+ Bib World 54:315 My ’20 300w Booklist 16:258 My ’20 Nation 111:482 O 27 ’20 390w
MORISON, JOHN LYLE. British supremacy and Canadian self-government, 1839–1854. *$2.50 Oxford 342.71
“In ‘British supremacy and Canadian self-government, 1839–54,’ Professor J. L. Morison of Queen’s university, Kingston, Canada, makes an interesting study of the manner in which imperial ascendancy and colonial autonomy were reconciled in the years of early Victorian Canada. He emphasizes the thought that the evolution of colonial Canada into a self-governing dominion was the wisest and best solution of the great problem that confronted the British and Canadian statesmen; through it, he holds, there was great gain to all concerned—gain to the empire as well as to the people across the Atlantic. That it caused no weakening of the tie between the mother country and the daughter land was demonstrated, we are reminded, by the magnificent conduct of Canada in the great war with Germany.”—N Y Times
“The volume is indeed thrice blest; it is felicitous in expression, scholarly in treatment, and broad-minded in its interpretation of public affairs. Notwithstanding its limitations, this volume easily stands out as the best contribution to Canadian history in recent years.” C. D. Allin
+ − Am Hist R 25:531 Ap ’20 900w Ath p963 S 26 ’19 140w
“By far the most important contribution of the volume is the series of vitally human studies of the four Canadian governors-general from 1839 to 1854—Sydenham, Bagot, Metcalfe, and Elgin. Apart from the personal equipment of the author in scholarly training, fair-mindedness, absence of racial prejudice, and attractive literary style, his work has the great advantage of a first-hand study of documents, hitherto unavailable, or but slightly employed by writers on Canadian history. The closing chapter, The consequences of Canadian autonomy, is much the least satisfactory.” Adam Shortt
+ − Canadian Hist R n s 1:77 Mr ’20 1450w
“In thanking Dr Morison for a very able and stimulating volume one may be allowed to enter a caveat against the attitude of somewhat contemptuous superiority assumed towards past statesmen.” H. E. Egerton
+ − Eng Hist R 35:145 Ja ’20 1000w + N Y Times 25:254 My 16 ’20 160w