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THE 
 
 TH 
 
CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 BKTWEEN 
 
 THE HON. W. H. DRAPER & THE HON, R. E. CARON ; 
 
 AVJi, nxryvrJOK 
 
 THE HON. R. E. CARON, 
 
 ▲» 
 
 THE HONBLES. L. H. LAFONTAINE & A. N. MORIN. 
 
 JflEFERRED TO IN X RECENT DEBATE IN THE 
 
 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. 
 
 CONTAINING MANY SUPPRESSED LETTERS. 
 
 Montreal: 
 
 PRINTED BY DESBARATS & DERBISHIRE. 
 
 1846. 
 
The contents of tho following pages (with the excei)tion of some notes of 
 a private nature, between Mr. Draper and Mr. Caroa on the one part, and 
 between tho latter and Mr. Lafonlaine on the other) embrace all the corroa- 
 pondenco which has taken place relative to tho possible approximation of 
 parties, and of which as yet, a part only has been published. Tho 
 suppression in question has had the effect of placing Mr. Caron in a 
 position by no means agreeable to his feelings, a position which has brought 
 upon him, from Mr. Draper and his friend.^, the rciproach of having violated 
 tho conlidence reposed in him, in communicating to Mr. Lafoniaine Mr. 
 Draper's letters, whilst he concealed the letters of Mr. Lafontaino from Mr. 
 Draper. 
 
 As to this latter point, it may be observed that Mr. Caron, having to 
 .correspond with persons residing at a distance, adopted the most expeditious 
 motle, and, as on the one hand he had to deal with Mr. Draper, who imparted 
 his views to him, and as, on the other, he had to collect the views of the 
 several parlies consulted, both verbally and in writing, Mr. Caron acquitted 
 himself of this task faithfully, in transmitting the result to Mr. Draper 
 on his own responcvibility ; had he acted otherwise, Mr. Draper would have 
 obtained the views of but one individual of the party. 
 
 Mr. Caron then, acted in the manner most suitable, or rather in the only 
 manner that could attain the result desired by Mr. Draper. To be convinced 
 of this, it is only necessary to take into consideration tho nature of the infor- 
 mation the latter desired to obtain from Mr. Caron. It was of that nature that ho 
 could only obtain it by putting himself in correspondence with the leaders of 
 the party with which a reconciliation was desired ; and it was only after the 
 receipt of the first leller from Mr, Draper, that Mr. Caron deemed it right to 
 mention to Mr. Lafonlaine the preliminary conAXM^^alion he had had at Quebec 
 with Mr. Draper, (and which till then, he had eonsidereti confidential, as 
 declared in his letter of the Sth September, 1S15). And in what maimer 
 did he make it known to him ? It was done so in telling him that the 
 letter which he (Mr. Caron) had received was contidential, and could 
 only be coinmuni.'aled to ]\Tr. Morin, and such other of his friends as 
 he could count upon, a condition that Mr. Lafontaino fully accepted, 
 since, in his letter of tin? 20th of October following, he a^ks Mr. Caron 
 for the copy of a particular letter in order that he might avoid saying 
 any thing in conversation that might disclose its contents. This letter, 
 therefore, of Mr. Caron, of tho Sth September, was the basis and founda- 
 tion of all that could be undertaken for die attainment of the end proposetl, and 
 moreover, this mode of proceeding was the only sensible course. Could it 
 indeed be supposed (and it was upon this principle Mr. Caron acted) that the 
 chiefs of the party in question would be willing to enter into negociation with 
 Mr. Caron without knowing the authority he had for asking the communication 
 of their views ? It is not dilficult to give au answer to this question, and to 
 
IV 
 
 vifiw the matter ot)i«3nviHO would bo to mnko of Mr. Carnn, not a mndiator, the 
 character in which he was known to act, hut a spy ; and the proceedings of 
 Mr. Draper would not, in that case, have bi'cn much more honorable. Hut the 
 character of Loth was so fully established that no one could take this view of 
 the question. Mr. Caron, then, in su far as he had the power, did all that 
 depended upon him to respond to the confidence of M . Draper, and if ho did 
 not succeed in obtaining the result that both had in view, it wi:l be seen by 
 what follows that this was not his fault, unless, indeed, it may be justly 
 reproached against him that he reposed in Mr. Lafontaine, a confidence 
 which he abused, when, for more than one reason, he ought to have acted in 
 a manner very different from that which he has pursued, Mr. Caron having 
 only undertaken th» mission in question in the interest of the country and 
 of that pculy to which Mr. Lafontaine belonged. It will be seen by the sum- 
 mary follo^ring the correspondence, whether Mr. Lafontaine was authorized, 
 as he pretended he was, to adopt the course he took in laying before th« 
 Assembly a part only of this corresjMndence. 
 
 It is believed that when the impartial reader shall have read the corres- 
 pondence which follows, and the remarks which accompany it, he will b« 
 convinced that Mr. Lafontaine had resolved from the commencement to n^ake 
 public all the communications which might be made to him ; and the event 
 has also proved that he had determined to disregard all those considcratiooB 
 which Mr. Caron was entitled to suppose he would respect. 
 
 As to the authority Mr. I afontaine pretends to have received from Mr. Caron, 
 under certain contingencies, it must be remarked, that even i^upposing Mr. 
 Lafontaine did find himself circumstanced as he has alleged, it can only hav« 
 arisen from communications made by him to individuals vho certainly did not 
 •either by their number or their standing, fall within the conditions prescribed 
 by Mr. Caron's letter of tlie 8th September. 
 
 No one will admit Mr. Lafontaine's right to make circumstances of his owa 
 creation the excuse for the coui se he has taken to accomplish ends best known 
 to himself. 
 
 If the impression which has resulted from the debates in the Assembly, and 
 from the publication of a part only of the correspondence, has been unfavorable 
 to Mr. Caron, this ouglil to surprise no one who considers that that part only 
 which was uniixvorable to that gentleman, and favorable to those who wished to 
 compromise liun, was brought to light, and that not one voice in his favor was 
 raisetl by his countrymen in the Assembly, to invoke what was due to liis 
 past character, cr to solicit for hira that measure of justice never refused eve» 
 to the most guilty, namely, that he should not be condemned unheard — and this 
 lit is that has rendered necessary the present step in favor of an honorable 
 ina«, whose only regret, under the circumstances, is, — the having placed 
 unlimited confidence in one Avho was unworthy of it. 
 
 Montreal, 10th April, 1816. 
 
|t01-, till! 
 
 lings of 
 liUit the 
 (view of 
 ill tluil 
 ho (lid 
 seen by 
 justly 
 lifideDoo 
 xcted in 
 having 
 itry and 
 lie Riim- 
 jiorized, 
 ore th« 
 
 corre*- 
 wiil h» 
 to n^aks 
 10 event 
 eratione 
 
 •. Caron, 
 |ing Mr. 
 ily hav« 
 r did not 
 escribed 
 
 ills OWH 
 
 t known 
 
 5ly, and 
 vorable 
 lit only 
 ished to 
 ror was 
 i to his 
 J evem 
 nd this 
 lorable 
 placed 
 
 i 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 (Extract of a Letter from the lion. R. E. Caron io the Hon. L, If. 
 
 Lafoniaine.) 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 QuEBFC, Sept. 7, 1815. 
 
 Mv Dear Friend, — T deem it my duty to give you in writing, tlio 
 aubstanco of a convci'sation I had some time since in Montreal with Mr. 
 Draper, in which he iniimritcd to me the desire he had that pome of our 
 friends should join the Administration. Th'3 following is the substrnce 
 of it. 
 
 As early o.s last summer, Mr. Draper, without being as explicit as he 
 was on this occaaioii, had given me to uniler^tand that he would be very 
 glad to sec some French Canadians form part of the Administration, other 
 than those who already composed it. He had mentioned Morin as one of 
 the former, and at the same time intimated that he considered as impossible 
 your forming part of it, owing to the personal dilTerences existing between 
 yourself and the Governor ; he gave me to understand that there would bo 
 some means deviled of removing tb.e obstacle, by providing for you other- 
 vjrise. As to Mr. Baldwin, he seemed to be under the impression that he 
 would be disposed to retire unsolicited, and appeared to be indeed, pos- 
 sessed of some information on the subject. I considered all this at the time 
 as merely confidential, and to be kept to myself, inasmuch as he had not 
 authorized me to communicate. A few days before my departure for 
 Montreal, I received from him a note, recalling to my recollection the 
 conversation alluded to, and begging of me to inform him what were the 
 difficulties that stood in the way of a reconciliatic n, in order to ascertain 
 ■?vhether some plan could not be devised to remove them. I answered that 
 as I was about going to Montreal, I should there see him and give him 
 an answer. Having accordingly met with him, he strongly Insisted 
 upon the advantages that would result to the public in general, and 
 particularly to the French part of the population, by having in the Council 
 of the country, persons knowing the vrants of all, and able to provide for 
 them. After having represented to me the injury which our isolated 
 position inflicted upon the whole of Lower Canada, but more particularly 
 our portion of the population, he told me that there were difflcidties in the 
 way, but that we ought to consider whether there were no means to over- 
 come them. The first difilculty was to find situations for those who were 
 to be introduced. Thereupon he told me that Mr. Viger could be easily 
 prevailed upon to retire, and that Mr. Papincau desired nothing better ; 
 that both these situations should be filled up by French Csnadians ; he 
 seemed desirous that Morin should be President of the Council ; but he 
 wished at all events to see that place filled by a Canadian. He spoke of 
 the otiice of Solicitor General, wliich, he said, ought to be filled by one of 
 our origin, and who, although not forming nominally part of the ministry, 
 would, nevertheless, exercise great influence in the conduct of afl'airs. — 
 He also spoke of the Assistant Secretaryship, the incumbent to which 
 ought to receive handsome emoluments, and who should have, or be able 
 to obtain a seat in Parliament. This was about all that he could for the 
 
present olTer to our fricnil.-j, wlio, wlion in powor, mi<;ht themselves strive 
 aflerwanls to made llicir share more coiitiiderahle. 
 
 Another dilnculty which ho pointed out was in rcfiTonro 1o yourself. — 
 As n'l^irded you, he said tliat tioliiing would ali'ord him t^reuter ^)leaHur(» 
 than to have you as a colieagir*, hut that as the Governor and yourself 
 could not meet, the idea of seein;^ you form part of the administration must 
 be given up s.) lont,' as Lord Mete.alie rv'-naineil in pow.^r ; hut that il would 
 he unjust to sacrifice a man of your inlluence and merit ; tlint your friends 
 would he highly censurahle if they did so; hut that this diHiculty could 
 easily bo made todi>:appoar, by giving you an appointment with which you 
 would be satisfied. 1 understood, or rather he told me thvj intention was to 
 ])lace you on the Bench. 
 
 As to Mr. Baldwin, he said little about him; but I imderstood, as I did 
 innny first conversation of wuicli I have upoken, tlmt lie thought he would 
 retire of himself. He said tliat there were other dotaih--, upon which he 
 felt very sure that we could a^rec. All this was lold mo with lull permis- 
 sion to co'imiunicate it, and inileed with an earnest request that I should 
 do all in ray power to bring a!)out a junction of parties, and to induce some 
 of our friends to accept of such Beats in tiie Council as could, for the pie- 
 sent, bo vacated for them. I cannot forbear telling you that I am of 
 opinion that the present stnte o( things cannot last. What is ofl'ered is 
 indeed little, but it might be a beginning of something better. It is very 
 possible that I may not view the mailer rightly ; but it does seem to me 
 that the overtures made are worthy of consideration. I communicate 
 them to you, that you may consider of them, and you are at liberty to 
 communicate on the subject with your friends, but this must be done with 
 discretion. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 R. E. CARON. 
 
 {From the Hon, R. E. Caron to the Hon. L. H. Lafontaine.) 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 QuEBBC, 8th Sept. 184.5. 
 
 Mr Dear Friexd, — You will receive with this, the letter I wrote you 
 yesterday, which, although written in great haste, contains, in substance 
 at least, a correct account of what passed between Mr. Draper and myself, 
 and also a succinct but sincere expose of my gejieral opinions on the im- 
 portant subject which gave rise to it. 
 
 Whatever may be your views of the subject, whether they agree with 
 mine or not, I trust you will do me the justice to believe that the motives 
 by which I am actuated are honest and disinterested. 
 
 All that I intended to do was to communicate to you and Morin the 
 overtures that had been made to me, fully determined not to urge the thing 
 
 further; iryol 
 vv\\ich mi'^htl 
 impossiblo,- 
 ahall submit 
 
 With rc'^a] 
 even allude 
 upon this n| 
 personally. 
 
 It is umu'l 
 ronfidential 
 other friend] 
 bo without :| 
 between us| 
 done. 
 
 Translat 
 
 My De 
 
 not wish t 
 
 result of t 
 
 not very ! 
 
 now, lest 
 
 attend to 
 
 Since mj 
 
 we had t 
 
 the way 
 
 desiring, 
 
 out serio 
 
 cular, ai 
 
 belong, - 
 
 those p( 
 
 the obj 
 
 whom 
 
 •within 
 
 write a 
 
 reply • 
 
 decisis 
 
 depen" 
 
 with t 
 
 of tre 
 
 have 
 
 was { 
 
\s strive 
 
 Irself.— 
 |>'oasurp 
 
 *n inu8t 
 
 would 
 
 ^'rieri(is 
 
 ' could 
 
 [< 1j you 
 
 uns to 
 
 s I did 
 
 I vvould 
 ich lie 
 
 3 
 
 further ; ifyou nre of opinion that the propo.scd, or any other, nrranpoment 
 which mij^ht place our Irienih in powiir, is, under the circumstances, 
 impos.siblo, — slinuhl hucIi lie the case, I hIjouUI Hi ncerely regret it, bull 
 shall subuiit and awail more lavornble circumstances. 
 
 With regard to that part of tlie transaction which regards you, I do not 
 even allude to it, being of opinion that in your position, y(»u ought to look 
 upon this matter aa if it had reference to another, and not to yourself 
 jjcrsonally. 
 
 It ie unnecessary for me to state that my letter of yesterday's date is of a 
 ronfidential nature, and is to be communi«;ated oidy to Alorin, and s;uch 
 other friends as you can rely upon ; for if the proposptl arrangement should 
 b;3 without any result, it would be better for all parties that it should romnin 
 between us. Write me immediately, and say what you thiidv is best to be 
 done. 
 
