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 irowT. FR^jrci 
 
 MONTREAL: 
 
 SATURDAY MORNING, OCT. 24, J 846. 
 
 [From the Long Point Advocate.] 
 
 On Tuesday, the ISlh inBtunt. the Liberal 
 Member* of the Bkock Dimtbict Council and 
 a few of their frieudi, entertained the Hon. 
 FfiANCis HiMCKS, the late Representative of the 
 County of Oxford, at a Public Dinner at the 
 Royal Oak Tavern, Woodstock. The day 
 I'M unfortunately very unfavourable, which 
 prevented the attendance of a number of gen- 
 tlemen from remote parts of the country. 
 
 About fi o'clock,?. M.,the Chair was tnken 
 by Wm. Carroll, Esq., District Councillor of 
 JJorwich ; the Vice (Jhairmen were Eliakiin 
 Malcolm, Esq , District Councillor of Oakland, 
 and Charles Chadwick, Esq., District Council- 
 lor Df Dereham. Mr. Hincks sat on the right 
 of fiie Chairman, and Jared Vining, E»q., Dis- 
 trict Councillor of Nissouri, the Senior Mem- 
 ber of the Council on his left. 
 
 Ailerdoing justice to an excellent dinner, 
 provided by Mr. Hill, the CImirman rose to 
 propose the health of the Queen. 
 
 He said he thought he could propose that 
 Toast with great propriety. He had been, he 
 might say, bom a Loyalist. His father was 
 one of eight brothers who had emigrated to 
 the United States before the Revolution. — 
 Whtn the war broke out his father v/as the 
 otdy one of the eight that adhered to the British 
 Crown (cheers.) He had afterwards emigrated 
 to New Brunswisk, where he (the Chairman) 
 wu born. His father had served in the British 
 Qrmy, and he (the Chairman had do.ne so like- 
 wise, (applat'se) and he had imbibed principles 
 of loyalty from his earliest youth. (Loud 
 cheers.) He felt assured that the health of 
 the Queen would be heartily responded to. 
 
 1st. The Queek. 
 
 The next regular toast was prefaced by the 
 Cheirman with a few appropriate remarks, and 
 honoured with the respect due to the consort ol 
 our beloved sovereign. 
 
 9nd. Pkimck Albert and the Royal Fa- 
 hilt. 
 
 3rd. The Governor General. 
 
 In proposing this Toast the Chairman said, 
 he knew little of the Governor General, but he 
 believed he was an old soldier, and as such lie 
 respected him,BB well as on account of his being 
 the Represen'ative of his Sovereign. He (the 
 Chairman) was himself an old soldier, having 
 ■erved throuehnut the lest war, and having been 
 in every engagement on the frontier. ; 
 
 Atli Tug PgnfLR — the only true source of 
 lei^tmate power.^ ' ^ 
 
 The Chairman had now to propose the toast 
 of the evening ; Our Guest, the Hon. Francis 
 HiHCES, whose presence among us after a lonr 
 absence, was most cordially welcome. (Great 
 applause.) When, said the Chairman, it be- 
 came known that Mr. Hincks was in Upper 
 Canada, the Council of the District happening 
 to be in session, the Reform members thereof 
 determined upon inviting him to accept a public 
 dinner at W^^odstock. 1 he time fouirt-'paratioii 
 
 of 'he last three year*, and to compare the 
 conduct of our Ministers with that of Eng'ish 
 (■talesmen. Twice within the past year has 
 Mr. Draper, by making overtures to the lead- 
 ing members of the Opposition, virtually ac- 
 knowledged that his administration Uoes not 
 enjoy a sufficient amount of public confidence, j 
 At this moinunt the Ministry lb virtually dis- | 
 organized. One member resi}»i.ed several | 
 months ago and his place Ims not been filled j 
 up, although it has been oflered lo a membrro." 
 the Opposition, r.nd has hpeii by him refused. I 
 (Cheers.) Mr. .Secretary Daly made arrange- 
 ments several montiis since to receive llie 
 vacant office of Civil SecreUiry, which has 
 been conducted by a clerk since Mr. Higgiii- 
 son's departure, merely to f uil the convenience 
 of the Ministry. Mr. Papineau, aftur an ab- 
 sence of months, has returned to his office, 
 althougii he only holds it until it is convenient 
 to appoint a successor. Compare these pro- 
 ceedings with English practice. When Sir 
 Robert Peel resigned previous to the last se.s- 
 sion of Parliament, Lord John Russell was 
 called on to form an administration. He e.\- 
 perienced difficulties from want of co-operation 
 among his friends, &. he iminciljately abandoned 
 the task, and his opponent was reinstated. He 
 did net attempt to conduct the busine.ss of the 
 country with an incomplete Cabinet, nor wonld 
 he have been suffered to do so. But here.gentle- 
 n\en, we have during the last three years had a 
 Ministry whose whole conduct is a practical 
 violation of P sponsible Goverrment — which 
 introduces measures to Parliament only to 
 abandon them, and which is unable to carry 
 out the policy of the party by which it has been 
 placed in power. We have in tlie circumstances 
 attending a late appointment which has caused 
 some discussion, proof positive that the practice 
 of the presentCovernnient is not dissimilar from 
 that of Lord Metcalfe. Sir Allan M'Nab applied 
 personally to the Governor for the appointment 
 of a deputy. He was authorised to write to 
 his friend with an offer of the appointment and 
 iheMinis'.ers afterwards corapelledtheGovernor 
 to retract his promi8e,tlu.s bringing theGovern- 
 ment of the country into contempt with the pub. 
 lie. 1 need not however prosecute this sub- 
 ject. Responsible Government will never bo 
 carried out honestly by men who are at heart 
 oppoi^ed lo it, and whose real object is to induce 
 a belief that its working is inipraelicable. 
 The remedy is with the people alone. They 
 alone are responsible for the picscnt state of 
 afiUirs, and they will do well instead of expect- 
 ing relief from a change of (iovernor8,tooxert 
 themselves to secure a Vtter representation. 
 'T*^^ ^^ !'>:;* "'Ci :;;:i!?t rrif!V!t!Cf> the niihiic th".t 
 our objects are bucIi v-a oueIu to eniltip xm to 
 their support. Tt>e present is a most favoura- 
 ble opportunity for doing so. Party spirit has 
 in a great degree suknided and the public at 
 large are enquiring calmly as to the views of 
 public men. It is singular eni'Ugh that at this 
 crisis the most promint-nt question before me 
 public is one calculated to unite in it» advocacy 
 many who have formerly bopii opposed to each 
 other, but whose inlen-Hts with respect to this 
 are identictilly t]i'^ same. I mean the 
 
