In 1829 John Galt was ready to leave Canada and return to Britain to face questions from the directors of the Canada Company who were dissatisfied with his running of the Company.
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| John Galt founder of the Canada Company. |
The people of Guelph, the town he had successfully founded just two years previously showed their support for him shortly before his departure. It was signed by 144 heads of families. It read -
"Sir – We, the undersigned inhabitants of the town and
township of Guelph, learning that you are about to leave us, beg to express our
sincere regret, that we should be deprived of your presence, and the
satisfaction and pleasure it has ever afforded us. We trust and hope, that your absence from
amongst us will not be of long duration and that you will accomplish the
objects of your journey, whatever that might be.
We would wish to express
to you the obligations which you have conferred upon us, in the
prosperity which had flowed upon us ever since we became united with you and
the Canada Company – many of us having come here in dependent circumstances,
who are now in fair way to became independent, and all having improved their
circumstances under your fostering care.
By the measures you have adopted, over lands in many instances, have in
the space of eighteen months doubled or tripled their value, and we do not look
on our obligations as the less, that the Canada Company has shared in the
advantage.
You have set an example to the province in the formation of
proper roads and bridges, and showed by what means the progress of the
settlement of the colony can be accelerated a hundredfold, by your measures,
which have created this town and township.
Finally, we beg you to accept of our best wishes for your happiness and
prosperity whatever you may be, and we request you to thank the Canada Company
for all the benefits they have conferred on us, and the greatest of these we
consider their having sent you amongst us."
Unfortunately John Galt did not ever return to Canada despite this wonderful recognition of what he had achieved in the short time he had been there. On his return to Britain, money problems and bad health stopped him from travelling abroad. He continued to write and published several novels and articles for various publications. He died in Greenock in 1839. However his three sons all settled in Canada and contributed to the success of that country.