 R. E. CAROxV. 
 
 [Fro/Ti the Hon. R. E. Caron to t/ie Hon. W, H. Draper.l 
 
 Translation. 
 
 Quebec, Stli September, iSiS. 
 
 My Dear Sir, — I have always put ofT writing to you, because I did 
 not wish to write without having something certain to tell you as to ih'^ 
 result of the mission I took upon myself at your request. Although I 'tm 
 not very far advanced in the business, I must nevertheless write to you 
 now, lest my very long silence should make you think that I have failed to 
 attend to a matter, which is certainly far too important to be neglected. 
 Since my return from Montreal, I have thought much of the conversation 
 we had together ; and I began by convincing myself that the difTiculties in 
 the way of an understanding though great were not insurmountable ; — and 
 desiring, as I do, to put an end to a state of things which cannot last with- 
 out serious injury to the country generally, and to Lower Canada in parti- 
 cular, and more especially to that portion of the population to which I 
 belong, — I immediately determined to place myself in communication with 
 those persons whom I regarded as able and willing to assist me in promoting 
 the object we had in view. But one of those persons, and the one on 
 whom I most relied, has been absent since my return and came back only 
 within the last few days ; another to whom it was necessary that I should 
 write answered me only yesterday, anu from a third I have as yet had no 
 reply. Notwithstanding this, I should probably be now able to give you a 
 decisive answer, but that those on whom the success of our plan mainly 
 depends reside in the District of Montreal, — it is necessary to communicate 
 with them by letter, and you know how slow and disagreeable this method 
 of treating any difficult and delicate business always is. I should certainly 
 have gone to Montreal, had I not been so much occupied that the journej' 
 was almost impossible for me. 
 
I 1 
 
 What I hnvo written is intended to explain to you the reason why, ever* 
 now, r Imvo nothing decisive to inform you of, upon a business which ha» 
 nevertheless much occupied nie. Thinj^H are iievorlheI<?H8 in progresH, and 
 though I can hardly say what will ho the fuial result of an undertaking in 
 whicli I take deep intercut, — I am happy to inform j oi , that the few per- 
 •onH with whom I have had any commntiicntion on tin* Hubject, bcc matters 
 <piile in the same point of view as I do, and are (li^posed to lentl their aid 
 in removing the dilfKMiltics in the way of an arrangement which they seem 
 •inccrely to desire. I have received promises of support and [ have beea 
 written to, that it was right to assist nie. Things arc therefore in progress, 
 and in a littU; while I hope to be able to tell you more. But whatever be 
 IIk; result, I promise you that I will be sincere, atul that I will let you 
 know tlio obstacles which may have prevented success. 
 
 Men's minds hero, moreover, appear to be much better disposed, and 
 there is no doubt that a change or re-action is gradually taking place, from 
 which I hoj)e much for the arrangement and realization of our plan. If, as 
 I l)elicve the new Solicitor-General succeeds in his election, this success 
 will have a good eiVect and will bo a proof of the re-action of which I 
 Jiave spoken. 
 
 I must close my communication for to-day, — and will writo to you 
 joon as I have anything woith while to tell you. 
 
 as 
 
 In the meantime be assured that I will not lose sight of the matter- 
 id that 1 am,, with much esteem and the highest consideration, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Your very devoted servant, 
 
 ED. CARON. 
 
 {From the Hon. L, II. Lafontaine to ihe Hon. R. E, Caron.) 
 
 Montreal, 10th Sept. IS-iS. 
 
 TRAJISLATION. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
 of the 8th instant, as well as that which accompanied it. These letters 
 only arrived late yesterday afternoon. According to your wish I have 
 eommunicated them to our friend Morin. In replying to your communica- 
 tion, I answer only for myself, and I do so, as I should have done, had my 
 name not been mixed up in your conversation with Mr. Draper. Although 
 the nature and the object of the conversations, in so far as I am concerned, 
 would justify mc in abstaining from the expression of any opinion, yet, in 
 accordance with your wish, I think it due to the friendship which I feel for 
 70U, to express my opinion frankly, but only on those points of your letter 
 to which I think myself called on to answer. I should observe at first, that 
 
 I infer frf 
 that you 
 jority of 
 attach to 
 scnted in 
 of the pol 
 in the Ho 
 Now, ift 
 the mean 
 support o 
 naturally 
 them in 
 
 The 
 principle, 
 Why this 
 not in th 
 The coui 
 appearj t( 
 owing to 
 whole or 
 atisume r 
 give you 
 to dcmanc 
 would ha 
 reply to 
 without 
 points, yo 
 is propose 
 far as app 
 Canadian 
 maintain 
 istration ! 
 charged t( 
 influence 
 it, and w 
 in return 
 results fr( 
 would b( 
 in an adn 
 and capa 
 
 But 
 
 French ( 
 enter it n 
 the opini 
 of a Gov 
 without i 
 ments in 
 any capa 
 
m why, even 
 .S3 uliich liaA 
 progreHH, anil 
 iidcrtakiiig iu 
 
 tlie few per- 
 t, Bee matters 
 end ilieir aid 
 
 I they seem 
 1 f have been 
 in progresiJ, 
 whate\'er ho 
 will let you 
 
 I infer from the tenor of your letter, nlthoiii^ii not stntpil in expi*C8B terniD^ 
 that you are of opinion that in the circunislanres of t* ^ country, the nm- 
 jority of each Province should ffovern respectively, i.i liie HcuKe that wo 
 nitach to that idea — that is to say, that IJjiper Canada should ho ropre- 
 Mcnted in the adniinislration of the day, hy men possessing the confidence 
 of the political party in that section of the province which has the nuijority 
 in tho House of Asseinlily, and that it should he the same for Lower (Canada. 
 Now, iflhisis your opinion, it appears to me that it furni.shes you willi 
 tho means of olVering to Mr. i)raper, "strong and irresislihle"" reasons in 
 support of any advice given in harmony with this opinion. These reasons 
 n.'Uurally present themselves, wilhout there being ntiy occasion to oiler 
 them in detail. 
 
 lisposcd, and 
 ; place, from 
 j)Ian. If, as 
 this success 
 1 of which I 
 
 to you as 
 ho matter — 
 
 ON. 
 
 aron.) 
 )t. 1845. 
 
 ' your letter 
 hese letters 
 'ish I have 
 ommunica- 
 ne, had my 
 Although 
 concerned, 
 on, yet, in 
 h I feel for 
 your letter 
 t'first, that 
 
 Tho present administration so far as regards U. C, is formed on thi» 
 principle, hut as regards L. C, its formation rests on an opposite principle. 
 Why this distinction between tin; two st^ctions of tiie provinct; \ Is there 
 not in this fact alone a nuiiiifestation of injustice, if iu)t of oppression ? 
 The course taken by Mr. Draper, to obtain the results which In; desires, 
 appeari to me to be unconstitutional. No one is rebponsible for tlm step 
 owing to which you write me ; you are not charged to recogni/e either in 
 whole or even in part the administration of which he is a meud)er ; you 
 assume no responsibility. It was this which at first made me hesitate to 
 give you my opinion. Had it been otherwise you would have had a right 
 to demand of a friend that he should give you his advice upon what yo\i 
 would have to do, and in such a case I would have deemed it my duty to 
 reply to your appeal without omitting any part of your demands, and 
 without fear of compromising any one. If then I answer you on some 
 points, you must understand that it is not without some hesitation. What 
 is proposed to you is a repudiation of the principle of responsibility in so 
 far as applies to Lower Canada. Since Mr. Draper admits that the Lower 
 Canadian section of the ministry docs not represent Lower Canada, why 
 maintain it? Why according to your principles not form a new admin- 
 istration for Lower Canada with tho aid of some one constitutionally 
 charged to do so ? An administration thua formed would be strong with tho 
 influence that the support of the majority o( our representatives would give 
 it, and would make that influence legitimately prevail in the Council, .:nd 
 in return would give to the country all the guarantee which necessaiily 
 results from the controul which public opinion would exercise over it. It 
 would be then and then only that you could flatter yourselves with liaving 
 in an administration, to make use of your own terms, persons disposed to 
 and capable of sustaining our interests. 
 
 But it is said to you — We only wish to join to us some Canadians a^ 
 French Canadians. From that moment, those who enter the Ministry 
 enter it not in conhequence of a constitutional right, nor by the action of 
 the opinion of their countrymen, but only by favour, by the good pleasure 
 of a Governor. From that moment as we learn by experience, they are 
 without influence — they are no longer free agents; they are only instru- 
 ments in the hands of the Governor, to do evil as to do good. If they have 
 any capacity or talent, they make them serve sooner or later, to throw 
 
divisioH among lis. On the one hand, they soon cease to feel tlie salutary 
 check of the opinion of their fellow citizens ; on the other side they accus- 
 tom themselves only to consult their personal interests, and often even their 
 passion.j. They obey only the arbitrary will of a Governor. Do you wish 
 that I should cite you examples'? Here they are : — Mr. Dominique Mon- 
 delet thought without doubt to be useful to his countrymen, when under 
 Lord Aylmer, he accepted a place in the Executive Council. We have 
 seen him almost immediately denying his past life and afterwards voting 
 for the suspension of Judges Panet and Bedanl, and acting himself as 
 Advocate before that illegal tribunal, the Court Martial ? Yet he was 
 called to the Council as a French Canadian. It was under this title that 
 at a later and suHiciently memorable epoch, we have seen Messrs. De- 
 barlzch, Honey, Quesncl, Louis Panet, take their seats in the Executive 
 Council. They doubtless thought they wouhl be able to promote there the 
 interests of their fellow countrymen. They ended by voting there for tho 
 suspension of our representative Constitution. In later times we have seen 
 Messrs. Viger and Papineau enter the Council by the same door. They 
 have said, like the others that they could be useful there to their fellow 
 countrymen of French origin. Yet one of their first acts committed in 
 broad day was to give us for Speaker a person that we may doubtless 
 esteem, but who does not understand a single word of our language, and to 
 oppose a French Canadian speaking both languages equally, although 
 unanimou:ily called by iheir grateful countrymen to that high ofllce. Wc 
 complain, and especially you of the District of Quebec, of the unjust 
 division of the public monies during last session. To whom do we owe it? 
 Under whose auspices has this division been made ? Let IMessrs. Viger 
 and Papineau answer. And yet all these persons appealed to the fact of 
 their being French Canadians as a reason lor their accepting ollice. All 
 of them had names better known than that of Mr. Tachereau, who, like 
 them, only enters into the administration imder the same title, and by the 
 same door, with the best desire in the world, doubtless, to do good. The 
 same fate awaits him. A little more division among the Canadians, with 
 all its unfortunate cflbcts ; this is all we have to expect from a system 
 which a Quebec journal has justsan ioned in broad day, and which I 
 cannot describe otherwise than as a system of " ofiice seekers." 
 
 I am I confess to you, j'et to learn what good this system can produce. 
 If there were two names that under this system it could !je hoped would 
 exercise some influence in the Council, if there were two names to which 
 an administration owed some gratitude for their having joined it, as French 
 Canadians, those two names were certainly those of Viger and Papineau — 
 and yet now you learn from Mr. Drapoi that His Excellency is ready to 
 give them their conge ! ! Is this in order to form a new administration 
 for Lower Canada 1 Oh no ! It is only to make a patchwork [replnturage] 
 of an administration that Mr. Draper confesses does not represent Lower 
 Canada, and that it is wished to reform, substituting for the names of Viger 
 and Papineau two other French Canadian names, by the aid of which it 
 would be hoped no doubt to create amongst us a little more division than 
 has been created by the first named. Since it is then proposed to give the 
 conge to Messrs. Viger and Papineau, why not also give the conge to 
 
 
 Mesurs. 
 
 nada m 
 
 invoke 
 
 present, 
 
 is the tn 
 
 to admii 
 
 of the ( 
 
 l)Iaced, 
 
 ations of 
 
 respeclec 
 
 the avow 
 
 their wa! 
 
 to (/o bet 
 
 rather vvl 
 
 What Fj 
 
 and to m 
 
 in the Co 
 
 duo to the 
 
 menls of 
 
 constitutii 
 
 formed iji 
 
 The step 
 
 til at whic 
 
 184.2. Ii 
 
 was that 
 
 not repre 
 
 two Fren( 
 
 I iiave no 
 
 being re-( 
 
 accepting 
 
 office-seeli 
 
 Lord Met 
 
 Charles I 
 
 misunders 
 
 da should 
 
 nothing Je 
 
 taken, th( 
 
 may, I dcf 
 
 lions, whi( 
 
 I can 
 
 to my pol 
 personal a 
 Administri 
 dance with 
 I will neve 
 tration shr 
 it with all 
 possesses t 
 it, I would 
 

 Mes.u's. Daly and Smith ? Is it because the latter represent Lower Ca- 
 nada more than the former? Messrs. Vigcr andPapiiieau might at least 
 invoke the past in their favour, whilst the others have nothing but the 
 present, and I leave you to jiulwo whnt that is. Poor Mr. Vigor ! If this 
 is the treatment destined for liim, treatment which it is said they are ready- 
 to admini r to him, I am not surprised to i^ee, so to speak, that the olTicers 
 of the (. 'vernment only sjicak of liim with derision. Two men thus 
 l)laced, thus treated, can they ^xcrcisc a great induencc over the deliber- 
 ations of the Council, and cause the interests of their countrymen to he 
 respected there? If that influence is nolhlng, as must be presumed, after 
 the avov.-al of Mr. Draper, how can Mr. Taschereau who only follows in 
 their wake, and to whom moreover the door of the Council is shut, expect 
 to do better than them ? What such a slate of things would bring us to, or 
 rather what it would perpetuate, would be to accept ollice at any price. 
 What French Canadians should do above every thin(c is to remain united 
 and to make themselves re.-pecled. They will make themselves respected 
 in the Council, and will thence exorcijie the legitimate influence which i« 
 due to thorn, not v.'hen they are represented there only by the passive instru- 
 ments of power, however numerous they may bo, but when they shall be 
 constitutionally represented there by a I^ower Canadian administration 
 formed in harmony with principles which public opinion does not repudiate. 
 The step taken by Mr. Dra])er towards you is in every respect similar with 
 that which Mr. Sullivan took towards you and me at Quebec in July, 
 iSiS. It was then acknowledged that the administration of the day which 
 was that which Lord Sydenham bequeathed to Sir Charles Bagot, did 
 not represent Lower Canada. It was desired as now to add to it cr»e or 
 two French names only as French Canadians. You know all that followed, 
 I iiave no occasion to remind you of it. The same scene is on the eve of 
 being re-enacted, or I am much mistaken ; unless, indeed the system of 
 accepting places at all price should, by accomplishing the wishes of tlie 
 ofllce-scekers, throw our countrymen into a deadly division and weakness. 
 Lord Metcalfe is .he Lord Sydenham, and his successor will be the Sir 
 Charles Bagot. I arrive then at a conclusion regai ling which yoi : 'not 
 misunderstand me. It is, that as regards the Administration, Lower Cana- 
 da should have what is granted to Upper Canada — nothing more, but also 
 nothing les3. This is the sincere exprcsfion of my views. If I am mis- 
 taken, the error is mine. I may regret it, without doubt, but come what 
 may, I desire above every thing, to remain at peace with my own convic- 
 tions, which are my conscience. 
 
