardens well arranged.  The Niagara Railway station is situated to the left of Maine-street, about half-way up that premier thoroughfare.