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Governor in Chief, ' •' The Governor in Chief.in pursuance of Orders from His Majesty's Govern- ment which have been communicated to him, transmits tu itm iiuta.^<^ ^e ^\„ sembly Copy of a Despatch dated the seventh of Julv last, addressed to His Excellency by Viscount Goderich, His Majesty's Pnucipal Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, having reference to the Petition of the House of Assembly touching certain matters of complaint, addressed to the King, and transmitted during the last Session of the Provincial Parliament, at their desire, by the Governor in Chief to Viscount Goderich, for the purpose of being laid at the foot of the Throne. In this Communication which is copied word for word frum the Original Despatch, the House of Assembly will not fail to trace the paternal feelings of His Majesty towards His faithful Canadian Subjects, and his anxiety to comply with all their reasonable desires." *• Castle of St. Lewis, 18th Novr. J 831." >v (Copy 51.) Dooming Street, 7th July, 1831. , My Lord, I have received and have laid before the King youi Lordship's Despatches of the ^th, 6th and 7th April last, Nos. 24, 25 and 36. Your Lordship's assurance of the favorable change in the general disposition of the House of Assembly of Lower-Canada towards the closeof their last Session, and your Report of the warm attachment borne by the people at large to I lis Ma- jesty's Person and Government, and to the Constitution under which th "ve, have been received by His Majesty with lively satisfaction. The King has been also graciously pleased to express his approbiUioi. . . the efforts made by yovir Lordship, to ascertain with precision the full extent of t)>e grievances of which the Assembly consider themselves entitled to complain : and assuming, in concurrence with your Lordship, thcit the Address of the Assembly contains a full devclopement of those grievances, the exposition which is to be there found of the views of that Body, justifies the satisfactory inference, that there re- mains scarcely any question upon which the wishes of that Branch of the Legis- lature are at variance with the policy which His Majesty has been advised to pur- sue, and I therefore gladly anticipate the speedy and effectual termination of those differences which have heretofore so much embarassed the operation of the local Government. No office can be more grateful to the King than that of yielding to the reason- able desires of the Representative Body of Lower-Canada, and whilst His Majesty's servants have the satisfaction of feeling thut upon some of the most important to- pics referred to in the Address of the Assembly, its wishes have been anticipated, they trust that the Instructions which I ant now ^bout to convey to you, will still further BAS-CANADA,— CHAMBRED'ASSEMBLE'E. COPIE d'un MESSAGE communique k la Chambre, par Son Excellence le GouvERN£UR EN Chef, ct de la DEPEGHE y attachees. Re f u le 16 Novembre 1831, - .. - " AYLMER, GoUVERNEUR EN ChEF." " Le Gouverneur en Chef, en ob6i8sance aux Ordres du Gouvernement de Sa MfUAAfp n"i lu*<»*^ ^t^ oemmuniqiioo, tninauicl k la Cliaiiibi-c d*Aaseuibl6e oopie d'une D^pL'che, en date du 7 Juillet dernier, addrebs^e a Son Excellence par le Viscomte Goderich, Principal Secretaire d'Etat de Sa Majestd pour le Departe'ment Colonial, ayant rapport a la petition de la Chambre d'Assembiee touchant certains sujets de plaintes, addresee au Roi, et transmise pendant la derni^re Session du Parlement Provincial, selon son desir, par le Gouverneur en Chef au Vicomte Guderich, pour ^tre mise au pied du Trdne. Dans cette communication qui est copiee mot pour mot de la Dep^che originate, la Chambre d'Assembl^e ne man- quera pas de decouvrir les sentimens paternels de Sa Majesty envers ses fid^^ls sujets C'anadiens et son empressement ii se conformer a leurs justes desirs." ♦'Chateau St. Louis, _ 18 novembre 1831. -. . ' .. ' / „ . , (Copie, No. 51.) Milord, Downing Street, 7 Juillet 1831. J'ai re9U ct mis devant le Roi les dep£ches de votre Seigneurie du 5e. Ge. et 7e. Avril dernier, Nos. 24. 25, et 26. C'est avec une vive satisfaction que Sa Majeste a re9u de votre Seigneurie I'assurance du changcmeiit favorable qui sY>tait oper6 dans la disposition g^nd- rale de la Chambre d'Asscmbiee du Bas*Canada vers la fin de sa derni^re Ses* Tiion, ct le rapport que vous faites du vif attacheinent que le peupleentier k pour la pcrsonne et le Gouvernement de Sa Majesty. Ilaussi gracieusement pluau Roi d'expirimRr sou approbation des efforts que votre Seigneurie a fait, pour constater avec precision toutc T^tendue des griefs de doiit TAssemblKe croit avoir droit de se plaindrn; etsupposant, de concert avec votre Seigneurie, que 1' Adresse dt rAssenibl^e pr^sente I'entier d^veloppement de ces griefs, Tcxpos^ qu'on y trouve des vues de ce Corps, permet de faire I'in- duction satisfaisante, qu'il restea peine une seylci question sur laquelle les de- sirs dc cette branche