 •age] 
 
 I cannot close without saying a word upon my position with respect 
 to my political friends. I have often said, and I again repeat it, that no 
 personal consideration lor me should prevent them from forming part of an 
 Administration, which for Lower Canada should be organized, in accor- 
 dance with the constitutional principles which ought to direct our conduct. 
 I will never be an instrument to divide my countrymen. If an Adminis- 
 tration should be formed which commands my confidence, I will support 
 it with all my heart. If that Administration has not my confidence, but 
 possesses that of the majority of my countrymen, being unable to support 
 it, I would cheerfully withdraw from the House rather than cause divisioa 
 
8 
 
 in our ranks. If, under the system of accepting office at any price, there 
 are persons who, for a personal and momentary advantage, do not fear to 
 break the only bona which constitutes onr strength, viz., union among our- 
 selves, I do not wish to be, and I never will be, of the number. Having 
 no desire to keep secret my thoughts or my political views, I permit you to 
 make whatever use of this letter you think best. 
 
 I am, 
 
 L. H. LAFONTAINE. 
 
 [From ike Hon. R. E. Caron to the Hon. JV. H. Draper.'] 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Quebec, 17th Sept., 1845. 
 
 My Dear Sir, — After the c nversation I had with you at Montreal last 
 month, I promised you that I would place myself in Communication with 
 some influential persons, belonging to the French Canadian party, for the 
 purpose of ascertaining whether there would not be some means of effecting 
 an arrangement under which they might be induced to take a share in the 
 administration and to join the party now in power. — My last letter will 
 have informed you that I had been endeavouring to keep my promise, and 
 will have acquainted you with the causes which had retarded the conclusion 
 of my negociation ; it is only to-day that I have been enabled to ihlorm j-bu 
 of the result of.my undertaking, and in doing so I will speak to you with that 
 frankness which you have a right to expect from me after the confidence 
 you have shown me. 
 
 If I correctly recollect our conversation, — after having premised that there 
 were in the two Sections of the Province two great parties, — your own in 
 Upper, and that to which I belong in Lower Canada, — you insisted upon 
 the advantages which would result to the Province generally, and to Lower 
 Canada in particular, from the Union of these two great parlies, the result 
 of which would be a strong administration enjoying the confidence of the 
 great majority of the people throughout the whole country. — You spoke to 
 me of the mischief arising to that portion of the population to which I belong, 
 from the isolation from public affairs to which we had been for some time 
 Bubjected ; and you shewed me the best possible reasons for wishing that 
 the arrangement first mentioned should be accomplished in order to obviate 
 the state of things last referred to. 
 
 When we came to examine the difficulties to be encountered in 
 reaching this result, we paused upon the following, ns being those which 
 appeared to us to be tlie most serious : — 1st, All the seats in the 
 Council being filled, how was room to be found for those it might be wished 
 to introduce into it. — 2nd, Would it be just to leave out and to abandon 
 certain influential individuals justly respected by the party whose support is 
 
 l\ 
 
;e, there 
 I fear to 
 owr our- 
 Ilaving 
 it you to 
 
 ^E. 
 
 i4.5. 
 
 treal last 
 tion with 
 y, for the 
 effecting 
 ire in the 
 etter will 
 nlse, and 
 onclusion 
 ilorm }''ou 
 with that 
 onfidence 
 
 that there 
 ur own in 
 sted upon 
 to Lower 
 the result 
 ice of the 
 spoke to 
 1 1 belong, 
 o;r.e time 
 ihing that 
 to obviate 
 
 ntered in 
 ose which 
 3 in the 
 be wished 
 I abandon 
 support is 
 
 sought for, and who yet, from their peculiar position, could not make part 
 of an Administration 30 long as His Excellency the present Governor in 
 Chief should remain at the head of the Government ? 3rd. There are novr 
 in the Council individuals with whom the said members it is desirable to in- 
 troduce could with difficulty be upon friendly terms. Several other details 
 Tvere also touched upon, but as compared with the other difficulties they 
 were considered as of little moment and easy to be arranged. 
 
 This view of the subject is that which I presented to those of my friends 
 whom I have consulted, and I must at once assure you that I have not met 
 with a single one, who did not, like you and me, sincerely desire to see an 
 end put to a division 30 contrary to the interests of the country ; all were of 
 one mind as to the necessity of a change, and agreed that such change to be 
 beneficial ought to be effected by means of a coalition between the two par- 
 ties most numerous and influential in either section of the Province, and, I 
 have reason to be pleased with the disposition which I have found to en- 
 deavour to accomplish this object. 
 
 The desirableness and the necessity of the thing being once admitted, the 
 means of accomplishing it were next to be considered, and on this point 
 P even there was but one opinion. It was admitted as a principle, that the 
 
 I \ administration of affairs (so far as it belongs to the Council) ought to be in 
 
 the hands of the two dominant parties in the two sections of the Province ; 
 that the administration ought no more to govern Lower Canada by means 
 of a majority drawn from Upper Canada, than it ought to govern Upper Ca- 
 nada by the aid of Lower Canada ; that any administration ought to remain 
 in power so long only as it should be supported by the majority in each 
 section of the Province, respectively ; it was said that things were as they 
 ought to be with regard to Upper (Canada, where tne administration was 
 supported by the majority, but that it was not the same in our portion of 
 the Province, where the minority only supported the Ministry while the ma- 
 jority opposed it ; that there was, nevertheless, no reason why things should 
 not be put upon the same footing here as there ; and that this could only be 
 done by making such arrangements that the party representing the majority 
 here could join the administration upon terms honourable to them and con- 
 sistent with their principles. 
 
 No objection is made as to the manner in which the Council is composed 
 as far as regards Upper Canada, the same apportionment of power is de- 
 manded for Lower Canada. It i,s thought that the persons now in office 
 ought not to form an obstacle to the desirable arrangement, — since by ac- 
 cepting office under the system of Government now established, they must 
 have expected and must be willing to resign, from the moment when others 
 should, from circumstances, become better able thnn they to conduct the 
 public business advantageously for the country. It is therefore thought that 
 if it be necessary to create a greater number of vacancies in the Council than 
 was spoken of by us, the interest or personal convenience of those whom 
 the change would affect ought not to be taken into consideration, — it is 
 maintained that it would be necessary that the offices in question should be 
 filled by men who enjoy the confidence of the greatest number and that if 
 
111; 
 
 10 
 
 this rule be adopted, the first difficulty of which we spoke, (that of finding 
 seats for those whom it would be desirable to bring into the administration,) 
 would at once disappear. It is thought that some one should be entrusted 
 to elaborate and to settle the basis of the new arrangement, and to submit 
 the names of those, whom it should be found desirable to include ;— while 
 it is wished to give a majority in the administrition, as regards thia section 
 of the Province, to the party which forms the majority liere, tiiere is a 
 disposition to give the minority a reasonable share in the direction o/ affairs, 
 and to see it fairly represented in the Council — some names which have 
 been mentioned as coming within the class here alluded to, would, I think, 
 |;ive general satisfaction. 
 
 The difficulty whichw? both felt with regard to the exclusion, under the 
 proposed arrangement, of certain influential and prominent persons, who 
 under other circumstances would of necessity be included, has been fully- 
 appreciated. Nevertheless, adhering to the principle above stated, that per- 
 sonal considerations ought to be disregarded and the general good above 
 all to be consulted, — it was subsequently understood by all, that it would be 
 a contradiction of this principle to insist, as a condition of the arrangement, 
 upon the admission of those against whom it was known that there existed 
 objections which there was no hope of removing ; — it was thought that they 
 might be omitted for the moment, without committing any injustice or ap- 
 pearing to sacrifice them, convinced as all are, that the persons in question 
 will know how to appreciate the motive by which their friends are actuated, 
 and that they will not consider themselves abandoned, because those friends 
 yield to a necessity which they all regret. As regards one of these persons 
 Mr. Lafontaine, I am authorized to say from him, that he will see with 
 pleasure the formation of an administration enjoying the confidence of the 
 country, and that he will cheerfully support any administration, although 
 he may not be a member of it, which shall be composed of persons whose 
 principles he approves,— I have therefore understood, and state to you as 
 nearly certain, that the second of the objections wo spoke of is far from being 
 insurmountable. 
 
 As to the third difficulty (the presence in the Council, as now composed, 
 of persons who would prevent the entry into it of those whose services 
 would he required) — it is met by the same reasoning which has been suggested 
 as that by which the first may be surmounted ; — for it is said that if there 
 be found in the Council some persons with whom it is probable lliat those 
 whom the interest of the country makes it requisite to bring into it, could 
 not sit, it is clearly necessary that such members should resign their seats, 
 and that in so doing they would do no more than comply with the condition 
 to which ihey submitted on accepting office. 
 
 What I have now stated must convince you that the conviction here is, 
 that the administration, as regards thia portion of the Province ought to be 
 reconstructed, — that any change made by introducing one or two members 
 in the places of an equal number who should retire, would produce no ef- 
 fective result, — would bring no strength to the M'"^istry, and would only iso- 
 late from their fellow countrymen those who should accept office, — that the 
 
 meas 
 it wo 
 beco 
 
 I 
 
 those 
 fion ( 
 putti 
 if yo 
 you. 
 
11 
 
 of finding 
 listration,) 
 
 entrusted 
 to submit 
 > ;— while 
 iia section 
 there is a 
 i)i affairs, 
 lich have 
 , I think, 
 
 under the 
 ons, who 
 een fully 
 that per- 
 od above 
 would be 
 ngement, 
 3 existed 
 that they 
 ;e or ap- 
 question 
 actuated, 
 se friends 
 ; persona 
 see with 
 ce of the 
 although 
 IS whose 
 you as 
 )m being 
 
 mposed, 
 services 
 Liggested 
 . if there 
 at those 
 t, could 
 ir seats, 
 ondition 
 
 IS, 
 
 here 
 t to be 
 embers 
 3 no ef- 
 nly iso- 
 hat the 
 
 measure would be totally useless to the Government at the same time that 
 it would be very injurious (ia a political point of view) to those who should 
 become parties to it. . 
 
 I think I am not mistaken when T tell you that such is the opinion of all 
 those to whom I have spoken, and this being the case, you will find no per- 
 son disposed to lend himself to the arrangement you contemplate, (that of 
 putting new men in the seats of the two members who would retire) or, that 
 if you find any one willing to do so, his services will be of no kind of use to 
 you. 
 
 Such is the information I have been able to gather ; I believe it to be con- 
 sonant to the opinion of the great majority of those who take part in politics 
 in this portion of the Province. The realization of the desired coalition is 
 not without difficulty but it is possible^ — and if it offers the only means of 
 putting an end t) our troubles, it must be accomplished. If I could contri- 
 bute to bring about such a state of things, I should account myself very for- 
 tunate, and for this purpose, as for every other which may tend to the wel- 
 fare of the country, you may always command my services. ' 
 
 Trusting that you will have the goodness to pardon the want of arm nge- 
 ment in this letter, v^rritten as it is in the midst of a multitude of business, I 
 have the honor to subscribe myself, with the highest consideration and 
 esteem, dear Sir, your very humble and devoted servant, 
 
 £D. CARON» 
 
 [^From the Hon. W, H, Draper io the Hon. R. E. Caron.l 
 
 Montreal, 16th October, 184.5. 
 
 My Dear Sir, — You may not have observed by the papers that I 
 have been rather more than a month absent on circuit, from which I re- 
 turned only yesterday, and you will, I am sure, readily excuse me that I do 
 no more at this moment than acknowledge the receipt of your's of the 17th, 
 and thank you most sincerely for the frank explanations it contains. 
 
 You will feel that some reflection is necessary before I can fully ap- 
 preciate how far any exertions of mine arc likely to be successAil in bring- 
 ing to a favourable result the subject of our conference. My heart is 
 earnestly engaged in the effjrt to obt' i a result so beneficial : — content 
 either to share in the task or to witness its successful accomplishment by 
 others. 
 
 You shall hear from me as soon as I can possibly devote to the subject 
 the time its importance demamls — for no one will better understand than 
 yourself that while individually I am ready to make any effort to attain an 
 end I consider so desirable, and for that purpose have fully opened to you 
 my desire to learn what prospect there was of success with those with 
 
12 
 
 •whom you are more particularly connectevl. T have to secure, mu^-h co- 
 operation, as well as to enter into much comultation, with those wi\h, as 
 well as those under^ whom I am acting, ere I shall be able to reply to you 
 in the same spirit as you have so kindly addressed me. 
 
 Believe me, my dear sir, with every oentiment of respect, sincerely 
 your'e, 
 
 W, H. DRAPER. 
 
 P 
 
 [KOT BrFOXE PUBLISHID.] 
 
 {From the Hon. L. II. Lafontaine to the Hon. R. E. Caron.) 
 
 'IfiANSLATION. 
 
 Montreal, 20th October, 1845. 
 
 Mv Dear Friewd, — You promised to send me a copy of your letter to Mr, 
 Draper, I have not yet received it. / should like to see it in order not to 
 expose myself in conversation, to saying any thing which might make the 
 contents known. 
 
 Mr. Draper has b'^en in town since the beginning of last week. 
 
