Page:Letter from L. J. Papineau and J. Neilson, Esqs., Addressed to His Majesty's Under Secretary of State on the Subject of the Proposed Union of the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada.djvu/8

 on the part of those immediately concerned in its enactments, than the present. The population of Lower Canada is estimated at 500,000; that of Upper Canada at 120,000. The number of men from sixteen to sixty, in both Provinces, is about 100,000; and of these about 70,000 have actually petitioned against the measure in any shape. If a few individuals have petitioned in its favour, it must be recollected, that no person in either colony ever publicly proposed or supported such a measure, or even perceived the evils which they now pretend to exist, and render this measure necessary, till such time as they had notice of the present Bill being before Parliament. If it has received any countenance from unprejudiced and disinterested persons, permanently connected with the Colonies, it is more owing to its being supposed a Government measure, than from their opinion of its merits. The examination of the signatures to the Petitions of both Provinces will show, that the opposition to the measure is not confined to any one description of subjects, but that it extends to all; and we have the honour to assure you, from our own knowledge and certain information, that by far the greater portion of these Petitioners are independent proprietors of the soil, and that they amount to a great majority of the Electors duly qualified by law in the two Provinces.

Every person in the Canadas readily acknowledges,