The government of the United States is not a cheap government, because all officers being elective by the people, the responsibility of the selections to office is divided and weakened.  Moreover, the change or prospect of the electors being the elected inclines them to put up with abuses and defalcations which would be considered intolerable under another form of government.  The British Government now holds the best security for the continued loyalty of the people of Canada, in their increasing prosperity.  To Great Britain they are bound by the strongest ties of duty and interest; and nothing but the basest ingratitude or absolute infatuation can ever tempt them to transfer their allegiance to another country.

I shall conclude this chapter with a few verses written two years ago, and which were suggested by an indignant feeling at the cold manner with which the National Anthem was received by some persons who used to be loud in their professions of loyalty on former public occasions.  Happily, this wayward and pettish, I will not call it disloyal spirit, has passed away, and most of the “Annexationists” are now heartily ashamed of their conduct.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

God save the Queen.  The time has been
When these charmed words, or said or sung,
Have through the welkin proudly rung;
And, heads uncovered, every tongue
Has echoed back—­“God save the Queen!”
God save the Queen!

It was not like the feeble cry
That slaves might raise as tyrants pass’d,
With trembling knees and hearts downcast,
While dungeoned victims breathed their last
In mingled groans of agony! 
God save the Queen!

Nor were these shouts without the will,
Which servile crowds oft send on high,
When gold and jewels meet the eye,
When pride looks down on poverty. 
And makes the poor man poorer still! 
God save the Queen!

No!—­it was like the thrilling shout—­
The joyous sounds of price and praise
That patriot hearts are wont to raise,
’Mid cannon’s roar and bonfires blaze,
When Britain’s foes are put to rout—­
God save the Queen!

For ’mid those sounds, to Britons dear,
No dastard selfish thoughts intrude
To mar a nation’s gratitude: 
But one soul moves that multitude—­
To sing in accents loud and clear—­
God save the Queen!

Such sounds as these in days of yore,
On war-ship’s deck and battle plain,
Have rung o’er heaps of foemen slain—­
And with God’s help they’ll ring again,
When warriors’ blood shall flow no more,
God save the Queen!

God save the Queen! let patriots cry;
And palsied be the impious hand
Would guide the pen, or wield the brand,
Against our glorious Fatherland. 
Let shouts of freemen rend the sky,
God save the Queen!—­and Liberty!

Reader! my task is ended.