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 almost idle; that importing ships coming to Montreal were without their usual full freight; that the principal importations into Western Canada were effected through the United States; and that the trade of the city of Montreal was in consequence rapidly decreasing. On the other hand, they observed the greatly-increasing consumption and importation into their country of articles formerly imported wholly through that port. Hence they inferred, that the opening of Canadian sea-ports to vessels of all nations, with permission to send colonial produce to England in any vessels, as well as the opening the River St. Lawrence above Quebec to Americans, would probably restore trade to its original channel, and increase the commerce and revenues of Canada beyond precedent.

Such were the hopes entertained by the Canadians of a modification in the restrictive system. But even the boldest of their Free-traders shrunk for a time from the notion of an unconditional surrender of the natural advantages the navigation of the St. Lawrence conferred upon Canada. Hence they proposed to themselves to reserve their full rights, and confined their advocacy to such changes in the law relating to navigating the St. Lawrence above Quebec as would enable them to make terms with the Americans. They had then no idea of throwing open to foreigners generally the use of their great rivers without an ample equivalent: they contented themselves with asking for powers from the Imperial Legislature to enable them to negotiate from time to time on the subject, and to make the navigation of the river a matter of treaty and regulation; preserving their own sovereignty,