 If you have no objection, I should much like you to communicate to Mr. 
 Aylwiu the nature of this correspondence, at least of my answer. Although I 
 should have nothing to do with the reorganization of the Ministry, if that take* 
 place, and that consequently, I am free from all responsibility in that respect, 
 yet I think it is right that Mr. Aylvvin should know my views on the subject. 
 I assure you I should like also to have them communicated to Messrs. Tasche, 
 Chauveau and Cauchon. I must, however, leave that to your decision. 
 
 Mr. Draper ought to insist on the entire reconstruction of the Ministry for 
 Lower Canada, or resign ; otherwise his ttep is a blunder. 
 
 Your's, 
 
 (Signed,) L. H. LAFUNTAINE. 
 
 [not before published.] 
 
 {From the Hon. It. 12. Caron to the Hon. L.H. Lafontaine.} 
 
 Quebec, 24th October, 1S45. 
 
 My dear Friend, — The public meeting held here yesterday, on the subject 
 of a rail-road between Halifax and Quebec, having lasted longer than I ex- 
 pected, it was out of my power to write to you, as I had said in my note of the 
 day before that I would. I acquit myself to-day of this promise, as well as of 
 that which I made you some time ago, of traupmittiag to you a copy of the 
 letter which I wrote to Mr. Draper, in answer to the communication which he 
 hiul made to me, and which I have already imparted to you. If I have not 
 €ent you this copy sooner, it is that I have seen in the Pilot and the Miner'9t 
 
13 
 
 »omcthiniT wliich made me think that our corr»\«ipr)n(lenco had got wind, and 
 that there were more persons in the .secret than those of whom you spoke to 
 me in the first instance. I did not take otTenee at this, because 1 see nothing 
 that can be found fanU with in wliat I have done ; but as I Wiis of opinion that 
 it was better for tlie success of the undertakin<_', that the phin sliouhl bo 
 matured before it became too public, 1 havethouglit it riixht to retain the letter 
 luitil the arrival of Morin, who has been expected here for some time, and to 
 whom I wished to speak of the affair, and deliver the letter according to the 
 explanation which he might give me ; but Morin not coming, and your note 
 of the 20th calling upon me to keep my promise, I do it very willingly, 
 relying entirely upon you as to the \ise you u-ill make of this letter. 
 
 Since Mr. Draper's prrival at Montreal, I have received from him a note, 
 in which he acknowledges the receipt of my letter, which had reached him 
 only after his return — he thanks me for the frankness with which I have spoken 
 to him ; without expressing an opinion, he tells me that the subject is of the 
 highest importance, and requires the most serious consideration ; that before 
 replying with the unreseivedness I had used towards him, he must take ad- 
 rice and reflect ; that as soon as these consultations and reflections shall have 
 taken place, T shall have a communication from him, which I will imme- 
 diately transmit to you. 
 
 I shall have pleasure in communicating to Aylwin, at the first good oppor- 
 tunity, our correspondence, ami that which I have had with Mr. Draper ; I 
 have not yet spoken to him on the subject, because it appeared to me that it 
 would com.e better from you, to whom I had addressed myself, as to the chief 
 of the former administration, and chief of the party with which there appeared 
 to be a desire to form an alliance. But since you wish it, I will see Ayhvia ; 
 I wished to see him yesterday, but could not ireet him. 
 
 As for Messrs. Tasche, Chauveau and Cauohon, whom you mention in your 
 note, it is from you or from Morin that the announc(mient ought to come ; 
 when that shall have been done, you may refer them to me, I will give them 
 all the information I possess, but I object to taking the first steps; I am of 
 opinion that the thing ought not to be concealed from Ihem, it would be very 
 wrong to do so ; but I have my reasons for thinking that the comnmnication 
 ought to be made to them by you, or at least by Morin. 
 
 My letter to Mr. Draper will show you that, like yourself, I am of opinion 
 that the administration for this part of the Province, ought to bore-constructed, 
 and that Mr. Draper ought to insist upon the thing. 
 
 upon 
 
 Your's, 
 (Signed,) 
 
 : 
 
 E. E. CARON. 
 
 [not befork publisiikd.] 
 (From the lion. L. H. Lafontaine to the Hon, R. E. Caron.) 
 
 TRANSLATIOK. 
 
 Montreal, 26th October, 1846. 
 
 Mv Dear Friend, — I have received your letter, dated the day before yos- 
 tdrday, and the copy of that which you addressed to Mr. Draper on the 17lh of 
 laet month. 
 
 2 
 
14 
 
 Morin, who will h;in.l you this h.'Uor, will tell /on t,h;it it i,-^ not n\n corroa- 
 pondeiK'c whirh hiw givtui rise to the urlii-lus in the !*Uot and tho Mintrve, to 
 which you alliKhj. 
 
 The negooialiotj with which yon havo been entrusted by Mr. Dr.iper lias 
 reached a point at which it ceases to concern ni'j personally. I do not reijrot 
 it, for it relieves me from all ref-ponsibility ; and as my exclusion from a new 
 orVanizi'tiiJU of the Minisiry thwaris neither my views nor my tastes, T havu 
 given my consent to it only the more readily. 
 
 There are, however, two points, in your letter to Mr. Draper, on which I 
 must make some nMuarJL«,— 
 
 Firstly.— On account of the p;onerality of your expressions in some pans 
 of your letter, some persons mi2;ht, perliaps, give it a meaning diflerent from 
 that which you have no doubt inttMided to attach to it— they might, perhaps, in- 
 terpret your hitter as admitting in principle that a po itical party, under our pre- 
 sent form of(}overunient, ought tosacrilice one of its members when the caprice 
 of a Governor demands it. If such an opinion should be entertained by somo 
 person:; of our party, I wish to stdze this opportunity to declare that that opinion 
 IS not mine. A political party may demand sai.rifices from one of its membeis, 
 but it ought never to immolate him to the rancour or caprice^, of a Governor. 
 
 Secondly. — Tlio part of the same letter in which .,ou speak of the eipiitj 
 of callinsr tlu; minority to the direction of affairs, seems to require explanation. 
 From its wording, it appears to me to contradict, in some degree, what you had 
 already said on the same subject in another part of your letter. Morin ;vill 
 communicate to you the objection which 1 made to the wording of this passage. 
 
 Your Friend, 
 
 '5» 
 
 (SigneJ) L. H. LAFONTAINE. 
 
 I I 
 
 [From the Hon. W. H. Drape- to the Hon. R. E. Caron.'] 
 
 Confidential. 
 
 IMoNTREAL, Nov. 19, 1S4.5. 
 
 My Dear Sir, — You will, after the kind coiifidence you have placed 
 in me, expect to hear ajrain from me what, under all circumstances, I think 
 should be attempted, in order to accomplish the sin.'He end we have pro- 
 posed to ourselves, viz ^ to farilitate tiie i'orination of a Governnieiit which 
 would possess the confidence of the country generally. I have reflected 
 aorain and n^a'm on the matter, with an anxious desire to elTect it good 
 understanding with the party with v/honi you rwe connected, as constituting 
 the majority of Lower Canada Representatives in the House of Assembly. 
 The illness of Lord Metcalfe has prevented my laying the opiestion before 
 him. But the result of my own views I may fully lay before you. 
 
 I feel sensibly that there are obligations which as a pohtician and a 
 man of h.rnour, I cannot throw aside as regards others, — while, on the 
 other hand, I feel free to expect from others that which, on public grounds, 
 
 I 
 
15 
 
 hi8 passage. 
 
 I am propnrcd to do. Nmv I am, as T told yon, roady to riinkc way as 
 regards my own nllioo. I do not value puljlic lite enf)ugli to rlinirio it, cr 
 to take any coiirac but tliat which 1 can openly justify to remain in it. So 
 much for i ivself. 
 
 ¥ 
 
 I have felt our Council required to ho strengthened, and that the officci 
 of Speaker of the Les];islativf; Council and President of the Executive 
 Council might be united as a public saving in furtherance of my design. 
 
 The position of Mr. Viger, I feel entitles him to every po.^sible con- 
 sideralion on my part. Every regJird to his feelings and hit wishes Bhould, 
 and must be, (as I am sure you will feel,) shewn by me. But I will not 
 conceal from you, nor indeed have I, that I iiave long viewed his retirement 
 from the position he occupies as essential to the strengtliening of tJie Govern- 
 ment. The mode of effecting it is another consideration. 
 
 As to my other Lower Canada colleagues, Messrs. Daly, Papineau and 
 Smith, I can state to you what I believe to be their feeUngs, especially the 
 two former. They arc not anxious to stick to oflice, to embarrass the 
 present or any future Governor in reforming his Council. With Mr. 
 Papineau I have often held conversations, from which I feel certain that he 
 would not hesitate a moment between retiring to benetlt his country, and 
 remaining to create difficulty. With regard to Mr. Smith, I have held no 
 conversation with him on the possible question of iiis retirement. 
 
 1 can answer for Mr. Morris and IMr. Cayley, as for myself, that our 
 holding oiTice is d(>pendent, on our doing so on terms whicli will not com- 
 promise our characters as individuals, and will be of public service. If 
 either of these grounds fail, we would ri'tire. No difficulty can arise witii 
 either of us in making any arrangements for a good frovernment. 
 
 This being premised, I wish now to jiut lo you tiiis question, (o per- 
 vcnt all misundcrjtatiding hereafter, and to enable me to act fairly in th? 
 matter towards those with whom and ihroug// wiion\ I iiave to act, — as I 
 intimated to you in my last, — " What offices would require to be vacated, 
 or what cluuigs^s made in the present Administration, in crdcc to ^:atisfy the 
 just expectations of tho Frciich Canadians generally, and t(^ secure their 
 support '?" I do not ask you to name — as the time tor such a pro]io:.itioii 
 has not arrived, nor '.vould this be tiie way to make it. IJut if I can stale 
 distinctly what is expected as the sine iji/a 7ion, I am in a position to Ir.y 
 the case I'airly before the proper jiarties, and to consu!t with them all as to 
 what we will advise. You will, I am sure, see I cannot otherwise act an 
 honourable part to my colleagues. 
 
 Hitherto our communications have been of a cliaracter confined to 
 ourselves. From my esteem ftir your character, and my confidence in 
 your judgment, and, from the high position you hold, I sought an explana- 
 tion that I might — opening my own views — ascertain (if you felt right to 
 communicate yours,) what prospect there was of a rnpprochenieni. So far 
 our confidence I believe has been mutual. Your last letter contains a frank 
 and interesting exjjose of the general view of yourself and political friendts. 
 
 2* 
 
"i. 
 
 % 
 
 11 , 
 
 16 
 
 1 can now go forvva"(l the moment T have your answer ; but as my course 
 forward is to lay the jueslion before the Governor and my colIeagucH I can- 
 not do this, involving your name, without full consent, and, added to it, the 
 expression of your opiiion on the question I have put a^ to the necessary 
 
 changes. 
 
 Believe me, &c. 
 
 L ' 
 
 (From the Hon. A. JV. Morin to the Hon. R. E. Caron.) 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Montreal, 24th Nov. 184.5. 
 
 Dear Sir, and Friend, — Our friend to whom your last letter was 
 addressed, does not intend to take upon himself to reply to it, and that not 
 from any motive of a personal nature towards you, for you know to the 
 contrary, but becnuse in the present aspect of aflairs, bethinks it proper 
 for iiim to abstain from taking any active |)art in the business ; and he tells 
 me that he intimated as much to you in his last letter. His advice, how- 
 ever, 1 am assured, will not be withheld from us, and it is only after a long 
 conversation with him that I write to you. 
 
 My first intention was to write you a long letter, containing the result of 
 that conversation ; but you know that for a letter of any length, I am 
 obliged to employ another hand j I do so even in this instance, suflering^ 
 from rheumatism at this moment. 
 
 We thought afterwards that a letter would alToid a very imperfect means 
 of communication. For this reason, in spite of the advanced season, it is 
 perhaps of the highest importance that you should come to Montreal, more, 
 "even, for the purpose of having a clear understanding with your principal 
 correspondent, than to learn what we ourselves think — if you cannot come, 
 I shall be under the necessiiy of writing ihe loiter I intended to write. Bnt 
 we think that in any event an interview with your corresuondent would 
 obviate many of tho dangers which attend writing, and would afford you 
 Iho means of discussing the subject more thoroughly and more amply. 
 
 Our principal remark on the whole, is that your correspondent has 
 changed his ground, (hat he has almost resumed, although on a larger scale, 
 the position which he held before your letter ; that he wishes to make us 
 responsible for a portion of the subject with which we do not interfere, and 
 that he proceeds still by names and exceptions, instead of placing the two 
 contracting parties on a footing of equality, and of admitting that the position 
 to be held by each results from the support they respectively receive from 
 tlieir friends. 
 
 This is the best I can say to you in brief and in this form. If you will 
 te so good as to let me know your determination, I will give it effect with. 
 
17 
 
 all spncd, and in all sincerity. If, ns implied in tlic last Ictler of your ror-^ 
 respondent, you are to be the principal in tliirf alTair, wc shall rejoice at it. 
 
 Bclicvo me, very sincerely, your friend, 
 
 (Signed) A. N. MORIN. 
 
 [not before published,] 
 (From the lion. A. N. Morin to the Hon. li. E. Caron.) 
 
 MoN-rnKAi-, 21tli Nov^eniber, 1S45. 
 
 Dear Sir & Friend, — Since the onc'oMod lius hctm written and Bealod, 
 some one lius conveyed to Mr. Lafonluino the following linos : 
 
 "Mr. 
 
 -'s romplimnnts to Mr. La^'ontaino, and bea:s to inform 
 
 *' him that His IvvceHency tlio (iovornor (jroneral has rtfcciveil dispatches lust 
 ** evening ordering hiin home — ho leaves on Wednesday." 
 
 Thus, it is, perhaps, prud(mt on yonr part to tempori/e, by restoring your 
 man to the position in which you placed him. Porhaps, also, on his side, he 
 will think proper to postpone the subject. In any case, we persist in thinking 
 that your presence at Montreal is very much to be desired. I forgot to inform 
 you that the riimor of the dejiarture of the (Jovcrnor was known from another 
 source at the ollice of the Pilot this morning. Is it the War, or a convictioa 
 that all'airs cannot go on an) ->ngei', even in ordinary times ? 
 