de la Legislature, ne soient pas en harmonic avec la politi* que ()ue Sa Majeste a 6t6 avis^e de suivre, etcelame donnela flatteuse esp^rance dc rnjustement prompte et etticace de ces difHcultes qui out si fortement embar- rassb les oporationst du Gouvernement local, Rien ne peut-etre plus agn'able au Roi que de se rendre aux desirs raison- nables du Corps Representatif du Bus-Canada, ct lorsque les Serviteurs de Sa Majeste ont la satisfaction de scntir, que sur quelques uns des points les plus im- portans mcntionnes dans I'Adresse de rAssemblec, ses di^'sirs ont ^t^ anticip^s, ils se tiattcnt que les instructions que je vais maintenant vous doaner feront cclatter encore further evince their earnest desire to combine with the due and lawful exercise of the Constitutional authority of the Crown, an anxious solicitude for the well-being of all classes of His faithful subjects in the Province. I proceed to notice the various topics embraced in the Address of the Assembly to the King : — I shall observe the order which they have followed, and with a view to perspicuity, I shall preface each successive Instruction, which I have His Ma- jesty's Commands to convey to Your Lordship, by the quotation of the State- ments made upon the same topic by the Assembly themselves. First :— It is represented that the progress which has been made in the education of the People of the Province, under the encouragement afforded by the recent Acts of the Legislature, has been greatly impeded by the diversion of the Revenues of the Jesuits' Estates originally destined for this purpose. His Majesty's Government do not deny tjiat iiic Jcsuito* Estntoo woro. on ihe dissolution of that Order, appropriated to the Education of the People, ai^d I readily admit that the Revenue which may result from that Property, snould be regarded as inviolably and exclusively applicable to that object. It is to be regretted undoudtedly, that any part of those funds were ever applied to any other purpose ; but although in former times your Lordship's Predecessors may have had to contend with difhculties which caused and excused that mode of appropriation, I do not feel myself now called upon to enter into any consideration of that part of the subject. If, however, I maj rely on the Returns which have been made to this De- partment, the Rents of the Jesuits' Estates have, during the last few years, been devoted exclusively to the purpose of Education, and my Despatch, 'dated the 24th December last, marked " separate,' sulhcicn Jy indicates that His Ma- jesty's Ministers had resolved upon a strict adherence to that principle several, months before the present Address was adopted. The only practical question which remains for consideration is, whether the appropriation of these funds for the pcrpose of Education, should be directed by His Majesty or by the Provincial Legislature ? The King, cheerfully and without reserve, confides that duty to the I^cgis- lature, in the full persuasion that they will make such a selection amongst the different plans for this purpose which may be presented to their notice, as may most efTectually advance the interests of religion and sound learning amongst His Subjects ; and I cannot doubt that the Assembly will see the jus- tice of continuing to maintain under the new distribution of these Funds, those Scholastic Establishments to which they are now applied. I understand that certain buildings in the Jesuits' Estates which were formerly used for Collegiate purposes, have since been uniformly employed as a Barrack for the King's Troops. It would obviously be highly inconvenient to attempt any immediate change in this respect; and I am convinced that the Assembly would equally regret any measure which might diminish the o<:)mfort or endanger the health of the King's Forces. — If, however, the Assembly should be disposed to provide adequate Barracks so i.s permanently lo secure those important objects. His Majesty will be ^jrcparcd, (upon the completion of such an arrangement, in a manner satisfactory to Your Lordship,) to acqui- esce in the appropriation of the buildings in qucstinn to the same purposes as tho.se to which the general Funds of the Jesuits' Estates are now about to be restored. I should fear that ill-founded expectations may have been indulged respec- ting the value and productirtness of the Jesuits' Estates. — lu this, as in most other cases, concealment appears to have bcon followed by exaggeration as its natural consequences. — Had the application of the Assembly for an account of the proceeds (,f these Estates been granted, ninch misapprehension would pro- . l)ably have been dispelled. Mv regret from thectl'jct of vour decision lo with- hold encore davantage le d^sir ardent qu'ils ont d'allier k I'exercice conyenabl* et legitime de l'Autorit6 Constitutionnelle de la Couronne. une vive sollicitude pour le bien-etre de toutes les classes de ses fidels Sujets de la Province. Je vais proc^der^ passer en revue les divers points conteuus dans