 Assessment Bill had also been denounced 
 the last eleakion. Ynu will all recollect t1 
 cry ab<vjt board fences, fruit trees, &c., bit 
 when the present Ministry introduced a bil 
 upon the subject, the very same principle hai 
 been adopted of assessing according i^; Value 
 True, the assessment of personal property wal 
 not provided for, the whole taxation being 
 thrown upon the owners of real property, who 
 are the farraert. I have perhaps already tres- 
 passed too long on the patience of my friendf. 
 (Cries no, no, go on, go on), but ( conceive it 
 incumbent upon nie to refer to one or two sub- 
 jects of a personal character, and 1 will endei- 
 vonr to be as brief as possible. Most of tlio^e 
 present have heard of the Rev. Mr. Burns, wlo 
 paid a visit to this part of the province & hu^ 
 caused some excitement. It is not my intentlcn 
 to say anylhinjidisrespectfnl of that genllemap 
 now, nor have I ever dune so. I disapprovel 
 of his proceedings believing them calculated 'o 
 excite dissension among the people, and 1 
 fearlessly expressed this opinion, nor can I now 
 retract it. I will state facts, ^ir. Burns came 
 to Montreal, a stranger, and almost immedi- 
 ately commenced prraching in the streets, his 
 object being to convert the Roman Catholics. 
 He spoke oftlie religion of the great majority 
 of the people of Montreal in terms which led 
 to violence, and the end of it was, some two 
 thousand persons assembled in the streets of 
 the city with arms in their hands to shed one 
 another's blood. Such was the stale of feeling 
 caused by Mr. Burns' preaching. If that 
 gentleman wore right then ail llie other clergy 
 oftlie province were wrong, inasmuch as none 
 of them had pursued a similar course, and 
 Mr. Burns himself, by abandoning the field, 
 has virtually admitted that he was in error. — 
 There is another subject upon which I 
 desire to make some explanation. I allude 
 to what has been termed the Jesuit Contro- 
 versy. Now all I desire to do on the present 
 occasion is lo make a plain statement of facts. 
 I will not revive old controversies, nor do I 
 wi.=h to impute blame to any one who has 
 differed from me ; bull certainly mu.stsay that 
 niy views have been wholly misunderstood. — 
 The origin of the dispute v.as a statement made 
 by the Rev. Mr. Wilkes at New York lo the 
 effect that great ignorance prevailed airong the 
 people of Lower Canada, and that this was 
 caused by the influence of the Catholic Ciergy 
 against education. I, connected as I was with 
 a press which was the organ of Catfiolics as 
 well as Protesi.iius, fell it my duty to correct 
 what I believe to be a misstaienie«it. It was 
 not a fact that the Catholic, Clergy had opposed 
 education ; "'> 'fie rpiii^ry. the edncjitieiiftl in 
 ^iiiJt>..no\^ri.>utV«rOae«<la.'«re-i>igniy or<i<iit..:.:o 
 to those who have established them. At their 
 colleges an excellent classical educaiion, with 
 board, is provided fo> less than £itO a year. I 
 will not pursue the subject, but will just read 
 an cAiidct or two from papers vv-hich all will 
 Rdmit to be good authority. The first, strange 
 to say, is from the Banner. That print, on a 
 recent occasion, said : " the Church of Rome, 
 wbi^iih wa.s wont to dread education, atid the 
 iliurch of England, which habitually neglected 
 
 matter broi 
 OJtairinan, 
 j^ttmstan 
 
 • W: 'V>IL0A 
 
 ■ oite.' (Q 
 
 aid Mr H 
 
 men will re 
 
 iseucd whe 
 
 ,^'oiinly. ( 
 
 j vere repn 
 
 I 'ew one \\ 
 
 > lanie wis 
 
 I •'hat sort ( 
 
 iithrr party 
 
 ^■lore comp 
 
 »wii friend 
 
 .1' ask n 
 
 i Jtx ord wht 
 
 j ilhcr have 
 
 Ji3 i3 gent 
 
 I lace.l in tl 
 
 I ho have L 
 
 ' iii)od,one w 
 
 Cuirimissi 
 
 •ivirliioked 
 
 I |.ioiig mer 
 
 n piuch s 
 
 ,ro?|erity c 
 
 , i)ii3n,i8lranj 
 
 q;iaii;tcd, ui 
 
 t»v» In lli£ 
 
 l.>or.) In 
 
 .-cvinil resf 
 
 ilil| had d 
 
 infi:t such 
 
 'i^id. (He 
 
 I/|sh to 
 
 ■igimrlhij 
 
 l\av( been « 
 I kii.ii* him 
 lorcer, anc 
 i.('()iiri;d a 
 |( siec.ted hi 
 III he con 
 i( 'lifers.) 
 ii'j i^eni'rab 
 «iil Tha 
 (; ife Dititr 
 tl' ivbom til 
 
 U iil liOW f 
 i'KiOl.L Es 
 
 t:.,l [The 
 !, ■'i loud I 
 Tie Ciii! 
 ill; honour 
 w 13 II it in^ 
 111 IS .' nd li( 
 
 iTKipyiB » 
 
 . Wpieii liy ll 
 wfirds in re 
 n*inter ol 
 X^j oiccte 
 li»titiilioiis 
 I li)Ui:h e 
 lilicv;d the 
 iiip iivprov 
 iif Ik'I? re 
 
 lief that lis working 
 
IF 
 
 ^/ 
 
 ilM 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Wf JTCrJi^ HIJTCMS, 
 
 Iso been denounced 
 I will all recollect tl 
 s, fruit trees, &c., bd 
 inistry introduced • b 
 ;«ry Httine principle hi 
 iing according u; value 
 [)r personal property wal 
 
 wbole taxation being 
 ?r8 of real property, who 
 tve perhaps already Ires- 
 patience ot my frieiidf. 
 ) on), but ( conceive it 
 
 refer to one ortwosuk- 
 ucter, and 1 will endei- 
 pofsible. Mostoftliuje 
 he Rev. Mr. Burns, wlo 
 ; of the province & li;i^ 
 It. It is not my intentkn 
 lectful of that genllemari 
 June so. I diHapprovel 
 eving them calculated 'o 
 ong the people, and 1 
 is opinion, nor can I now 
 facts, ^lr. Burns came 
 er, and almost immedi- 
 ching in ihe streets, his 
 t the Roman Catholics, 
 on of the great majority 
 sal in terms which led 
 nd of it waa, some two 
 'mbled in the streets of 
 
 their hands to shed one 
 I was the state of feeling 
 is' preaching. If that 
 then ail llie other clergy 
 i'rong, iiia^^much as none 
 
 a similar course, and 
 y abandoning the field, 
 
 that he was in error. — 
 ubject upon which I 
 explanation. I allude 
 ined the Jesuit Conlro- 
 ire to do on the present 
 plain statement of fncts, 
 
 controversies, nor do 1 
 : to any one who has 
 1 certainly must say that 
 wholly misunderstood. — 
 te v,as a statement made 
 03 at New York to the 
 ince prevailed airong the 
 ada, and that this was 
 e of the Hatholic Clergy 
 connected as I was wiili 
 1! organ of Catholics as 
 !ll it my duty to correct 
 i niisstaienie<it. It was 
 10 Hi; Clergy b«d opposed 
 