 Your Friend, 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 A. N. MORIN. 
 
 (/Vow the Hon. H'. H. Draper to the Hon. R.E. Caron.) 
 
 Monday, 2'lth November, 1845, 
 
 PR! VATS , 
 
 Mv DEAR Sir, — I have just returned from Monklands. — Her Majesty has been 
 pleased to give Lord Metcalfe authority to give up the administration of the 
 affairs of the Province into the hands of Earl Cathcart, temporarily until a, 
 successor can be appointed. — His Excellency means to avail himself of the 
 permission, and to leave for England on Wednesday. — This may affect your 
 view of my note to you, and I think it right to give you prompt intimation. 
 
 Your's faithfully and sincerely, 
 
 W. H. DRAPER. 
 
 The last mail brings news of several thousand pound.? for the Quebec 
 sufferers. 
 
 i 
 
11 '. 
 
 l^ I 
 
 18 
 
 [not bekore Pt;nLiMitu.] 
 {Prom the Hon. Ji. K. Caron to the lion. A. N. Morin.) 
 
 TRAMSI.ATIOM. 
 
 QfiCKKC, 2;jt!i NoviMiibor, 1845. 
 
 My Dkmi Sml and Fkikno, — I have rt'ccivcd your two Itltcrs ihitcil yester- 
 day ; tlicy inloriried me oCllie depiirtiire of the (Jovi'iiior as to-morrow. This 
 e/uiif, .vliieh I evpeeted, ;iii(l wliich could not have heeii (h-layed, eoidirms 
 Trie ill th<' line of eoiidiict whirli I had jiitmo-i'd to iiiysell to lollow. I h.ivtJ 
 told you irotii the l'('<jriaiiiiiL% and J think I ha\e written it, that all I intendt'il 
 to do ill I'eeeiviuir the coniiiiUiiit atioiis which were !nad<' to me was to traiis- 
 niil tli"Tii to ihoso whom I considertid mo.-t likely to know tin? opinions ol' thi' 
 party wliich it was desued lo win hack, and to wliich overtures werp made. I 
 willin^'ly undertook tlu! oliice o( a mediator helu'een the rcco:^iii/.ed leaders 
 ot th;il party and the administration, or rather oik! of tlie memheis of the udmi- 
 nistrali;)n, because; I thoiicrht I )'<erceived temporary dilliculties which prevented 
 these communications from heiui.' made directly. I never understooil that I 
 was cliar^tHl with tlie formation of an administration, ami in fact I ha\<! never 
 been charged with it, either ilirectly or indirectly; and I think also 1 told you 
 that if the tiling were j)ropose(l to me, I should refuse it. and certainly I 
 whonld have ilone so. On receiving the last letter from Draper, I immediately 
 transmitted it without comment to Lafontaine, in order to know from hiin and 
 from you what answer was to he i^'iven to it ; Ijut as I fon^sjiw what lias hap- 
 ponecl, the departure of the Governor, I was (juite determined not to <^o any 
 further in the businesa for the moment, feelin;^ pure that the reasons which 
 had caused me to ligure in it w(jre soon about to disappear, and tliat tho 
 present administration could very soon treat without any ditliculty with the 
 persons who alone are competent to make the necessary changes in it, I 
 allude to Lafontaine, to you, and to the rest of your former colleafiues to whom 
 the satisfaction is due, and to whom it belonirs, to say how it should be made. 
 For me to remain longer on the scene woidd be to retard and complicate your 
 operations, it is you, now, who must be applied to, and I am so convinced of 
 that being the course to be pursued, that 1 shall write immediately to Mr. 
 Draper to that efiect. I act ttius in justice to you, assuring you at the same 
 time that if you think my assistance can be of use to you in any way, it shall 
 not fail you, and that you will always iind me ready to help you by all the 
 means in my power. 
 
 According to these views, you see that my presence in Montreal would 
 be useless, and besides, I could not leave this before two or three days ; you 
 see also, ^y what precedes, that you have no cause to fear my spoiling thing* 
 by going too fast or too far. 
 
 In the s^eps which yon will have to adopt, it will perhaps be of some use 
 to you lo knn ,v that in the letters whicli I have written and in those which I 
 have transmitted or comnmnicated to you, is found all that has passed between 
 ^Ir. Draper and myself on the subje(!t which has occupied us. 
 
 In the first of our letters you ask ine to makt; known to you my detenTii- 
 nation, I will tell you tliat I had not formi^d any, that that which I might have 
 for^v\l would no longer be suitable, and that now I do not thhik it necessary 
 Ici form any. 
 
 I thank yon for Ihn confidence you shew me when you say that if I am 
 lo he the principal in this ullair you will rejoice at it, and it is without llatlory 
 
19 
 
 and ill all Hiticority that I tull yon th.it tlio tliint,' can (mly ro on wull if con- 
 • lucti'd l>y you ami I.al.tntaitu', aiul ibat it i.n this rnnviction wliifli haw brmijrht 
 in»' to till) (li'tcnniiiatioii not to incdillf? willi it in any viay, unlc.'<« it bo to 
 attfriat you it il in in my pcwt.T. 
 
 I am, £io., your's, 
 (Si-ncd,) K D. CAIION. 
 
 {From t/ie lion. W. II. Ihupir tu the lion. R. E. Car on.) 
 
 CoNFinENTIAL. 
 
 MoNTnr;Ar., 2()th Nov. Iftif). 
 
 My Draii Sin, — The departure of Lord Motcalfe took pinro tliia morn- 
 ing. Althougli tliis ciiange in no respect alters the opinion 1 entertain on 
 the necessity of stren^tiienin<^ the local Adininii-tration, it materially altera 
 the position in vvhieli I am and may he placed, and still more tlie po\ver^' I 
 may have toefiect anything heneficial and satisfactory. 
 
 I felt it my duty on Monday — the day on which I had the first oflicial 
 communication of His Lordship's intention — to apprize you of if, and in 
 the same spirit I mention to you how I feel my position alfectcd, as you 
 have a right to expect from me the earliest intimation of every thing which 
 may influence your own opinions and actions in this matter. 
 
 Believe me, &c. 
 
 W. H. DRAPER. 
 
 [From the Hon. R. E. Caron to the Hon, W. II. Draper.'] 
 
 Translation. 
 
 Quebec, 26ih November, 1815. 
 
 Dear Sir, — I have received your note of the G^th. At the same time 
 that you inform me of His Excellency's departure, you sny, thai you has- 
 ten to give me the information, because the news may perhaps change my 
 views as to the nature of the last letter you wrote me. The opinion you 
 have formed is perfectly correct, and the departure of His Excellency must 
 indeed change my position. 
 
 You know tliat in the communications whirh have passed between us, I 
 have not acted as the leader of a party ; I have only lent myself, and that 
 most willitujly, as an intermediary between those whom our party rrcrnrds 
 as its leaders, and yourself, in order to forward to them the commu- 
 nications you made to me, and also to transmit to you their views and 
 their ideas upon the subject on v.'hich we were engaged. In per 
 
. .. * 
 
 20 
 
 forming the task I undertook, I have not concealetl from you my own 
 opinions, but they /lave formed but a secondary consideration, and my 
 object has constantly been to let you know what was desired and demanded 
 by tiic leaders of the party with whom you wished to negotiate an agree- 
 ment. I lent my aid for this purpose, solely because I knew tiiat there existed 
 for the moment obstacles which made it impossible that any communication 
 should easily be made directly between the administration and those with 
 whom it was necessary to communicate in order to attain the desired 
 end. It seems to me that these obstacles exist no longer, and cannot again 
 arise, and consequently, that my mission must cease with the causes out of 
 which it arose. 
 
 I should, nevertheless, be sorry that you should infer from this, that I 
 refuse my aid towards an arrangement which we both desire ; far Irom this, 
 I am ready to do all in my power to facilitate it, and to hasten its conclu- 
 sion. But as you have upon the spot those gentlemen on whom the success 
 of the arrangement mainly depends, it would be more proper, more easy, 
 and more espsditious to treat directly with them, at the same time, that I 
 invite you to use no ceremony with me, and to point out to me freely ia 
 what way I can be useful. 
 
 I am, Dear Sir, 
 
 Very Sincerely Your's, 
 
 ED. CARON. 
 
 >^ ' 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 ^^ 
 
 [XOT BEFOKE I'UBUSIIID.] 
 
 (From the Hon, JR. E. Caron to the Hon. L. II. Lafuniaine.) 
 
 TKANSLATIOK. 
 
 Ql'kbec, Gth February, 1S46. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — I now acquit myself of my promise lo send you copiew 
 of the letters which were wantinif to complete the (!()rre.spon{lence which haa 
 taken place between you and me and between Mr. Draper and me. 
 
 I rely on your discretion as to the use you will make of a correspond(?nc« 
 commenced with the understandinir that it should be coniidential. I do not 
 intend, however, to deprive you of the advantaii:e which it miirht procure you, 
 and I do not at all shrink from the responsibility of what I have written, and 
 sugfrested ; but I have a rijiht to expect that you will not make of all thib a 
 subject of discussion in the newspapers. 
 
 I am, dear friend, your's, 
 (Signed) 
 
 TRANSLAT 
 
 E. CARON. 
 
2V 
 
 "•\" ■ ■ [not befork published.] 
 
 (From the Hon. E. E. Caron to the lion. L. H. Lafontaine.) 
 
 ■■*« ' 
 
 TRANffLATION. 
 
 Montreal, 10th March, 1846. 
 
 My Dear Friend, 
 
 Dear Friend, — I am on the point of goinj; into the country, I'ro 
 shall not return until Thursday evening. Thinking that perhaps y( 
 
 from 
 which I shall not return until Thursday evening. Thinking that perhaps you 
 Avoukl like to have, before that time, my answer on the suoject which occupied 
 us on Sunday, I write you these lines, wliicli contiiin what I think of the jiro- 
 posal you then made me to give publicity, either in my own name or otherwise, 
 to the entire correspondence between Mr. Draper aiul me, and between you 
 and .me, since the month of September last. 
 
 I have given much attention to this propor-al, and I have done so with a 
 sincere desire to be able to come to the conclusion which you seem to wish, 
 namely, that of giving my consent to such pub! 'cation ; but 1 regret to say that 
 I have not yet been able to convince myse'fof the projiriely of such a step, 
 and of the .advantages which might resu't from it. As to doing the thing in 
 my name, I see nothing which could, on my part, justify such an action ; as 
 to ever giving my con^sent to it, the circumstances and the understanding in 
 which tnis correspondenco was began and continued, make me think that I 
 cannot do so with propriety. 
 
 I have not failed to relleet on the pretence which you put forth, that the 
 correspondence in question having been condu<;ted by me as an inlermediate 
 party only, was rather yours than mhie, and that you liave, therefore, a right 
 to make such use of it as you think proper. I must adm't that 1 would lind this 
 unanswerable if, in opening this correspondence with me, youliad not yielded, 
 tacitly at first and afterwards expressly to the conchtion imposed by me, that in 
 case of failure the matter should remain between ourselves. Notwithstanding 
 this, yoa may be right, and I leave you io judge. If your position is correct, 
 you have no need of my consent ; if you make the puhlicalion in virtue of the 
 ■right yoii pretend to have, I i-eser veto myself that of saying that you have 
 acted withoid my sanction and against my adcice. If you decide on publish- 
 ing, there are in my letters several parts which should be left out, your excel- 
 lent judgment -will point out these to you. Whatever may be the determina- 
 tion to which you come, I flatter myself our mutual friendship and esteem will 
 not suffer in tlie least, and that you will consider me as heretofore. 
 
 Your devoted confrere and friend, 
 
 ED. CARON. 
 
 II 
 
 [not before published.J 
 (Pi'om the Hon. L. II. Lafontaine to the Hen. R. E. Caron.) 
 
 translation. 
 
 Montreal, 11th March, 1846. 
 
 My dear Friend,- -Your letter of yesterday's date, was not handed to me 
 until quite late the same day, that is to say, after the adjournment of the Court 
 of Appeals, where I had the pleasure ')f seeing you. 
 
K t 
 
 22 
 
 Before answoririij tliis letter tit leiifrth, in the event of my tliinking proper to 
 tie so, as well for the purpose of rectifyinnj some inaccuracies, as for that of 
 assertiuijf a claim to that justice which is due to my friends and to myself; 
 permit mt; to nujuest you to iidorm me, if your refusal to consent to what you 
 call the puhlicil)/ of the C(trn;spoii(l(Mic(i in (jnestion, cvleads to all possihle 
 cases in which I mii^lit, in accordance with const it iitioruil usajres, especially 
 in my capacity of Member of the House of As-cmhly, be called upon to speak 
 dF this correspdudeuce, and if, in a (^asd of that kiiul, you think you have a 
 ri^ht to require that I shoidd preserve silence as to the contents of this corres- 
 poiidcnce, so absohit(dv as to ha,v(! no discretion to exercise in this respect, 
 <.'!tber in my own personal interest, or ia that of the parly to which 1 belong. 
 
 Yoiu''s 
 
 L. n. l.AFONTAINE. 
 
 [kot nr:Fniu: ruBusHKu.] 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 1 
 
 (M'om the lion. R, E. Caron io the lion. L. II. Lafontaine.) 
 
 Montreal, IGth March, 1846. 
 
 My Dkar Frikni), — After the conference we had on Sunday last, I think 
 ire understand each other perfectly, as to the us(; which you may }nake of our 
 correspondence ; therefore it is scarcely necessary to inform you, in reply to 
 your letter of the 11th, called forth by rime of the day before, that the refusal 
 on my part, contained in the latter, to consent to what I might have called 
 publication instead of publicity of the corn'spondence in question, does not ex- 
 tend to the possible cases in which you might, according to constitutional 
 usages, and especially in your capacity of Merrd)er of the House of Assembly, 
 be called iipoji to speak of this correspondence, but that it is distinctly under- 
 stood that in such a case I by no means claim the right to exact that you 
 should preserve silence as to the contents of this correspondence, that on tho 
 contrary you have full liberty to exercise in this respect a judicious discretion, 
 as well in your own interest as in that of the party to which you belong. 
 
 Your's, 
 
 ED. CARON. 
 
 ( From the Hon. W. H. Draper to ihe Hon. P.. E. Caron.) 
 
 Private. 
 
