throughout Canada as a natural result of Great Britain’s ruthless fiscal policy.  The annexation party once more came to the surface, and contrasts were again made between Canada and the United States seriously to the discredit of the imperial state.  “The plea of self-interest,” wrote Lord Elgin in 1849, “the most powerful weapon, perhaps, which the friends of British connection have wielded in times past, has not only been wrested from my hands but transferred since 1846 to those of the adversary.”  He then proceeded to contrast the condition of things on the two sides of the Niagara, only “spanned by a narrow bridge, which it takes a foot passenger about three minutes to cross.”  The inhabitants on the Canadian side were “for the most part United Empire Loyalists” and differed little in habits or modes of thought and expression from their neighbours.  Wheat, their staple product, grown on the Canadian side of the line, “fetched at that time in the market from 9d. to 1s. less than the same article grown on the other.”  These people had protested against the Montreal annexation movement, but Lord Elgin was nevertheless confident that the large majority firmly believed “that their annexation to the United States would add one-fourth to the value of the produce of their farms.”  In dealing with the causes of discontent Lord Elgin came to exactly the same conclusion which, as I have just shown, was accepted by Lord Durham after a close study of the political and material conditions of the country.  He completed the work of which his eminent predecessor had been able only to formulate the plan.  By giving adequate scope to the practice of responsible government, he was able to remove all causes for irritation against the British government, and prevent annexationists from obtaining any sympathy from that body of American people who were always looking for an excuse for a movement—­such a violent movement as suggested by Lord Elgin in the paragraph given above—­which would force Canada into the states of the union.  Having laid this foundation for a firm and popular government, he proceeded to remove the commercial embarrassment by giving a stimulus to Canadian trade by the repeal of the navigation laws, and the adoption of reciprocity with the United States.  The results of his efforts were soon seen in the confidence which all nationalities and classes of the Canadian people felt in the working of their system of government, in the strengthening of the ties between the imperial state and the dependency, and in the decided stimulus given to the shipping and trade throughout the provinces of British North America.