 rary. Ihe eoocntlftiifi I ir; 
 aila'are-nigniy orMit,.L.;o 
 iblished them. At Iheir 
 lassical education, with 
 less than £<iQ a year. I 
 )iect, but willjuHt read 
 n papers which all will 
 rity. The lirst, strange 
 nncr. 'I'hat print, on a 
 " the Church of Rome, 
 read education, and the 
 ich habitually neglected 
 
 matter brought be|v« them by our worthy 
 ONairinan, aner puiVntly investigating all the 
 ■J^ttiBBtanc^a, susiainep the estimates of 
 (• B: V>ii,0AT0K9, there being but one dissenting 
 ' oite." (Great cheering.) One topic more 
 aid Mr Hincks, and I have done. Gentle- 
 men will recollect the Commission of the Peace 
 issued when I had the honor to represent this 
 /..'onnty. On that commission both parties 
 j vere represented — (clieere) — but when the 
 I lew one x^as framed, not a single Reformer's 
 > lanio WIS adu3d to it. (Hear, hear) And 
 I ''hHt sort of selections were made from the 
 iither party ? I can truly say that 1 have heard 
 ^■lore complaints apaiiist Mr. Riddoll, from his 
 'wwii friends than from mine. (Clieers.) I 
 .1' ask tny friend on my right from West 
 i Jt.ic ord whether the Reformers w(uild not much 
 j itlicr have had such a n'an as Mr. Holcroft, 
 Jij is generally respected by his neighbours, 
 ] laceJ in the Commission than most of those 
 I lio have been appointed ? In this neighbour- 
 ' lioodjone would suppose that a person naming 
 Cuirimission of the Peace could scarcely have 
 •ivirliioked Mr. Finkle, one of the most enter- 
 I |iioiig men in the District, and who has done 
 n iuuch as any other man to edvance the 
 ,ro?|erity of Woodstock. Out instead of such 
 , iiii3n,i8trangers, with whose names I am unac- 
 ();iftii;ted, and who have only been a year or 
 1 tivo in Ihe (Jounty, were selected. (Hear, 
 l.}cr.) In Norwich I have been asked by 
 .-cviral respectable farmers, what their town- 
 ilil| had (lone to cause the Government to 
 iiifl:t such a magistrate upon it as John A. 
 'I''id;. (Hear, hear, hear.) Before concluding 
 I/ish to propose a toast. I will give you : 
 ', ^worthy Chairman and the Bnick District 
 Vi^ici'/. (Loud cheers,) 'J"he (Jliairman I 
 liav( been actjuainted with for many years, and 
 I kii.tj» him to be a consistent and zealous Re- 
 lufcer, and one who by h;s own industry, has 
 i.('(jiiri;d a valuable property. He is highly 
 |( s|ei',ted here and was equally so in that part 
 I.! he country where he formerly resided, 
 it'iieers.) I observe with much pleasure that 
 ii'j ;enc?rable fiiend, Mr. V'iniiig, is also pre- 
 pfiil That gentleman is the senior Councillor 
 (I tie District, and one of tliise early settlers 
 tl' ivbom the country is so much indebted. I 
 uiiliiow propose tub Ciiaihman, William 
 i'KioLL Esq., and the Brock District <.\.us- 
 t:..l [The Hon. genllem;in resumed his seat 
 !. ^li loud and continued cheering.] 
 
 i'le CiiAiHiUAN briefly returned thanks for 
 til; honour which had been done him. He 
 w 13 II >t in^tlie habit of attending I'vblic Din- 
 ih IS rnd he felt l iiinself umble to do juetice to 
 «ar^jri|^no'*lYHHHHino^od !\i^ uresep.t duty on 
 fiKl pyie had, howevriiduifu iiis l)eHl (clilTi-iH.) 
 Yljr; ViNiNG said, as his name had been nieii- 
 t^ieJ by their hon. guest, he would say a few 
 wprds in reply to the toast. He was the oldest 
 n*inter ot the Brock District Council, having 
 b|e^ elected on the establishinent ol Municipil 
 I|»titiilions in the Province. He consequently 
 I iiniidi experience of their working, ami he 
 I4licv!d they were well calculated to promote 
 lip iivprovement of the country. He could 
 iif Ik'I? reminding them of the pxerliniis of 
 
 would be multiplied by teo. (Loud cheers.) 
 He (Mr. C.) entertained no dbubt of the re 
 suit of the next election, and he trusted that an 
 opportunity would soon be alTorded there of 
 giving expression to their feelings — 
 
 8- The Hon. Robert Baldwin, and our fellow 
 Reformers ia other parts of Western Canndn, — 
 The Hon. L. H. L.M ONTAINE, and the Reformers 
 of the Eastern section of the Province — may the 
 union so linppily existing between them be long 
 continued. (Protracted ciieering.) 
 
 Mr. Hi.NOKS returned Ids sincere thank.s on be- 
 half olthe gentlemen vylioae names liadbeen as- 
 sociated with this toast, anil who, he could assure 
 his IViend.s, would leel much gratilied at the coin- 
 [iliinent paid to them. Ho then enlnrrjed on the 
 im|jortiince of cultivp.tlng a corduil union be- 
 tween the Reformers of Ihe two sections, and 
 referred to the attempt wiiich bad been made to 
 create religious dissensions. 
 
 Mr. CiiADWicK, District Councillor of Dere- 
 ham, proposed the next toast, which he pre- 
 faced with a few appropriate remarks — 
 
 9. The Clergy of nil denoininntions, and es 
 esyecially those which act consistently on the 
 voluntary principle. 
 
 The ChairiMan, on rising to propose the 
 next toast, said that he was a plain Farmer, | 
 and did not profess to understand much of 
 commercial matters, but he was fully con- 
 vinced of the truth of the principles avowed 
 on this subject by Mr. Hincks, ami he had, 
 therefore, much pleasure in proposing the fol- 
 lowing sentiment — 
 
 10. A speedy Repeal of the Imperial Duties 
 and of the Navigation Luws, and Free Trade all 
 over the world. (Loiul cheers.) 
 
 11. Our Guests from the adjoining Districts 
 who have honoured us with their presence this 
 day. 
 
 M. H. Foley, Esq., of Simcop, Editor of the 
 Long Point Admcaif returned thanks, and ex- 
 pressed his high gratilication at being present 
 on the occasion. He had thought of address- 
 ing tliem on several topics, but- found himself 
 forestalled, first by the Hon. Gentleman who 
 was their guest, and afterwards by the Gentle- 
 man on his right, who had taken up the only 
 subject which was left to him, viz., the pro- 
 scripticn of Reforiiic-s by the present (Jovern- 
 ment. In the Talbot L.It trict a new Commis- 
 sion of the Peace had been issued, but altho' 
 in the former Ciunmission Ihe names of gen* 
 tieinen of both parties had been recoinipended 
 hy their Member, Mr. Powell, when a late one 
 was issued, that gentleman, though Member 
 for the County, had not even been consulted, 
 (cries ol' " shame, slmme ") and as had boon 
 the case in this Distrietsoit was in the Talbot, 
 the lit'u' appuhitiiienia wefe ^fviuraily un^atis' 
 lacttiry, even to liio 'fortes, t neirtt) seiecr- 
 ing Commissioners to t'ecide on the Rebellion i 
 claims, altho' certainly party considerations | 
 should have been overlooked, all the persons I 
 appointed were Tories. As the alterations in ; 
 the 8cho(d Act had been spoken of hy their 
 Guest, ho wislied to state one fact, and it was 
 an important one, in contirmution of his slate- 
 meiil that the expense would not be reduced 
 by the abolition of the ctlice of 'Pownsliip Su- 
 
 j were thoroughly qualified. He wished thintel 
 
 I be well understood. Parties could apply to tk^ I 
 
 j Visitors for relief if they thought proper. In f 
 
 conclusion he l'»d to axpreos hia Raii*hcu<if I 
 
 the spiead-of euucalion in this District, as i 
 
 as throughout the country. .^i ^ 
 
 Mr. KtNTREA had been requested to propowt 
 the Press. He made some very appropriate 
 remarks on the influence of that great organ 
 jf public opinion, to which we were indebted 
 for all the great relbrma vyhich had been 
 carried out. 
 
