BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

320
CHARLES MACKENZIE
no country more than in Great Britain. I doubt not
but the two thirds of these are sincere, while, most
certainly, the one third are interested from thirst of
selfish gain.
" The Natives of Africa and Asia may well suppose
that there is not a single heathen under either Great
Britain or America, seeing so many missionaries and
the zeal of these countries. It would surprise them to
be told that there is a country under the British Government
for upwards of 200 years, and a people with
whom they carryon commerce and susceptible of every
improvement, and yet no attempt· was ever made to
preach the Gospel among them. Nay, they are more
degraded and degenerated than when the first European
set his foot on American soil, the epoch of the setting
Sun of its native inhabitants.
" There is every appearance of the quick extinction
of the North American Indians, but no distant hope of
improving their mind ............................ .
" They think" (in England) " that being, as they
say, "under the protection of the British Government"
is enough.-What, in thE'! name of Goodness, is that
protection the British Government ever afforded the
Natives of this country? Has not the British Government
sold them to a monopoly? "
Mr. MacKenzie had considerable literary tastes and
devoted most of his long and dreary leisure hours to