I'Adresse de I'Assembleeau Roi : — J'observerai I'ordre quelle a suivi, et pour etre plus clair, je ferai pr^c^der chaque instruction successive que j'ai ordre de Sa Majest6 de donner k votre Sei- gneurie, d'une citation.de I'exposeque la Chambre d'Assembl6e elle-m^me a fait sur chaque point. Premi^rement : — On repr^sente que les progr^s de I'Education parmi le peu- ple, a la f'aveur de rencouragement accorde par des Actes recens de la Legisla* ture, ont ^te grandement rf tardus par la diversion des biensdes Jesuites, destines dans I'origine a cette fin. Le Gouvernament do Sa Majastc nc nie pr.d que les blens des Jesuitcs n'avaient 6te h la dissolution de cet ordre, approprl^s a I'Education du peuple, et j'admets volontiers que les revenus qui peuvent provenir de ces biens, doivent 6tre regard^s comme inviolablement et exclusivement applicable a cet objet. II est i\ regretter, sans doute, qu'aucune partie de ces fonds ait jamais ^t^ appliqu6e k d'autres fins, et quoique precedemment les pr6d6cesseurs de votre Sei- gneurie, aient eu k lutter contra des difiicult^s qui furent la cause et I'excuse de ce mode d'appropriation, je ne me sens pas maintenant appel^ k entrer dans la consideration de cette partie du sujet. Si cependantje puis me fier aux rapports qui ont ^tefaits k ce D^partement, les loyers des biens des Jesuites, ont ete ces dernidres ann^es, devoues exclusive- ment aux fins de I'Education, et ma D^p^che en date du 24 D^c. dernier, marquee " separate," indique suffisamment qui les Ministres de Sa Majesty avaient r^solu d'adh6rer strictement a ce principe plusieurs mois avant Tadoption de la pr^- sente Adresse. La seule question pratique qu'il reste k consid^rer, est de savoir : si I'appropri- ation de ces fonds pour les fins de I'Education, tombera entre les mains de Sa Ma- jeste ou entre celles de la Legislature Provinciale. Le Roi colifie ce devoir, de bon cceur et sans reserve, a la Legislature, dans la pleine persausion que parmis les differens plans qui pourront lui etre presentes pour cette fin, elle fera le choix qui promettra d'avancer avec le plus d'eflicacit^ les inter^ts de la Religion et des saines connaissances parmi ses sujets ; et je ne puis douter que 1' Assembl^e ni vois la justice de ccntinuer a maintenir, sous la nouvelle d sidered as applicable to the purposes of Education, exclusively. Secondly — The House of Assembly represent that the progress of Education has been impeded by the withholding the giants of Land promised for Schools in the year 1801. On referring to the Speech delivered in that year by the then Governor to the Two Houses of the Provincial Legislature, I find that such an engagement as the Address refers to was actually made. It of course, therefore is binding on the Crown, and must now be carried iuto effect ; unless there be any circumstances of which I am not apprized, which may have cancelled the obligation contracted in 1801, or which may have rendered the fulfilment of it at the present time impracti- cable.— If any such circumstances really exist. Your Lordsliip will report them to me immediately, in order that the fit course to be taken may be further considered. Thirdly — The rejection by the Legislative Council of various Bills in favor of Education is noticed as the last of the impediments to the progress of Edu- cation. ITponthis subject, it is obvious that His Majesty's Cover nment have do power of exercising any control, and that they could not interfere with the free exercise of the discretion of the Legislative Council, without the violation of the most un- doubted maxims of the Constitution. How far that body may have actually coun- teracted the wishes of the Assembly on this subject, I am not very exactly informed, nor would it become me to express an opinion on the wisdom or propriety of any decision which they may have formed of that nature. — The Assembly, however, may be assured thai whatever ley;itin]atc intiuence His Majesty's Government can exercise, will always be employed to jironiote in every direction all measures which have for their object the religious, moral, or literary . instruction of the People of Lower Canada. Fourthly — The Adrlress proceeds to state that the management of the Waste Lands of the Crown has been vicious and improvident, and still impedes the Settle- ment of those I".. ids. This subject has engaged und still occupies my most anxious attention, and I propose to address Your Lordship ilpon it at length in a separate Despatch. The i considerations connected with the settlement of Waste Lands are too numerous and extensive to be conveniently embodied in a Despatch embracing so many other objects of discussion. Fifthly— The exercise by Parliament of its power of regulating the Trade of the Province, is said to have occasioned injurious unccitainty in mercantile specu- lations, and prejudicial fluctuations in the value of Real Estate ani of the differ, ent branches of industry connected with Trade. ■ . . . u It Le chagrin que j'ai de l*effet