 I.T. The Press— that engine so powerful for 
 good or evil. 
 
 Mr. Menzies, of the " Woodblock Herald." j 
 having been called on, returned thanks for the 
 cuiiiplimeut to the Press. Although he saw 
 around him several gentlemen connected with 
 the Press, lie believed he mig.'it say he was 
 the oldest iTiember of it in the room, perhaps 
 in the Province. The benefits derived from | 
 the Press were universally acknowledged. 
 He would never have been able to read the 
 Bible but for the Press ; it would have been 
 in all probability out o( his reach. It would 
 be well for those who admitted the advantages 
 derived from a free and independent Press, 
 to reflect whether they gave that Press the 
 support to which it is entitled. (Cheers.) 
 
 Mr. Kearney, of the " St. Thomas Free 
 man," had also to acknowledge the compli- 
 ment paid, to the Press, and while he did so, 
 lie would remind them of the services of the 
 Hon. gentleman v.ho was their guest that 
 evening., and who if he had no other claims 
 on their gratitude, was entitled to it for the 
 noble stand which he look after the Rebellion, 
 when few dared to give expression to public 
 opinion. He (Mr. Kearney) was well ac- 
 quainted with the sentiments of the Reformers 
 of Middlesex, und he knew how high their 
 hon. guest stood in their estimation. He had 
 no doubt that if Oxford desired to give him up, 
 Middlesex would be most happy to receive 
 him. (Choers.) He (Mr. K.) had lately had 
 an opportunity of hearing the sentiments of 
 one of the leading men of the Reform party, 
 regarding that lion, gentleman. That gentle- 
 man had expressed his belief that on Commer- 
 cial subjects there was no one connected with 
 the party at all to be compared to him. He 
 had again to thank them for the_ honor done to 
 him, and to assure them of the cordial sympathy 
 of the Reformers of Middlesex, several of whom 
 would have been present hut for the weather. 
 
 Mr. GoBLE, of Blenheim, had been entrusted 
 with a toast, but he felt great diffidence in 
 speaking to it. It was the first Dinner of Xhog 
 kiiuijie iiad ever attended, and lie wi 
 ciistomea"ti pimins speaKitrg; ■ 
 vantages of Responsible Government had1 
 ably descanted on, but to whom ate we chiefly 
 indebted for the concession of that principle 1^ 
 He (Mr. Gohle) well recollected the time, not 
 long distant either, when our Representatives 
 had liltle or no influence on the Government, ! 
 when Bills were passed by the House of As- 
 sembly only to be tomahawked by the Legisla- 
 tive Council. The Report of the Earl of Dur- 
 iiJ 
 
 ^r Miil.lInupY.BPveml of whom 
 
I he could 8«y,ihe!c 
 Epla there were of 
 
 napected him,a8 weli m on accoant of liii being 
 the Representative of hia Sovereign. He (the 
 Chairman) waa himaeif an old aoldier, having 
 ■erved throuehout the laat war, and having been 
 in every engagement on the frontier. f 
 
 li. Ths Peo»i.b — the only true tource of 
 .imate jwwer. ^ 
 
 *'he Chairman had now to propose the •. oast 
 of the evening: Our Guest, the Hon. Fbarcis 
 HiHCKS, whose precenca among us after a long 
 mbaence, was most cordially welcome. (Great 
 Kpplauae.) When, said the Chairman, it be- 
 came known that Mr. Hincks was in Ppper 
 Canada, the Council of the District happening 
 to be in aession, the Reform members thereof 
 determined upon inviting him to accept a public 
 dinner at Woodstock. The time for preparation 
 traa necessarily very short, and it was impessi* 
 Ue to communicite with many parts of the 
 INatriet. Unfortun»tely, too, the weather had 
 proved unfavourable. The rain, wliich had 
 fallen incessantiv during the laat night and <[>e 
 whole of the p.'esent day, had render*** iu* 
 eruaa roads alraoai impHasable. Prom ft"* twn- 
 abl. (Norwich) f ro n 16 to 20 of^w immediate 
 neiehbonrs had Jnltnded to ►* present, but had 
 Ibaen nnaWe to reach tc^n. From Burford, 
 a •«"»«• i»r'ii >*'»' expected. He (the 
 ; find gentleoMn present 
 
 lie opinion. S'-^ oraich 
 a»noch«n''t 'l j jjeo- 
 
 „ mind, and wouiJ tie pre- 
 
 paredto do their duty on every occasion. He 
 (the Chairman) was a Reformer of thirty yeare 
 iptanding (great cheering) and had been a close 
 Observer oT passing events, and he could say 
 that t'..e experience of his life had only con- 
 5rir.ed him in his opinions. Nothing would do 
 for Canada but Responsible Government ho- 
 Kttly administered. l(Great applause.) As an 
 alle advocate of that great principle, and of 
 every measure calculated to extend the liber- 
 ties of the people, and as a faithful representa- 
 tive of this county, he would now propose the 
 to^st which he had read. 
 
 6th. Our Guest, the Hon. Francis Hincks 
 — we only wait an opportunity to return him 
 triumphantly to Parliament. (Loud and long 
 ntinued cheering for several minutes, after 
 which Mv. Hincks spoke to the following ef- 
 fect:) 
 
