Lord Metcalfe was succeeded by Lord Cathcart, a military man, who was chosen because of the threatening aspect of the relations between England and the United States on the question of the Oregon boundary.  During his short term of office he did not directly interfere in politics, but carefully studied the defence of the country and quietly made preparations for a rupture with the neighbouring republic.  The result of his judicious action was the disappearance of much of the political bitterness which had existed during Lord Metcalfe’s administration.  The country, indeed, had to face issues of vital importance to its material progress.  Industry and commerce were seriously affected by the adoption of free trade in England, and the consequent removal of duties which had given a preference in the British markets to Canadian wheat, flour, and other commodities.  The effect upon the trade of the province would not have been so serious had England at this time repealed the old navigation laws which closed the St. Lawrence to foreign shipping and prevented the extension of commerce to other markets.  Such a course might have immediately compensated Canadians for the loss of those of the motherland.  The anxiety that was generally felt by Canadians on the reversal of the British commercial policy under which they had been able to build up a very profitable trade, was shown in the language of a very largely signed address from the assembly to the Queen.  “We cannot but fear,” it was stated in this document, “that the abandonment of the protective principle, the very basis of the colonial commercial system, is not only calculated to retard the agricultural improvement of the country and check its hitherto rising prosperity, but seriously to impair our ability to purchase the manufactured goods of Great Britain—­a result alike prejudicial to this country and the parent state.”  But this appeal to the selfishness of British manufacturers had no influence on British statesmen so far as their fiscal policy was concerned.  But while they were not prepared to depart in any measure from the principles of free trade and give the colonies a preference in British markets over foreign countries, they became conscious that the time had come for removing, as far as possible, all causes of public discontent in the provinces, at this critical period of commercial depression.  British statesmen had suddenly awakened to the mistakes of Lord Metcalfe’s administration of Canadian affairs, and decided to pursue a policy towards Canada which would restore confidence in the good faith and justice of the imperial government.  “The Queen’s representative”—­this is a citation from a London paper[7] supporting the Whig government—­“should not assume that he degrades the crown by following in a colony with a constitutional government the example of the crown at home.  Responsible government has been conceded to Canada, and should be attended in its workings with all the consequences of responsible government in the mother country.  What the Queen cannot do in England the governor-general should not be permitted to do in Canada.  In making imperial appointments she is bound to consult her cabinet; in making provincial appointments the governor-general should be bound to do the same.”