 Montreal, 19th March, 184G. 
 
 My Drar Sir, — I have just received your note of this date, informing 
 me that in reference to certain communications, partly verbal and partly 
 written, which had pas;<ed between us in relation to the administration of 
 public ailairsin this Province, and the introduction inio ofiice of gentlemen, 
 like yourt>c!f, of French Canadian origin, that you had, from the necessity 
 of consulting xAih the chiefs of the party with whom you were connected, 
 
proper to 
 J lor that of 
 [o myself; 
 
 wliat you 
 
 1 possihio 
 [('.-■peciuUy 
 |ti to speaic 
 ■ou hiivo a 
 
 lis corres- 
 jis rn.-;pect, 
 
 1 belonir. 
 
 TAINE. 
 
 h, 184G. 
 
 St, I think 
 lake of our 
 in reply to 
 the refusal 
 lave called 
 oes not ex- 
 nstitutional 
 Assembly, 
 ctly under- 
 t that you 
 that on tho 
 discretion, 
 ong. 
 
 RON. 
 
 ^.) 
 
 84G. 
 
 informing 
 nd partly 
 itration of 
 cntlcmen, 
 necessity 
 onnected. 
 
 23 
 
 transmitted to them my letters atldrcsseil to you ; that these letters are now 
 actually in the possession of your friends, to whom you had sent them ; 
 that you are ignorant what use they may intend to make of them, hut, anti- 
 cipating that they may possibly make them public, you lelt it your duty to 
 communicate the fact to me, that, in case our correspondence sliould be- 
 come public, I might know under what circumstances it had pasi^ed out of 
 ■vour hands. 
 
 Our communications began by a conversation, sought for on my part 
 with you, in wliich I expressed my desire to ascertain (if you tho;i:.rht fit to 
 place that confidence in me) whether the obstacles in the way of bringing 
 into olTicc gcnthnaen such as yourself were not to Ite surniomited, and I 
 said that unless gentlemen of opposite parties could place sudicient reli- 
 ance on each other's honour and character, to converse frankly and confi- 
 dentially on such a subject, tliere could be no means of ascertaining their 
 respective opinions, or whether any " rapprocheme.nl''' between them was 
 possible. I understood you to assent to this proposition, and I then discus- 
 sed with you my views as to the state of political parties, ami the pos- 
 sibility of bringing the French Canadian party into a position by which they 
 would exercise a just share in administering public affairs. You made me 
 aware that you must confer with others before you could inform me what 
 probability there was that ar;y result could be attained. To such confe- 
 rence, however, I vas no party — to this moment I do not know the names 
 of the parties with whom it was to be held — nor, so far as you informed 
 me, was my name to be made use of. 
 
 The letters which I addressed to you, in furtherance of our conversation, 
 were, on my part, certainly written in the same spirit of confidence which 
 as I understood was to govern our conversation. They were all, if I 
 mistake not, marked in a manner unequivocally to shew this, — in fact, as 
 strongly as is consistent with a proper regard of v^^hat is due, and should 
 be left, to the honour of a gentleman. 
 
 The course which your friends, in whose hands you had placed these let- 
 ters, may take in forcing you into the position of being a party to making 
 that public which was confidential, and communicated in reliance on your 
 character, is a matter in respect to which I do not feel I have anything to 
 uo. It of course, rests between you and them. As regards myself, 1 must 
 observe that I never supposed, nor did you, until yoi note of this morning, 
 ever intimate to me that you had placed the letters, which I addressed to 
 you, out of your own control, or even that you had put it into the power of 
 any third party to violate the confidence we had placed in each other. On 
 my part, I can assure you, I had invariably taken care, in all communica- 
 tions with others to which the subject mait>T of our correspondence gave 
 rise, to secure that your name should not be brought into question. 
 
 I have felt it due to myself to make this reply to your note, that the opi- 
 liiou I entertain of the cliaracter of our communications may be known to 
 
24 
 
 W Ij 
 
 asJi 
 
 |! 
 
 you as soon as possible after I am apprized of the position in which you are 
 placed with your own friends in regard to it. 
 
 Believe me, &,c. 
 
 W. H. DRAPER. 
 
 (From the Hon. R. E. Car on to the Hon. W. H. Draper.) 
 
 Tetu's Hotel, 19lh March, 1846. 
 
 Dear Sir, — The object I had in view in the communications which 
 have passed between us, was. — as I have frequently told you in writing and 
 personally, — to make you acquainted with the views and opinions of my 
 political friends, in order to see whether it might not be possible to come to 
 an arrangement with them — in order to fulfil the mission I had undertaken, 
 it was absolutely necessary lo consult the leaders of the party with whom 
 I had to negotiate. As many of them lived at a distance, I adopted, as 
 the easiest and most open mode of communication, the plan of sending to 
 them both your letters and my own, as they were exchanged between us. 
 It thiTs happens that the important part of our correspondence is now in the 
 possession of the friends to whom I sent it. I am not aware wh?.t use they 
 intend to make or can make of these documents; bul, anticipating the possi- 
 bility of their using them and making them public, I think it my duty to 
 mention the fact to you, in order ihat if our correspondence should become 
 public you may know under what circumstances the thing took place, and 
 how and why the papers that compose it passed out of my hands. 
 
 I am, as ever, 
 
 Dear Sir, your's, 
 
 E. CARON. 
 
 [Hon. L, H. Lafontaine to the Hon. R. E, Caron-I 
 
 Sunday, 22d March, 8 p. m. 
 
 My dear friend, 
 
 I called at your hotel — you were not in — I leave with you a summary which 
 I have just drawn. 1 have not read it a second time, expecting to read it with 
 you. Do me the favor to return it to-morrow morninij early, and to state whe- 
 ther his mode suits you — i believe it is the best. 
 
 Your's truly, 
 
 {From 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 My DEAR F 
 
 at all ; the fo 
 little in accon 
 
 I repeat it, 
 before the pu 
 thought of its 
 that you have 
 public, I pre 
 point of style 
 things which 
 to an in'.imat( 
 
 These thin 
 the justice to 
 because all tr 
 
 TRANSLATION 
 
 My DEAR 
 
 lend me yesi 
 of publishing 
 
 What has 
 indispensabl 
 taken part ir 
 
 I would nc 
 ing, before ][ 
 opinions of t 
 
 In makinj 
 and importa' 
 notes exchai 
 would like t 
 
 I would s 
 part in whic 
 of several in 
 
 L. H. LAFONTAINE. 
 
li'lVM 
 
 25 
 
 ch you are 
 
 ;aper. 
 
 er,) 
 
 me. 
 
 ons which 
 vritingand 
 ons of my 
 to come to 
 nilertaken, 
 'illi whom 
 idopted, as 
 sending to 
 stween us, 
 now in the 
 ft use they 
 ; the possi- 
 ny duly to 
 ild become 
 place, and 
 s. 
 
 N. 
 
 p. AI. 
 
 iry whick 
 ad it with 
 tate whe- 
 
 [NE. 
 
 [not before publishkd.] 
 (JFVowi the Hon. JR. E. Caron to the Hon. L. //. Lafontaine.) 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Monday Morninc, 23d March, 1846. 
 
 My dear Friend, — Your abstract of my two first lelters does not plt-aso me 
 stall; the form which you give to these communications is too solemn — too 
 little in accordance with the tone of mind in which they were written. 
 
 I repeat it, I shall regret the necessity which will have forced you to put 
 before the public a correspondence conducted, on my part, without lie least 
 thought of its being destined for publication ; but if, in the judicious discretion 
 that you have to exercise on the subject, you think proper to make my letters 
 public, I prefer that they should be shown such as I wrote them, although in 
 point of style they may not be what 1 would wish, and although they contain 
 things which they would not have contained if tliey had not been addressed 
 to an intimate friend, out of whose hands I did not expect they would pass. 
 
 These things, which you will easily distinguish, you will perhaps do me 
 the justice to omit, not because I think I have written what is not true, but 
 because all truths are not to be spoken at all times. 
 
 I am, dear Sir, your's, 
 
 (Signed,) R. E. CARON. 
 
 [not before pubusued.] 
 (From the Hon. R. E. Caron to the Hon. L. H. Lafontaine.) 
 
 TRANSLATION. 
 
 Monday, 6th April, 1846. 
 
 My dear Sir, — In reluming you the papers which you hod the kindness to 
 lend me yesterday, I must inform you of the determination to which 1 have come 
 of publishing myself and in my name the correspondence in qaeslion. 
 
 What has passed within these few days causes mo to look upon this stop as 
 indispensable, both as regards myself and in the interest of those who have 
 taken part in it. 
 
 I would not have adopted this determination without consulting you and obtain- 
 ing, before puttinu" it into execution, your conserit and that of Morin, if the 
 opinions of both of you on this subject were not perfectly well known to me. 
 
 In making this publication I shall confine myself, of course, to the serious 
 and important part of our correspondence, leaving out the private and familiar 
 notes exchanged between us ; unless indeed there should bo some that you 
 would like to make known, and which in that case I beg you to point out to me. 
 
 I would submit to you also the propriety of leaving out of your first letter the 
 part in which you cite, in support of the principles ymi put forth, the examplo 
 of several individuals occupying elevated stations ia society and for whom it 
 
 ^ 
 
M 
 
 i^ 
 
 4» 
 
 }' 
 
 •" 
 
 1*, 
 
 
 ; 
 
 /• 
 
 26 
 
 mi'^lit he (Usasionablo to be thus draarcrod before the pulilic, and that whliout 
 any 'neiil nccessily, since your ])iiiici|ile.s !ir(; sntbciijiitly iiicoiilosfiiblc to bav(? 
 no need of b( iiiJi,' snslaiiicd by the exainj)Ie.s wliich you cite. 1 will do, how- 
 ever as you please in this respect. — I will pid)li.sh the whole if you do not 
 authorize' me to leave out the part in question. 
 
 I am very sincerely, 
 
 Your's, 
 
 E. CARON. 
 
 (From the Hon. L. H. La/ontaine to the lion. li. E. Cavon.) 
 
 TRANSLATIOM. 
 
 Montreal, 6th April, 1846. 
 
 My Dear Sir, — Your letter of this day's date reberes me from a great 
 embarrassment. Althouirh the correspondence in question appears to me mora 
 than ever of a parliamentary public nature, I saw with nmch regret that yon 
 liad latterly looked at it in another point of view. If I have diifered from your 
 view, notwithstanding all that has taken place in Parliament and out of Parlia- 
 ment, among the friends of the party to which I belong, * ♦ * » 
 You admit, now, the principle on which I had proposed to myself to act ; you 
 even claim a right to do it independently yourself — aright which I do not deny 
 you. I think, then, that it is not fitting to multiply details as to the way iu 
 which vou mav give ellect to your way of thinking, and leaving you entirelr 
 free, I note the fact tliat by your own admission 1 become equally bo on mj 
 part, even if I was not so before. 
 
 I am, very sincerely, 
 
 Your devoted Servant, 
 
 L. II. LAFONTAINE. 
 
 (^From ihe Hon. R. E. Caron la the Hon. JV, H. Draper.') 
 
 MoNTiiEAL, April, 6, 184rG. 
 
 Dear Sir, — Tlie correspondence which passed between us, and, as a g 
 iiccessary consequence, between me and yome of my friends to whom I 
 was obliged to communicate it, 1ms lately given rise to some debates in your 
 House ; the newspapers have taken up the subject, and it has become the 
 theme of public discussions in which \t is represented as altogether dilfereDt 
 from what it really is. 
 
 I have always thought that the publication of this correspondence, would 
 be of no advantage, and have done all I could to prevent it ; — but from the 
 turn the business has taken and the state in which things now are, it seems 
 to me preferable that the matter should appear in its true light, and 
 should be judged of and appreciated according to its true meritsand at what 
 
1(1 lli.'it without 
 ('.•■fiihlo to li.'ivti 
 will do, how- 
 it' you (Jo not 
 
 E. CAKON. 
 
 Caron.) 
 
 ipiil, 184G. 
 
 from a great 
 
 ?ai8 to me mora 
 
 regret that you 
 
 fered from your 
 
 :i(l out of Parlia- 
 * * * 
 
 self to act ; you 
 ^h I do not deny 
 IS to the way iu 
 ing you entirely 
 (juully so on my 
 
 ONTAINE. 
 
 draper.) 
 
 prll, 6, 1S4G. 
 
 11 MB, and, as a 
 Mids to whom I 
 debates in your 
 has become the 
 ogethcr dilFerent 
 
 ondence, would 
 ; — but from the 
 w are, it seems 
 true light, and 
 jritsandat what 
 
 it is really worth, and not according to reports which mui-t be more or lois 
 false and erroneous. 
 
 I am therefore now of oi;inion, that it would be an act of justice to mo, 
 and for the interest of all iho.-c who have taken part in this corros|)orul(^nce 
 that it phould be at once published, — and that it should be so at my instance 
 rather than in any other way. I flatter myself that you will coincide in 
 opinion with me, and that you will give your consent to a pro' eding wiiich 
 I had not anticipated and sincerely regret, but to which 1 am driven by 
 circumstances. 
 
 In elTecting the publication, I propose to leave out ail that does not bear 
 upon the principal matter ; — I have looked upon many of your notes aB 
 destined for my eye alone ; they have never been shewn, and have never 
 gone out of my hands. These will be omitted, unless you express vour 
 wish to the contrary, of which you will please to inform me. 
 
 Waiting your answer, I have the honor to subscribe myself, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Your verj' devoted servant, 
 
 E. Cx\RON. 
 
 [not BEFOUK rUBLISMEl).] 
 
 (^From the Hon. W. IF. ])raper to the lion. JR. E. Caron.) 
 
 MoNTBEAL, Gth April, 1846. 
 