 Mr. iJhairman and Gentlemen,— I have to 
 acknowledge with the deepest gratitude another 
 mark of esteem and confidence from the Re- 
 formers of the County of Oxford in addition to 
 the many which I have received during the 
 last six years. I can only hope to repay you, 
 gentlemen, by my zeal in advocating what 
 we till believe to be, the best interests of our 
 common country- -that country which I trust 
 is equally dear to those of us who have adopt- 
 ed it as our own, as to those on whom it has 
 perhaps a stronger claim, as the country of 
 their birth. Much as I am gratified by the 
 compliment paid to .myself on the present 
 .occasion, I should be sorry indeed if this de- 
 monstration were not calculated to produce 
 more important results than mere personal 
 gratification. I hope and believe that it will 
 be the means, in some deeree at least, of pro- 
 moting the success of the great cause t3 
 which we are devoted, and which I cannot 
 better describe than as the cause of Canada. 
 We desire that our principles and objects 
 should be well understood, and we wish, if 
 possible, to convince former opponents that 
 ^ihey have either misunderstood our principles 
 and objects, or that their own are erroneous. 
 We wish to correct ihofe misstatements which 
 are from time to time circulated in order to 
 mislead the public. I shall endeavour as 
 'oriefly as the nature of the subject will per- 
 mf' lo touch upon the principal political to- 
 pic! of the day.— You have been told, gen- 
 tlemen, that the great question of " Respon- 
 •iuieGoveininent," which has bo long agitated 
 [the country, is finally settled. I would wish 
 to ijelieve that this is the case. I am aware 
 llha; our political opponents, both in and out 
 f Parliament, profess to adopt theoretically 
 oie views on that question for which we 
 ,ve 80 long struggled. But has their prac- 
 ;e been in accordance with their profea- 
 lioiis ? I only ask yon to review the history 
 
 a «ipiei iliat 1(6 worXiTTg R mr 
 The remedy is with the people alone. They 
 alone are responsible for the present state of 
 affairs, and they will do well instead of expect- 
 ing relief from a change of Governors, to oxert 
 themselves to secure a better representation. 
 To do that wo must convince the pul)lic that 
 our objects are sucli as cuttlit to entltip i'« to 
 their Bupport. The present is a most favoura- 
 ble opportunity for doing so. Party spirit has 
 in a great degree subsided and the public at 
 large are enquiring calmly as to the views of 
 publiomen. It is singular enough that at this 
 crisis the most prominent question before '«« 
 public IS one calculated to unite in it» advocacv 
 many who have formerly be*?:' opposed to each 
 other, but whose inlei-''''t8 with respect to this 
 measure are ideq^icHlly the same. I mean the 
 question of riiEE tha»e. On this subject 
 there 'lave been the gimsest in-srepresenta- 
 ticvid. Attempt* have been made to persuade 
 the farmers of this country tbattf.eir interests 
 are at variance with Free Trade. So far from 
 thia being true, gentlemen, the Farmers are 
 more interested than any other class in pro- 
 moting a free trade policy. The protection 
 which they formerly enjoyed in the English 
 markets for their great staple has liefcn abolish 
 ed, ai.ri the question now is whether the Im 
 
 against education. I, connected a« 1 was with 
 
 a press which was tho organ of Catholicc as 
 
 well as Protestanis, felt it my duty to correct 
 
 what 1 believe to be a iiiisstiiirnieMt. It was 
 
 not a fact thattheCatlmlu- ClergV had opposed 
 
 education ; on the cputaawr, ihf mtm»*»^"« ' j " 
 . «iiiuti..n<.V<i"L.u.VerCaaair»«re-h(ghly creditiio.o 
 
 to thoso wlto have established thetn. At their 
 colleges an excellent classical education, with 
 board, is provided for less than JCgO a year. I 
 will not pursue the subject, but v. ill junt read 
 an c«ii«ict or two from papers which all will 
 adirfit to be good authority. The first, strange 
 to say, is from the Bannei That print, on a 
 recent occasion, said : " the Church of Rome, 
 which was wont to dread education, and the 
 Church of England, which habitually neglected 
 it, are now disposed to work in the opposite 
 direciion." This, 1 contend, embodies all that 
 I have ever said on the subject. The next 
 extract I will read is from the Montreal Wit- 
 ness. The Hon. Gentleman here read an 
 extract on the subiect of the schools of the 
 Freres, at Montreul, showing that about 1800 
 pupils received gratuitous education 'hrough 
 the influence of the Catholic Clergy, I feel 
 that I have said enough on this 8ubj*'ct. I am 
 Falisfifd that I have no occasion to vindicate 
 
 '^^MIV^eMP^JtM tn«'W*.al a cry hasTeen got up n... « ■ c 
 
 Scotch of Zorra. I am sorry for it. 1 did 
 
 Scotch had become convinced 
 
 Ihoi 
 
 3 strojeci xne 
 thfe peijple of all parties are the same, and j^l 
 when Uie que*lion wr.s under the con.iiderflti.Mi 
 of Parliament, the Ministers backed by their 
 Upper Canada majoritv, not satisfied vvith the 
 protective duties imposed by the imperial act, 
 actually voted to place higher Provincial duties 
 on goods imported by inland carriage than on 
 those brought by the St. Lawrence. The ef- 
 fect of this was to impose an indirect tax upon 
 the people of Upper Canada, and which was 
 effected by the votes of her own liepreienlatives 
 (cries of shame shame.) (".'(.nnected with this 
 subject is the repeal of the Navigation Laws. 
 Our produce has to compete with that of other 
 countries in the English markets and it is es- 
 sentially necessary that we should be enabled 
 to transport it on the lowest possible terms. 
 I would now offer a few remarks on the sub- 
 ject of the Common School Act of last Session. 
 It will be in the recollection of many of those 
 •vhom I have the honour of addressing, that a 
 great cry had been got up against me in Zorra 
 before the last election, on account of the taxes 
 imposed by the old act. But I would ask whe- 
 ther that principle has been interfered with 
 in the new act? Assuredly not. The great 
 principle of the former Act has been retained 
 and some alterations or improvements as they 
 were said to be, made in the details. I do not 
 believe that these are improvements. One of 
 the most important changes was the abolition 
 of township superintendants, and notwith- 
 standing all that has been said on this subject, 
 I am of opinion that it will be found abso- 
 lutely necessary to restore those officers. The 
 substitution of unpaid township visitors will 
 never answer. (Hear, hear.) Another alter- 
 ation was the requirement to keep the schools 
 open six months instead of three. Of course 
 all will admit that the longer the school is kept 
 open, the better; but it is cruel in the extreme 
 to tell penple who ere taxed for the support 
 of Schools, and who are loo poor to maintain 
 one longer than three months, that they should 
 have no share of the public money. (Loud 
 cheers ) I firmly believe that there are m«ny 
 school districts in the province which are not 
 able to support a school longer than three 
 months, and the late Act would inflict a preat 
 injustice on them by compelling them to contri- 
 bute out of their poverty, towards the support of 
 the schools of the richer districts, whilst they 
 themselves are not allowed to receive the slightest 
 benefit from the expenditure of their own money. 
 (Loud cheers. ) The whole principle of the 
 new School Act is to increase the power of 
 i:;c aupcrifjit;iiuciiL. i^u utitr i:rfiTtfi o^'*tt.'i mM( 
 the framer of that Act would have given us 
 the Prussian system if lie had dared so to out- 
 rage public opinion. Ho went as far in de- 
 priving the people of power as he deemed pru 
 dent. The spirit of the new Act is to cen- 
 tralize power in the hands of the superintend- 
 ent — that of the old, to leave it with the pi 
 pie. (Great and prolonged cheering.) The 
 
 hope that the 
 
 that they were, in a great jnoasure, deluded at 
 the last eloction. Tlie cries which were then 
 raised liad no reference to the general poUtics 
 of (b« country. My oplaions respecting Mr. 
 Burne, or Lower Canadian education, are not 
 of the slightest importance fls far as Provincial 
 polities are concerned. These cries have 
 been got up by interested parties, for the 
 
 express purpose of deceiving the public. 
 
