Page "Alexander Mackenzie" Paragraph 6

It was unusual for a man of Mackenzie's humble origins to attain such a position in an age which generally offered such opportunity only to the privileged.

Lord Dufferin, the current Governor General, expressed early misgivings about a stonemason taking over government.

But on meeting Mackenzie, Dufferin revised his opinions: " However narrow and inexperienced Mackenzie may be, I imagine he is a thoroughly upright, well-principled, and well-meaning man.