 My dkar Sir, — I delayt^d answ(^ring your note of this moruirig from .h(» 
 necessity of cousultinir some friHudy, as to tlie eours(! f ought to l;il:(>. A nv.vr 
 feature has just present'"! itscH'. Mr. Lafor.tiiiuo has, <i few inirmtes ago, 
 iriveu Notice that to-morrow ho will conimuu>cat(! the correspondeuce he hiu^ 
 to the llous(>. I do not know what portion of the correspondenco between you 
 and mvi-fjlf is iu }ii.< bauds — I assume that all that )uis biMrUi wriUeu is not. 
 My consent to publication is now (juiie uniuH-essary, and I am, on the (on- 
 trary, oMigod to ask ycu to allow me to mak(> ])ub!ic any thing you and I have 
 interchanged, whii.'h Mr. Lafonlaine eith(,'r may not chou^(^, (;r may i:()t be? 
 abl!>, froju not p(jsstssiug it, to communicate, 
 
 I am told that it l;as be(>n asscrlcnl thai, somc' h'tt(n' of I^.lr. Lafoutairii^ to yon 
 was sent or communicated to me, and that I answered it. I wish your 
 authority for stating that you never communicated to rne, either Mr. Lafoa- 
 taiue's letter, or that of aiiy other pcrsoTi rvdaliiig to this maticr, otherwise 
 than yonr letter of the 17 ih September last may be ctjusljered (.•ommuni'^a- 
 tion of them. 
 
 Your answer before the House meet to-morrow will obligo 
 
 Your, my dear Sir, 
 
 Very faithfully, 
 
 W. H. DRAI'EB. 
 
 U 
 
4V 
 
 :K ' ft> 
 
 i.t< 
 
 28 
 
 (From the Hon. R. E. Caron to the Hon. W. H, Draper.) 
 
 Montreal, 7ih April, 1846. 
 
 Dear Sir, — Before replying to your note of yesterday evening, I must 
 inform you that at the same time that I wrote to you in the morning to 
 inform ycu of my wish to publish our correspondence, I wro'.e also to Mr. 
 La(ontaine, not for the lurpose of asking his consent, for 1 knew that he 
 wished for such publication, but to let him know that I had decided, under 
 the new circumstances of the case, to do of my own accord, what I had 
 before declined to permit. 
 
 In a note received from Mr. Lafontaine, in answer to m'ne, he has given 
 me to understand, that my determination myself to publish it, was regarded 
 as an abandonment of my opposition to the publication of the correspon- 
 dence by others. It is, in all probability, in consequence of this mode of 
 looking at the matter, that Mr. Lafonta-ne, now considers himself at liberty 
 to do that which he was not at liberly to do before, and it is for this reason, 
 I suppose, that he has f-iven the notice of which you inform me in your note. 
 However this may be, I have thought it right to put you in possession of the 
 facts, and to actiuaint you that I have no participation in this proceeding. 
 
 I pass now to the contents of your letter. 
 
 The portion of your correspondence which is in Mr. Lafontaine's posses- 
 sion, consists, if I mistake not, in the following documents: — 
 
 1st. — Two letters written by me to that gentleman, and dated respectively, 
 the 7lh and 8lh of September, containing the substance of our conversation 
 at Montreal, in the pi'eceil'iig August. 
 
 2ndly. — Your letter of the 16lh October, in answer to mine of the 17th 
 September. 
 
 Srdly. — My own letter of the 17lh September. 
 
 4thly Your other letter of the 19lh No/emb^r, being a further reply to 
 mine of the 17th September. 
 
 5thly. — The letter I wrote you on the 26th November. 
 
 Tlie rest of my correspondence which is out of my possession, consists of 
 several letters written by me on the subject in question to Messrs. Lafon- 
 taine and Morin, or which I have received from them. These letters have 
 in fact formed the i 3, in part of the communications I have made to 
 you, and these gentleniu.i were the friends of whom I spoke in my letters to 
 you ; — but you never saw their letters, or mine to them, and their names 
 were never mentioned to you, except that of Mr. Lafontaine in my letter of 
 the 17th of September. 
 
 ;// 
 
11, 1846. 
 
 Pg, I must 
 morning to 
 also to Mr. 
 vv lliat he 
 ided, under 
 ;vhat I had 
 
 e has given 
 as regarded 
 rorrespon- 
 lis mode of 
 If at liberty 
 this reason, 
 n your note, 
 jssion of the 
 oceeding. 
 
 me 3 posses- 
 
 respectively, 
 conversation 
 
 } of the 17th 
 
 ther reply to 
 
 n, consists of 
 essrs. Lafon- 
 e letters have 
 lave made to 
 my letters to 
 their names 
 \ my letter of 
 
 29 
 
 I therefore willingly give you the authority you ask for, to contradict in 
 my name, any report which may tend to induce a belief, '•' that some of Mr. 
 " Lafontaines'a letters were sent or commnnicntod to you, and that vou 
 " replied to them." Thj letter of the I7tli September contains all tlu' infor- 
 mation derived from them, which iia.s boon comimjnicatcd by me to you. 
 That letter speaks for it.sclf. 
 
 You are also authorized to make public such portions of our correspon- 
 dence asi you may think proper, and wliich Mr. Lafontaine may not wioh 
 or may not have it in his power to publish. 
 
 Hoping that this answer will be satisfactory to you, I subscribe myself, 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Your very devoted servant, 
 
 ED. CARON. 
 
 [not before ppblisiied.] 
 (From the Hon. R. E. Caron to tha Hon. L. H. Lafontaine.) 
 
 TUANSLATION. 
 
 Tuesday morning, 7th April, 1816. 
 My dear Sir, — I acknowlodge tho receipt of your letter of yesterday, only 
 
 H' tllO DUfDOSO of OrBVentP'' "'* "^''^'i** iTi^''»riMnfr tr/^»n ryi \,' ail*r»n/-»r> fnnf T »inriii ir»-!n/i 
 
 in the doctrine it contains 
 
 _.- - _, ^ - , . j_' -^ - - J — -- J- J f — 
 
 for tho purpose of preventini^ your inferring from my silenco that I acqnios 
 
 i. — I am, on tho contrary, of opinion that you fi-ive 
 
 CO 
 
 xn lliu Uv-.^i.iino 11, vvniirviiio. 1 i4,w., wii mw ,..„iiiiciit, VI OpUUOU ttlflt yOU fi'lVC tO 
 
 my letter of Monday an interpretation of \vhioh it is not susceptible, and that 
 you claim the beneiit of an imaginary admission which is nut to be found in 
 tliat letter. . 
 
 This is not the first time we have differed in opinion, I wish most sincerely 
 that it may be the last. 
 
 In this hope I subscribe myself, 
 
 Your's, 
 
 R. E. CARON. 
 
'l 
 
 V 
 
 - 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 h 
 
 
 ♦1 
 
 :•: 
 
 
 / 
 
 n 
 
 'I 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 11 
 
 II r 
 
ABSTRACT 
 
 Of iha Corretpondencr. both verhnl and vrHien, which has taken place 
 between Mr. Caron and J\lr. Draper^ on the one part., and between the 
 same and Messieurs Lafontainc and Morin^ on the other part. 
 
 Jui,Y 1st, IS'J'). — Convor?!nlion between Me<'sr8. Draper and f'nron, nt Quebec, 
 considered by the latter as eonlidential, and the oontents ot' whicli 
 were not cnniniunicated to any onu previous to the month of Septem- 
 ber Ibilowinif, 
 
 At'CiuST 1st. — Some time after Mr. Draper writes to Mr. Caron a private note, 
 in whieli, retnimlinif him of tliis conversation, \w puts a few (luestioiis, 
 to whicli Mr. Caron states in a note, that ho will answer in Aloutrtal. 
 
 NoTK from Mr. Caron, mentioning that ho would go up to Montreal, ami thera 
 give his answer. 
 
 Aur.usT. — Conversation at Montreal, in which Mr. Draper requests Mr. Cnron 
 to consult his friends. (The abstract of tlint conversation w.ill befoDiid 
 in the letter to Mr. Lafontaine of the 7th September.) 
 
 Septk.mbeu Tth. — Letter to Mr. Lafontaine, containing an abstract of tho abora 
 conversation. 
 
 SEPTKMBKa 8tii. — Another letter to tho same, on tho same subject, and ex- 
 plaining the first, and containing the following parairruph : — I need 
 vnt tell ynu that my letter of yesterday Is of a confidential nature ; 
 thot it IS to l)c comraunicated only to Marin, and such othi'r fi it^m/a 
 vpon whom you can rely, as in case thi^ nndertakins^ should lie with- 
 out result^ it would be. better for all parties that it shoxdd remain 
 between us. 
 
 Septkmbkr 8tii. — First letter to Mr. Draper, informing him of tho business 
 being in progress. 
 
 SEPTKMBKa IOtii. — Auswer from Mr. Lafontaine, (Tn the meantime Mr. Abnin 
 comes (iwWn to Quebec, and as well on his own behalf as on that of 
 Mr. Lafontaine. ^ives to Mr. Caron several explanations, of which 
 notes were taken and kept by tho latter, which explanations, to^elh'T 
 with Mr, Lafontaine's letter, formed the basis of the letter written o 
 Mr. Draper on the 17th September.) 
 
 Septembkr 17Tn. — Letter to ]\Tr. Draper. (A copy of this letter xvas .sent to 
 Mr. Lafontaine, at his reque,-t contained in his letter of the 20lh 
 October, alledging for his reason why he should have possession of 
 this letter, tlie fear of speaking without knowing the contents theredf.) 
 
 OcTOBEU TiTir. — Letter from Mr. Draper, acknowledging tho receipt of that of 
 the 17th September. 
 
 October 20Tir. — Letter from Mr. Lafontaine, requesting a copy of tho letter of 
 the 17th September, to Mr. Draper. 
 
 OcTOBEU 21-Tir. — Letter from Mr. Caron, in answer, saying that no copy of that 
 letter had been rent, bacauso he thought ho had remarked something 
 
32 
 
 til 
 
 [' It 
 
 0CT0B£R 
 
 in iho Minervn uiul ihu IHlot, which .shuvvcil that tho iithiir liiul hacn 
 coriirnuiiiiMtcil to iiMtro jJt'isuiis tlnm liud lit'cri iiifnu'd iijton. (Tim 
 h'tter of till' 17th is then wiit to Mr. Kiiloritaiiic, to whom Iho ob»t»r- 
 vanco oi yiout cJiMciutioii is ugaiii jocomirKjinli'd.) 
 
 26th. — Lottd^. from Mr. Lnfontaine, -AcknowAtuhj^wv^ \\u- rccript of th(( 
 precedint?, as woU u« of Mr. Draper's answer of tho l<>lh October, and 
 snys — that what appeared in tho Miuerve and the Pilot had no refer- 
 i'we to tilt; iilfair in (pK.'.stion, (About tliis time tho Editor of th«! Pihil 
 comes to Qn(;bt'c, and tells Mr. Caroii that he has seen uU tho eont;*- 
 pondeiico.) 
 
 NovEMBKR 19th Second letter from Mr. Draper, in answer to that of the 17th 
 
 September, and promised in his loiter of tlie lGth(»l' October j)revioiin, 
 which was not marked either privatttor conlidential ; this letter of tlut 
 19th November, marked coididenlial, is Bent, liku thy other, lo Mr, 
 J.afontainu. 
 
 NovEMni:u 24rit. — Letter from Mr. Morin, nnnonneinc: that Mr. Lafontaino 
 withdraws lumseif from the all'air — he ))i()mi,-es a \m\<r letter which 
 has not lieeti seiil — makes some oi)H(!rvati()ns on Mr. Diaper's letter— 
 beps Mr. Caron to come to Montreal, for the pnrpose of having: an 
 <'\planation with his correspondent — wishes to know what decision 
 Mr. Caron hns come to, without speakin;? of his own, which he re- 
 serves to himself the ritrht of ^ivinir afterwards, ;md promises that 
 althoii<rh Mr. Lafontaiiie had witiidrawn from tl:e alfair, his advice 
 would not be withheld. 
 
 NovEMiiF.u 24. — Another Li^tter from Mr. Morin annonnrinri: the departure of the 
 (iovernor Lord Metcalfe, recommends jirndence in coiisecjuenco of 
 this event, and again urges Mr. Caron to come to Montreal, 
 
 NovKMBKU 24. — Note from Mr. Draper announcinir also tlus departure of Lord 
 Metcalfe, and saying- that he gives this informatiiai in case this event 
 should have the efiecl of chaniiing Mr. Caron's opinioiison the .subject 
 of the correspondence which had previously taken place. 
 
 NovEMnv;H 25. — Letter from l\Tr. Caron to Mr. Morin annonncincthnt Mr. Caron "s 
 mission is eniled, that ho informs Mr. Draper thereof, and that he will 
 not go to Montreal. 
 
 NovEMBKU 26. — Letter to Mr. Draper informing him that Mr. Caron Mltluhaws 
 from the all'air, aiul rei'erring him to the leaders of the party who have 
 beeii consuhed, in Montreal. 
 
 February 19, 1846. — Note to Mr. Lafontaine accompanying copy of some parts 
 of the correspondence whi(di was not in bis possession and >vlii(di 
 he had re(juested. Mr. Caron tells him I'vit he relies on his discielion 
 as to the use he will make of the letters to him transmitted. 
 
 March. — Mr. Caron meets in IMontveal, in the Court House, Mr. Lafontaine 
 who at onc(> gives him to understand that he proposes pulilishiug tlie 
 correspondence. Mr. Caron expresses his sur])rise, and lo come loan 
 understanding on that point, an appointment is agreed upon for tha 
 next day at Mr. Lafontaine's, at which Mr. Morin was to be present. 
 Mr. Caron proceeded the next day lo the place appointed, and met 
 Messrs. Lafontaine and Morin. Mr. Lafontaine appeared at once pre- 
 pared without any previous consultation to write the order and the 
 
 m u 
 
air liml ht'ctt 
 
 iijxtri. ('I'ho 
 
 Inn tli(> obtfcr* 
 
 receipt of tlio 
 |i October, uiiU 
 
 tiad no j>;f('i- 
 Jor of the Pildt 
 ■all tlu) coiroH- 
 
 itit oCiIk! ITlli. 
 
 jolicr ])r('vi()iis, 
 
 |iis letter of t)m 
 
 other, to Mr. 
 
 1r. Laf(ml5»iiie 
 
 U letter wliich 
 
 ajier'.s hMter— ~ 
 
 ot liaviii^' an 
 
 uliat (leci.^ioii 
 
 , wiiich lie re- 
 
 j)roiiiises tliat 
 
 "air, hi.s udvict; 
 
 ilepnrtnroof the 
 coii^e(jiionc'(; of 
 treal, 
 
 pavtiire of LorJ 
 
 case tliis eveiil 
 
 IS on the subject 
 
 CO. 
 
 lliatMr.rarnirs 
 mil tliat he uill 
 
 a von williihaws 
 party A\hohuvo 
 
 )y of some parts 
 
 ion and uliich 
 n liis discietion 
 itted. 
 