 If I were disposed to gei up a cry against 
 my opponent I have opportunities in abundance. 
 When I came to Woodstock the other day I 
 was suprised at tlie alteration in the toll gates, 
 and on asking the cauao I found that it was 
 generally ascribed to the influence of the 
 County Representative. One gatewas re- 
 moved away from the town ;— the effect of this 
 was to enable certain aristocratic Gentlemen 
 to reach it without passing the gale, while at 
 the western end the gate had been placed in 
 such a position that those who never use the road 
 especially the Zorra farmers, are obligea to 
 pay toll. Nothing could be more unjust. 
 Then there was ihe subject of the Clergy Re- 
 serves valuations. When I was in office I had 
 an opportunity ef recommending District va- 
 luators for these lands. The principle upon 
 which the appointments were made was that 
 persons of each party should be selected, so 
 that none would have a right to complain of 
 partiality. I reconin-.cnded Mr. Van Norman 
 of Dereham, well known as an upright, honour- 
 able man ot great experience, and Mr. Henry 
 Carroll, who certainly had no claims on the 
 ground of his family connections to recommend 
 him to me. But I looked on Mr. Carroll as. 
 one who would do justice to bis neighbours and 
 hence my selection of him. These gentlemen 
 were engaged in the discharge of the duties 
 assigned them when news arrived thatall pro- 
 ceedings were to be suspended. It turned out 
 that Mr. Riddell and a Mr. Spragge, of whom 
 probably a majority of you have never heard, 
 had given evidence before the Crown Land 
 Commission that the Brock District lands were 
 undervalued ? I do not charge Mr. Riddell 
 with giving an opinion contrary to his con- 
 scientious belief ; but every one knows that the 
 biasofa man's mind is to think well of property 
 which he is porsonally interested — it is well in 
 known that Mr. Riddell is a large land holder 
 in Zorra. (Cheers.) And who is Mr. Spragge ? 
 A gentleman who has obtained a large tract of 
 land in Blenheim from which he has disposses- 
 sed the actus! spttlrrs; r.pd whn Ls, of course* « 
 most disinterested witness. On such testimony 
 were the sales of the reserves suspended ; and 
 this notwithstanding the opinions expressed by 
 several Conservative members of l^arliament 
 as to the correctness of the valuations in their 
 districts ; and although Mr. Riddell and Mr. 
 S jragge thought the reserves undervalued, the 
 Brock District Council, having had the whole 
 
 I 
 
 I- ''li luiid a 
 i'ke Cii4 
 I'l! hunour 
 wi9 ii')t in J 
 lit fu rnd he 
 
 ifB?Tio h 
 l-^ViNi; 
 
 t^^ieJ by th 
 wtiriin ill re; 
 i>«^-inter of i 
 Ute^ olcctei 
 liiHtitiilions 
 lliil milch e 
 ftlicw^d the 
 llie iu'provi 
 n|t hcl^ rei 
 tllcir h(in. g 
 of lose insi 
 1r. Shes 
 til nldt'it 111 
 \« s tlieyou 
 
 ii Jf hit hit 
 
 vv irking of 
 
 ttHt. Wh4 
 OiEt.'ictwac 
 
 ijcen pM (J 
 
 I luvemunti 
 f lictble to 
 fropertyof 
 t f last yea 
 Mr. Mai 
 i residents, 
 V it h the n< 
 expresed ii 
 eJ-nmen' in 
 carried oiii 
 tlieir liberl 
 
 6. RiiTro 
 guard 01 oi 
 
 Mr. 7l^ 
 next toast, 
 propose wii 
 member an 
 Slid as a C 
 give thein- 
 
 7. Civil 
 
 WOHLU. 
 
 Jereuiti 
 tl:at he liai 
 lio was sui 
 to by thn 
 was the Li 
 Upper and 
 remind the 
 a cordial i 
 sections ol 
 ourable gu 
 great polit 
 wn.5 one ( 
 wished to 
 charges br 
 their nlleji 
 Governmei 
 practice ol 
 had ever 1 
 this Dihtri 
 the Magii 
 been clios 
 Rebellion 
 valuation 
 as an old 
 that Mr. S 
 value of la 
 quired a I 
 situation, I 
 in the hif 
 settlers nn 
 value cans 
 rent or in 
 occupatior 
 acquaintei 
 it had bee 
 though at 
 rriHJiirity tl 
 lecied tlia( 
 ciples, on 
 in'8)Buppo 
 election, n 
 the office 
 gistrate, i 
 mnjority ii 
 and on an 
 
:oiiiiected ax 1 was will 
 ! nrgai) of Catholicc as 
 It it my duty to correct 
 misstiitraieiit. It was 
 iiiin Clergy had opiiosed 
 
 lUa arii-higlily creditnoio 
 blished them. At their 
 iassicHi education, witli 
 ess than JCiiU a year. I 
 jcct, but V. HI jut<t read 
 I papers which all will 
 rity. The first, strange 
 17117 That print, on a 
 
 "the Church of Rome, 
 ■ead education, and the 
 ich habitually neglected 
 to work m the opposite 
 ntend, embodies all that 
 ihe Bubject. The next 
 om the Montreal Wit- 
 itleman here read an 
 
 of the schools of the 
 owing that about 1800 
 0U8 education •hrough 
 itholie Clergy. I feel 
 1 on this 8ubj«>ct. [ am 
 uccapion to vindicate 
 
 jeen got ap an. ■#1 c 
 am sorry for it. 1 did 
 had become convinced 
 eatanoasure, deluded at 
 I cries which were then 
 ) to the general politics 
 ipitiions respecting Mr. 
 Jian education, are not 
 nee as far as Provincial 
 il. These cries have 
 rested parlies, for the 
 jce'ving the public. 
 
 I gei up a cry against 
 urtunities in abundance, 
 dstock the other day I 
 eration in the toll gates, 
 30 I found that it was 
 ( the influence of the 
 1. One gale was re- 
 own ;— the efiect of this 
 aristocratic Gentlemen 
 sing the gale, while at 
 Ue had been placed in 
 se who never use the road 
 farmers, are obligeO to 
 Quld be more unjust, 
 bject of the Clergy Re- 
 hen I was in office I had 
 immending District va- 
 3. The principle upon 
 8 were made was that 
 should be selected, so 
 a right to complain of 
 
 pndcd Mr. Van Norman 
 n as an upright, honour- 
 jrience, and Rlr. Henry 
 f had no claims on the 
 nncctions to recommend 
 )ked oil Mr. Carroll a& 
 ce to his nfiighboursand 
 dim. These gentlemen 
 Jischarge of the duties 
 !ws arrived that all pro- 
 ispended. It turned out 
 Mr. Spragge, of whom 
 you have never hpard, 
 lelore the Crown Land 
 rock District lands were 
 ot charge Mr. Riddell 
 n contrary to his con- 
 ivery one knows that the 
 to think well of property 
 interested— it is well in 
 
