Volume 1 - Electric Scotland

THE CANADA COMPANY. 465
He writes a few months later :
You have heard what has happened in the Canada Company.
The capital is not forthcoming, and the actual shareholders have
intimated the fact to Government. Towards me there has been
for upwards of twelve months the most annoying conduct, all
about which you will in due time hear. About the beginning
of November I intimated my intention of coming home for ex-
planations, after having tendered my resignation, which unfortunately
was withheld by the Governor of the Company, and
the immediate cause of disgust softened. But the true state of
money matters will show that another cause than my alleged
obstinacy was working to the effect which has now taken place.
My stay in London and on this side of the Atlantic will not
perhaps be longer than three or four months. I should like,
therefore, to go to press at once here with * My Landlady.' It
will be about the size of the ' Lairds.' As I mentioned, it is
nearly finished; but unfortunately, owing to my winding up
of the Company's concerns during the last four months, I had
not time to get it copied. I have also brought with me a mass
of documents and notes for an account of the Upper Canadas,
chiefly of the statistical kind, calculated to be useful to emi-
grants, and of this I intend to make a small cheap volume ; but
I apprehend it must be a London publication, as many of the
tables and values will require a very careful revision with the
vouchers in the Canada House.
With respect to the ' Landlady,' I leave the price to yourself;
but under the circumstances in which the Company stands, and
until my accounts are passed, I shall be as much in want of
money as ever.
The next letter, written after his return home, shows
not only the misfortunes that dogged his steps, but a
wistful fear lest the expedient which his necessities
compelled him to resort to might lose him the confi-
dence of his steady and constant friend. The book
referred to was, I believe, ' Ringan Gilhaize,' one of
his least successful works.
—
VOL. I. 2 G