 Mr. Lafontaine 
 piiblishin^r the 
 (I to come to an 
 ed npon for tha 
 s to be present, 
 minted, and met 
 red fit once pre * 
 order and the 
 
 33 
 
 niO(1(« in wliich tho ptihlicution was to Iw mad(.'. Objection on Mi. 
 Curon'a purl prelendiuy : 
 
 lo. That he denied the riyht to publish without liid oonnent. 
 
 2o. That lie would reliiso to irive that consent until it was sliowti to 
 him — tirst that he could do it without impropriety and in iiisliee to the 
 other party, and secondly that the coinitry would bo benelitted tlicre- 
 froin. 'J'ho reuHon.s elfered by iVless*rs. Lafontaine and iMorin appear- 
 ed inrtUffieieril ; however, Mr. Capon promised to consider of the mat- 
 ter, and to yive hiis a/iswer thereafter. 
 
 Maim II 10.— Letter to Mr. I,ati)ntaino containitiy that answer which Mas in the 
 neffiitivo ; containintr the rea.Hons of such lebi.sal, sayin;: that if the 
 l)nblication takes place in virtuf! of the riirht wlii(di Messrs. Lafontaine 
 anil Moriii assume lo lia\(! so to do as principals, in the correspon- 
 dence, while Mr. Caorn was Itut their ancnf (|)retenlion put forth in 
 tlie above mentioned conversation), he Mr, Caron reserved to himselt' 
 the riuht to say that the thing had been done without his consent and 
 Hji^airist his advice. 
 
 March Hiti.— Letter from ]\Tr. Lafontaine nnnonneinirnniorelencrthyon.werio 
 ri'ctifii ccrtdin indcciiracien, amlchiim. Ike Justice due to his friemls 
 and liinini.'lf. In ibis letter it is asked wlielher that refusal on the ])art 
 of Mr. Caioii to const'iil lo l/if pvhlicdlion nf thv cuirespondnice e.r- 
 tendff to all pontdblo. cusph in which he (Mr. Lafontaine) iviaht, ac- 
 cord inir to c(iiislitiiti()7ial ^mii'eft, and particular! ij in his cajiarity of 
 Mewher of the JIuusc, be ( aj.i.ku ii'os to apeak of that cun-es^jou- 
 dence. 
 
 March IItii.— A Note to Mr. Lafontaine, in answer to the above by which 
 likewise some t;\lracts of letters and 8ome explanations were aske'd, 
 nays that Mr. Caron, will williiiy-ly yive the extracts and explanations 
 askiid for, and olleriii;^!; a second interview for the jiurpose of endiavoiir- 
 iw'jr to come, once Ibr all. to an nndeistandiny-. 'J'lial interview takes 
 ])laoe at Mr. Caron's llie next day but out; in Mr. Morin's presence. 
 Mr. Caron, expresses a desire to know what was meant by " possible 
 cases" ^' contttilii.tioval usntres," kc, which were meutioneil in Mr. 
 Lafontaine's letter of the Hlli. The tenure (jf the answer xvas that 
 those cases could not be easily rintici])aled, and mi;j;ht arise at any time 
 from various unforeseen events. One of ihe cases cited Was in tlu; 
 event ol' Mr. Draper hinisidf, nientioninir the correspondence, or other- 
 wise ;:,'ivinir puldicity lo tlie same. jVIr. Caron havin^r reason to bc- 
 lievi! that the other cases were of a similar nature, answered that lie 
 certainly would not expect to force them to remain silent in tin; case 
 cit(>d, nor any other similar case. Whereupon it was proposed by Mr. 
 Lafontaine to Mr. Caron, to witlahaw his letter of the 10th ]\laich. 
 Th(i answer of the letter to this j)roposal was that he would think 
 about it, and that if lie did not withdraw his letter, he xvould furnish a 
 written answer to Mr. Lafontaino's letter of the 11th March. 
 
 March IGrir. — Letter to I\Tr. Lafontaine, containing the promised answer lo liis 
 letter of llie lllli, mentions the conversation which had taken place, 
 and says, that his 7-p/?w«/ to consent to the pvblication of the cor- 
 respondence, (refusal comprised in Mr. Caron's letter of the 10th 
 Marcli,) does not extend to possible coses in which you may in ac- 
 cordance with constitiUional iisages, and especially in your capacity 
 of Member of the House of Assembly^ be called upon to speak of that 
 
Ik 
 
 I 1 
 
 ii 
 
 I 
 
 : M 
 
 ' V 
 
 34 
 
 rnrrfisponderice, but that it is distinctly understood that in such cases, 
 /, by no means claim the riirht to exact that you should preserve 
 silence as to the contents of that correspondence, that on the contrary 
 you hare full liberty to exercise in this respect a judicious discretion 
 as well ill your own interest as in that of the party to which yon 
 belong. 
 
 Maiich 19tii. — Letter from Mr. Draper in answer to the preceding", in which 
 he complains stron^jly of his loiters having been transmitted to third 
 persons without his consent. 
 
 March 19th. — Letter from ^Ir Caron to Mr. Draper, informing him that some 
 of his letters and of Mr. Caron ''s letters had been sent to the friends 
 "whom the latter had consnlted, saying that he had considered this 
 mode of conmmnication the easiest, owiiiij to his residing at a dis- 
 tance, and adding that he does not know what nse they will make 
 of them; but that he thinks it his duty to give him this notice, in 
 order that, in the event of these letters being made public, he (Mr. 
 Draper) may know how and why they have gone out of his (Mr. 
 Caron's) hands. 
 
 March 22xd. — Note from Mr. Lafontaine, left at Mr. Caron's lodgings late in 
 the evening, with an abstract prepared by Mr. Lafontaine, contain- 
 ing the summary of Mr. Caron's two letters, dated the 7th and Sth of 
 September^; the note saying that he (Mr. Lafontaine) had come to 
 read this abstract with Mr. Caron ; that not finding hin|^ he left it for 
 him, and begging him to return it to him, if it suited, early on the 
 foUoxdng morning, and adding that the form adopted appeared to 
 him the best 
 
 Ai'Rii- 6: 
 
 Ai'Kii. 6r 
 
 (I' 
 
 ■^^B 
 
 I ' t 
 
 ii' ) ' 
 
 March 23RD.-'Letter from Mr. Caron to Mr. Lafontaine ; his abstract is 
 returned to him with a remark that it does not please at all ; it is 
 added, that if in virtue of the _;U(//c/o?«.9 discretion \\\?it it has been 
 admitted he has a right to exercise in the possible cases in which he 
 might be called upon to speak, ^-c. ho thought proper to publish the 
 correspondence, Mr. Caron preferred its being published as it had 
 been written, but intimating his wish that certain parts of these 
 letters should be Avithheld from publication, not because he thought 
 he hiid written what was not true, but because all truths are not to be 
 spoken at all times. 
 
 At this period the newspapers announced that the IVFombers of 
 the House of Assembly, supporting the administration had met to- 
 gether ; that the correspondence hail been communicated and ex- 
 plained to them ; that there had also been a meeting of the Members 
 of the opposition at v.hich the letters in Mr. Laiontain's possession had 
 been read ; in these same newspapers there were reports on the sub- 
 ject more or less false and ridiculous, and things were represented 
 generally quite different from what they really were ; for these rea- 
 &ons Mr. Caron, who was the only one of all the parlies in possession 
 of all the papers composing this correspondence, thought, that in jus- 
 tice to himself and for the interest of all those who had taken part in 
 it he ought to publish it entire, and whh this view on 
 
 Aprii, 5th. — Ho wrote to Mr. Lafontaine a note requesting him to send him the 
 copies of his letters of the 7th and Sth September, the copies which 
 he had not being altogether correct, no*- agreeing with those in tho 
 
 Al'KlL 6i 
 
 Apr'L Gi 
 
 A run. 7] 
 
t)j such casc.f, 
 loiild preserve 
 n the cnnlraTy 
 ions (h'screlion 
 y to which yoii 
 
 ina\ in whioh 
 quitted to tliinl 
 
 liim that sorao 
 t to the tViends 
 onsicioroil this 
 si(linf]f at a dis- 
 ley will mako 
 this notice, in 
 iiMie, he (ATr. 
 3Ut of his (Mr.' 
 
 odirinrfs late in 
 taine, contain- 
 ; 7th and Sth of 
 ?) had come to 
 n\, he left it ibr 
 , early oii the 
 ted appeared to 
 
 his abstract if! 
 a«e at all ; it is 
 at it has been 
 fes in which he 
 r to publish the 
 lished as it had 
 
 parts of these 
 ause he thought 
 hs are not to be 
 
 le jNTembers of 
 ion had met to- 
 il icaled and e\- 
 )f the Members 
 s possession had 
 ■oits on the sub- 
 ere repress entod 
 ; for these rea- 
 es in possession 
 ight, that in jus- 
 ad taken part in 
 
 to send him the 
 10 copies which 
 ith those in tho 
 
 35 
 
 hands of Mr. Lafontaine, who sent him copies of tiiese letters 
 immediately, without comment. 
 
 Mr. Caron knowinir that he ought not to publish without tho sane- 
 tion of the other parties to the correspondence wrote to Mr. J.afontaiiie, 
 not to usk his consent to a publication, which lie has been recpiestiuir 
 a long time, but upo)i retnrninsjf the papers which lie hud lent to him, 
 Mr. Oaron addressed to him his letter of 
 
 April Gtii, informing him, that owing to the new circumstances which had 
 since occurred, he had determined to elh;ct in his own name the desired 
 publication. Mr. Caron adds that he does not ask for his consent 
 or that of Mr. INTorin, because he knows their opinion on the matter, 
 says that he will take care to omit such notes as are of a private and 
 friendly nature, unless Mr. Lafontaine wishes the contrary, and Mr. 
 Caron submits to Mr. Lafontaine the propriety of leaving out of his 
 iirst letter (Mr. Lafontaine's letter of the 10th Sept.) the names of 
 several very lespectable ])ersons who are named in that letter without 
 much necessity, and for whom it would be unpleasant to be so brought 
 Ixifore the public. 
 
 Ai'Hii. Grit. — Letter from Mr. Lafontaine in answer to the above — .says that the 
 letter just received from Mr. Caron, relieves him from a great embarrass- 
 ment ; the correspondence seems to him more than ever of apublic j)ar- 
 liamentai-y nature; saw with much regrkt that Mr. Caron, uflate, had 
 considered it on a differeiit point of view ; if he had hitherto deferred 
 to Mr. CarorCs way' of viewing the matter^ notwithstanding all that 
 had taken place in Parliament and elsewhere^ among the friends of 
 the parly to whom he {Mr. Lafontaine) behmged, it is upon that 
 point that he would not hesitate one moment to refer to himself (Mr. 
 (_'aron). Mr. Lafontaine adds that Mr. Caron, now admits the principle 
 upon which he (Mr. Lafontahie) had intended to act ; that Mr. Caron 
 argues even on his right to do so independently of himself right that 
 Mr. Lafontaine does not deny to Mr. Caron. Mr, Lafontaine is" in con- 
 .sequence of opinion that it is useless to multijjly the details as to the 
 maimer in which Mr. Caron might give effect to his maimer of seeing 
 it, Mr. Lafontaine, leaving M. Caron entirely free, he (Mr. Lafontaine,) 
 notes the fact that he, Mr. Lafontaine, upon Mr. Caron's own acknow- 
 ledgement, becomes free on liis side, if he, Mr. Lafontaine, had nut 
 already been bo. 
 
 April Gtii. — Letter to Mr. Draper, specifying the reasons which Mr. Caron has 
 for publishing the letters. Mr. Caron, hopes that Mr. Draper, will be 
 of Ms opinion, and that he will not refuse his assent to the publication. 
 
 April 6tii. — Letter from Mr. Draper, says that Mr. Lafontaine has given notice 
 in the House, that on the day following he would read the corres- 
 pondence ; says that for that reason, the consent asked for is no lon- 
 ger required, but asks for liimself, (Mr. Draper,) Mr. Caron's leave to 
 publish such part of the correspondence as Mr. Lafontaine, could not 
 or would not publish, and also to contradict a report in circulation to 
 the elfect, that Mr. Lafontaine's letters had been sent to Mr. Draper, 
 and that he (Mr. Draper,) had answered them. 
 
 April 7rn. — Letter to Mr. Draper, in answer to the foregoing. Mr. Caron, 
 informs him that tho day previous he wrote to Mr. Lafontaine, to let 
 .him know that he (Mr. Caron,) was determined to publish, that from 
 
36 
 
 a nolo ruceivfd from Mr. Laforitaiiie, (of the 6th Marc^^) it would 
 beein thut tliat i4'eiitlemau had taken tlie irilbrmalion as a permisdion to 
 pubU.sh liimseli' such part of the corresiiondence as was in liis posses- 
 siou ; that it Avas prol)ably for that reason that Mr. Lafoiitaine, had 
 jfiveii the notice iu question, and Mr. Caron, informed Mr. Draper, 
 that ho participated ia nowise to that proceediuff. In reference to 
 what Mr. Urapiu' hail said tliat ho knew not what part of tlie corres- 
 pondence was in Mr. J^afontaine's possession, Mr. Caron, gives a list of 
 the papers which he believes to be in Mr. Lafontaine's hands, and 
 grants to Mr. Draper the authority required. 
 
 ApiUJL 7x11. — Letter of Mr. Caron to Mr. Lafontaine, acknowledging the receipt 
 
 of his letter of the day previous, protesting against the interpretation 
 
 ' he ffives to Mr. Caron's letter of the same date, and tells him that he 
 
 Mr. Lafontaine hag taken acte of an imaginary avowal contained 
 
 iu Mr. Caron's letter. 
 
 ,11 ' 
 
 .•*-r ■ 
 
1 
 
 xc\\,) it would 
 
 permission to 
 
 in his posses- 
 
 afontaine, had 
 
 I Mr. Draper, 
 
 II refereiK'.e to 
 , of tlie corres- 
 , gives a list of 
 e's hands, and 
 
 ng the receipt 
 
 interpretation 
 
 ;s him that he 
 
 wal contained