 II is a large land holder 
 nd who is Mr. Spragge ? 
 obtained a largs tract of 
 which he has disposses- 
 np(j who is. of course* ^^ 
 
 >ss. On Bucli testimony 
 eserves suspended ; and 
 le opinions expressed by 
 members of Farliamenl 
 f the valuations in their 
 h Mr. Riddell and Mr. 
 eserves undervalued, the 
 1, having had the whole 
 
 i. *'i luud and continued claering.J 
 
 i'ke C1I41BMA- briefly returned thanks for 
 i!i,' honour whici had been done him. He 
 WIS M)t in/he habit of altending I'vblic Din- 
 m rs nid he felthiinseU unable to do juelice to 
 Tr~niHi^<puaod I<l9 present duty on 
 ! hBd,howevcr,do.<o ilia liesl (cIi\;|.|b.} 
 
 i.^ViNiNG said, as his name had been men- 
 . .leJ by their hon. guest, ho would say a few 
 wbrds ill reply to ihe toast. He was the oldest 
 iv^'inler ul the Urock District Council, having 
 t^(?» elected on the establishment of Municipal 
 Distitiilions in the Province. He consequently 
 lid mid\ experience of their working, and he 
 itliewd they were well calculated to promote 
 ilk invprovement of the country. He could 
 nft hel^ reminding them of the exertions of 
 tilclr h(in. guest to promote the establishment 
 of lose institutions. 
 
 Ir. SiiERSToiE said that if Mr. Vining was 
 III oldt'it member of the Council, he (.Mr. S.) 
 \« s tlieyoungest. Ho was however, able to 
 U Jt hi! haiiiule testimony to the successful 
 v« irking of til* Municipal Council of this Dis- 
 tn( t. When the Council was eslablisiiod the 
 Oist.-ictwas deeply in^debt, but that debt had 
 ixen pa4 otTandthe" Ii.h' miw an overflowing 
 
 jioi/ementi, tliey had still £1300 in liand ap- ! 
 f lictble to the same purpose. The assessed i 
 froperty of tlio District was £33,000 iii advance 
 tf last yesL*. being now upwards of £300,000. 
 Mr. MiL:oLM, of Oakland, one of the Vice 
 1 residents, said that he had been entrusted 
 vilhihe next toast, which was one that fully 
 f xpresed his own opinions. Responsible Uov- 
 eJ-nmen' in its purity, not as it was at present 
 carried out, was indeed the only safeguard of 
 tlieir liberlies. (Applause.) 
 
 6. RiirroNSiBLE GovEaNMENT, — the only safe- 
 guard ol our liberties. 
 
 Mr. 7iNiN0 bad been entrusted with the 
 next toast. It was one timt he could perhaps 
 propose with peculiar propriety, as a professed 
 rnemberand office bearer of a Christian Church, 
 Slid as a Conservator of the Peace, he would 
 give tliein — 
 
 7. Civil and Religious Liberty all ovr.n the 
 
 WOKLD. • 
 
 Jeremiah Cowin, Esq., of Blenheim, ?aid 
 ll:nt he had been entrusted with a toast which 
 lio was sure would be most heartily responded 
 to by those whom he saw around him— it 
 was the Leaders of the united Reform party of 
 Upper and Lower Canada. He need hardly 
 remind them how important it was to preserve 
 a cordial union between the Reformers in all 
 sections of Hie United Province. Their hon- 
 ourable guest had gone fully into most of the 
 great politics! questions of the day, bnt there 
 wn.i one question on which he (Mr. Cowin) 
 wished to ofTer a few remarks. »<Oiie of the 
 charges brought against the ex-Ministers was, 
 their alleged abiiBe of the patronage ol the 
 Government. What however, had been the 
 practice of their opponents ? What Relormer 
 had ever been appointed by them to office in 
 this Dihtrict? Even in the appointment of 
 the Magistracy, not a single Reformer had 
 been chosen, nor to the Commission on ihe 
 Rebellion claims. With reference to the 
 valuation of the Clergy Lands, he (Mr. C.) 
 as an old inhabitant of Blenheim, could say 
 that Mr. Spragge was entirely ignora.it of the 
 value of lands in that Township. He had ac- 
 quired a large tract of land in a very good 
 situation, but he was a non-resident. It was 
 in the highest degree unfair to charge the 
 settlers nn those Clergy Lands the enhanced 
 value caused by their own labour, and also 
 rent or interest during the time they were in 
 occupation (Cheers.) He (Mr. C.) was well 
 acquainted with public opinion in Blenheim ; 
 it had been called a Tory Township, but al- 
 though at Mr. HiNcKs' first election it gave a 
 maiiiriiv to Mr. Carroll; it must be recol- 
 lected that Mr. C. had avowed Reform prin- 
 ciples, on which account he got his (Mr. Cow- 
 in'a)Rupport and that of others. At the last 
 election, notwithstanding all the exertions of 
 the office holders, from the Bailiff to the Ma- 
 gistrate, and several bad votes, there was a 
 msjority in Blenheim of three for Mr. Hincks; 
 and on another occasion that majority of three 
 
 by their Member, Mr. Powell, when a bile one 
 was issued, that gentleman, though Member 
 for Ihe Courty, had not even been consulted, 
 (cries of " lihamo, sliume ") and as had bei ■! 
 the case in this Distrietsoit was in the Talbot, 
 
 the now apoointinents were generally un^atis- kindiiB ha d ever atiemied. and ne wa» noi »c 
 factory, ev. Ml to n.e 'i'orirs. rnerm'sefect- \ cUsTomfid tSTJUBTO BpeSKiTTgr- i no -gr 
 
 of Ihe Reformers of Middlesex, several of whom 
 would have been present but for the weather. 
 Mr. GoBLE, of Blenheim, had been entrusted 
 with a toast, but he felt great diffidence in 
 speaking to it. It was the first Dinner of Iheg 
 
 ing Commissioners to decide on the Rebellion 
 claims, akho' certainly party considerations 
 should have been overlooked, all the persons 
 appointed were Tories. As the alterations in 
 the School Act had been spoken of by their 
 Guest, he wished to state one fact, and it was 
 an important one, in conlirmatiim of his state- 
 ment that the expense would not be reduced 
 by the abolition of the office of Township Su- 
 perintendent. In the TalbolDistrict, where he 
 resided, the County Superintendent had been 
 only paid for his actual expenses under the old 
 8ystem,wherea8 in consequence of Uie increase 
 of labour, it had been found necessary to give 
 h^m in addition a sum equal to lite salaries of all 
 the TouinsMp Superintendents and £14 besides 
 (loud cheeiB.) Such was the practical work- 
 ing of a system which was to effect such a 
 saving to the public ; and let it be recollected 
 that the Talbot District u'aa one of the (w"*-* 
 
 'lithe Prov 
 
 uu t\ Impose' 
 
 biy. iIo[ ,,- 
 
 out expressing his gratirici'Uon at hearing the 
 sentiments expressed that evening, and his 
 surprise at the ability displayed by the gentle- 
 men who had addressed ihe Chair. The Gen- 
 tleman who was their guest might well be 
 proud of enjoying the confidence of such a con- 
 stituency, and without off>ring anything like 
 adulation, he vvould say that they might be 
 proud of him [loud cheers]. 
 
 The next toast was proposed by Mr. Shen- 
 stone, D. C. — 
 
 12. Education free from sectarian or party iu- 
 fluenco, based upon such principles and conduct- 
 ed in such a manner as that every child in the 
 Province may be benefited thereby. 
 
 Mr. HENDRY.District Superintendent of Edu- 
 cation, said that from his position it might be j 
 expected that he would ofTer a few remarks in | 
 reply to Ibis toast. He would just say some- 
 thing on the subject of his appointment. His 
 friends about him knew well the reluctance 
 with which be had first accepted the appoint- 
 ment, and his diffidence as to his ability to fill 
 it with credit to the Council and to himself.— 
 He believed that he owed his appointment in 
 some degree to the recommendation of the late 
 excellent Superintendent, the Rev. Mr. Bos- 
 worth, and it was also in consequence of that 
 gentleman's opinion of his fitness that he con- 
 sented to act. He might, however, say, that 
 he had gone through all the gradations of of- 
 fice. Under the old system he had been a 
 SchoolTrustee ; when the Act of 1841 was 
 passed, he had been elected a Commissioner in 
 hiri Township, and appointed Chairman by his 
 fellow members. Under the last Act he had 
 been elected Superintendent of bis Township, 
 and when Mr. Bosworth resigned; he was 
 chosen by the Council as District Superinten- 
 tendent. He was not aware that in the dis- 
 charge of any of his duties, he had received 
 blame from any of those with whom he had beer, 
 connected. He had made these remarks in 
 consequence of an allusion made to him by the 
 member for thia county (Mr. Riddell) in his 
 place in Parliament. That gentleman had ob- 
 jected to the vesting the appointment to the 
 office of Superintendent in the District Council 
 on the ground of their incompelency to select, 
 and had instanced the appointment in this Dis- 
 trirt of a mechanic (hear, hear.) He would 
 tfol enter at any length into the question ot the 
 School Act. No doubt it might be supposed 
 that he approved of the change regarding the 
 Superintendent, for he as District Superinten- 
 dent would doubtless have a claim for increase 
 
 01 salary, uwHiy v n,.. - •.. ■'---•• -- 
 
 doubted however, whether the public would be 
 benefited by it. There was a change made 
 regarding the granting of certificates to the 
 Teachers. These could now be given by the 
 Visitors for the Township; and he [Mr. Hendry] 
 had determined that in future he would be most 
 rigid in granting certificates to those alone who 
 
 vantages of Responsible Government haiT 
 ably descanted on, bui to whom are we chiefly 
 indebted for the concession of that principle '? 
 He (Mr. Goble) well recidlccted the time, not 
 long distant either, when our Representatives 
 had little or no influence on the Government, 
 when Bills were passed by the House of As- 
 sembly only to be tomahawked by theljCgisla- 
 tive Council. The Report of the Earl of Dur- 
 ham was the first important h|ow struck at the 
 old system. Lord Sydenham, though ho com- 
 mitted many errors, had formally sanctioned 
 the principle of governing through a Provinci- 
 al Administration, and the ever to be lamentedl 
 Sir Charles Bagoi had practtp.tlly carried iti 
 into operation. We ought not on such an oc-F 
 casion to forget the services of thosa git»t] 
 men. He would propose — 
 The Menroryiof the I«'e laraei; 
 and SvDENHAU. and 
 
 .imc'«.s ro^to prop^ 
 
 ^ ^ 10 their wotthy host, MtT" ^ 
 
 doing 90, he woijjd make o remark^ 
 
 subject which he had hitherto purpot.., _. 
 
 —the contested Election. His object in doii^l 
 so was to express publicly his thanks, and tliil 
 thanks of the Relbrmeis otthe District generaltel 
 to those individuals who liad sacrificed so muo>l 
 time and money during the Scrutiny. He thoughtl 
 that without being invidious, he might menliO(|I 
 the names of Mr. Wilson, Mr. Jordan Charles,! 
 Mr. Phelan,of Inger-solville, Mr. Doty 'he Chair*] 
 man (Mr. Carroll) , Mr. Hendry, and Mr. Cowio.j 
 They nil knew the circumstances connected withj 
 ths contest. He would only say that he defi«dl 
 uny one to point to an instance in the late Par-I 
 liamentary history of Great Britain in which tbel 
 Government had dared to tamper with a mem-l 
 ber serving on an Election Committee. (LoudI 
 Cheers.) ^he fact was undeniable that a mem-l 
 ber sworn to try a contested Election, white J 
 serviijs? on a Committee, had been Uterally pur-l 
 chased by the Government. Terms had befnl 
 otfered and refused, and higher terms Insisted on.f 
 Two Otiices were not sufiicieiit remuneration, «L 
 bird was demanded, and the price was paidvj 
 (Cries of " shame, shame.") These facts mustf 
 have produced an impression on the public mind.l 
 As to Mr. Riddell, he (Mr. Hincks) had nothingi 
 to say afrainst him. He had on all oceasionsa 
 borne testimony to his honourable and gentle- 
 manly conduct He had ever found him frank 
 in the expression of his views, and he must say 
 that on the subject of the reinvestment of titel 
 Reserves, Mr. Riddell had publicly declared wbalf 
 he would do on the day of nomliiation. No One 
 who voted for him had a right to complain er 
 this score. He had already trespassed too Ion* 
 on their time, and would now propose the loaai 
 he had read. 
 
 A few volunteer toasts were then proposed ; 
 amona others Mrs. Hincks ; the Ladies, by Mr. 
 Kc.rney; the Agricultural Interest, by Mr. 
 Hook. The Chairman expressed his high gra- 
 tification at the orderly manner in which the 
 proceedings had been conducted, and lell tke 
 Chair at about half-past 10 o'clock, when jho 
 party broke up. 
 
 Patrick Henry.— In Wirts's Life of Pat^ 
 rick Henry will be found the following senti- 
 ment, in reply to some observation of Judge 
 Tvlcr in relation to the propriety of commercial 
 restrictions : "Why," said Patrick Henry, 
 "lihouldwe fetter commerce! If a man is m 
 chains, he droops and bows to the earth, for ha 
 spirits are broken— looking sorrowlul at hm 
 feet— but let him twist the letters from /ii8lira|ili 
 and he will stand erect— stretching himself an* 
 assuming the "look of proud defiance.— Fetter 
 not commerce, sir ! let her be as free as air^ 
 she will range the whole creation, and return on 
 jhr: '.vinsTa of the four winds of heaven to blwttl 
 the land'wilh plenty !"— This is a noble senti- 
 ment and every way worthy o^ its author. ^., 
 
 The Senate of the free city, Frankfort, hai 
 iust published a proclamation, allowing the im- 
 jKirtation of corn duty free, into the territory 
 of the republic.