de votre decision ;\ refuser ces Comptes ne m'empfiche pas cependant de sentir la convenance et le poids apparent des motifs quiont guide votre jugement; d^savouant cependant toutd^sir de secret, j'ai k donner instruction k Votre Seigneurie de mettre ces Comptes devant I'As- sembl^e de la mani^re la plus detaillee, au conamencement de la prochaine Ses- sion, et de fournir k la Chambre toutes les inforn>ations et explications qu'elle pourra demander k ce suiet. Comme il paraitquun a recouvr^ la somme de j£7154 l^s. 4'|d. sur les biens de feu M. Caldwell, k raison des reclamations de la Couronne, centre lui concernantlesbiensdes J6suites, Voire Seigneurie fera mettre cette«om me si la disposition de la Legislature pour des finsg^nerales. La somme de j£l280, ds.4d. qui ^ aussi 6t6 recouvree k raison des m^mes biens, devra aussi ^tre mise it la disposition dela Ldgislafure, mais d'apr^slesprincipes qui viennent d'etre posds, elle devra etreregardee comme etant exclusivement applicable aux finsde I'E- ducation. Secondement: La Chambre d'AssembU-e rppr^sente, que les progr^s de I'Education ont 6t€ arr^tds par le refus des octrois de terres promis pour les Ecoles en Tann^e 1831, En consultant le discours prononc^ cette ann6e 1:^, par le Gouverneur d'ators, aux deux Chambres de la Legislature Provinciale, je trouve qu'il fiit reellement fait un engagement de la nature de ceini dont I'Adresse fait mention. Ainsi, comme de raison, la Couronne est liee, et il faut qu'il soit maintenant mis a eftet, k moins qu'il ne se rencontre quelques circonstances que j'ignore, qui peuvent avoir annule I'obligation contract^e en 1801, ou qui peuvent en avoir rendu I'accomplissement impossible k present. S'il existe recllement de telles cir- constances, Votre Seigneurie m'en fera rapport incessamment, afin de cousiderer ultcrieurement la marche qu'il convient de suivre. Troisiemement. Le rejet par le Conseil L^gislatif de divers Bills en faveur de I'Education est donn6 comme le dernier des obstacles aux progr^s de I'E- ducation. Sur ce point il est evident que le Gouvernement de Sa Majesty n'alepou- voir d'exercer aucun contr^le, et qu'il ne pouvait intervenir dans le libre exercice dc la volonte du Conseil L^gislatif, sans violer les maximes les mieux reconnues de la constitution. Jusqu'oiice corps peut ayoir vraiment resist^ aux desirs de I'assembiee sur ce sujet, c est ce surquoi je n'ai pas d'informations exactes, et il ne me convien- drait pas d'emettre une opinion sur la sagesse ou la convenance d'aucmte decision de cette nature qu'il pent avoir form^. L'Assembl^e cependant peut ''.ro assuree que toutc influence legitime que peut exercer le Gouvernement de da Majesty, sera toujours employee & favoriser, dans toute direction, toutes les mesures qui auront pour objet I'instruction religieuse, morale ou litteraire du peuple du Bas- Canada. Quatri^ment. L'Adresse proe^de k exposer que la r^gie des terres incultes de la Couronne a 6te vicieuse et injudicieusej et g^ne encore fetablissement de ces terres. Ce sujet a engage et occupe toute mon attention, et je me propose de com- muniqucr au long sur ce sujet avec Votre' Seigneurie, dans une d^peche separ^e. Les considerations qui se rattachent k I'etablissement des terres incultes sont trop nombreuses et trop etendues pour etre convenablement encadrees dans une D^'peche qui embrasse tant d'autres sujets de discussion. Cinnui^mement, L'cxercice par le Farlement, de son pouvoir de regler le Commerce de la Province, occasionne, dit-on, une incertitude dommageable dans les speculations mercantiles, etdes fluctuations prejudiciables dans la valeur des biens-fonds, et aux dittt'ientes branches d'industrie liees au Cora* mercc, . , 8 It is gratifying to find that this complaint is connected with a frank acknow- ledgement, that the power in question has been beneficially exercised on several occasions for the prosperity of Lower Canada. It is, I fear, an unavoidable con- sequence of the connection which happily subsists between the two countries, that Parliament should occasionally require of the Commercial body of Lower Canada, some mutual sacrifices for the general good of the Empire at large. I therefore shall not attempt to deny that the changes in the commercial policy of this Kingdom during the last few years, may have been productive of occasional inconvenience and loss to that body, since scarcely any particular interest can be mentioned in Great Britain, of which some sacrifice has not been required during the same period. The most which can be effected by Legislation on such a sub- ject as this, is a steady though gradual advance towards those great objects, which an enlightened system of commercial regulation contemplates. The relaxa- tion of restrictions on the trade of the British Colonies, and the developcment of their resources, have been kept steadfastly in view amidst all the alterations to M hich the Address refers, and I confidently rely on the caniluur of ilic IIouoo of Assembly to admit, that upon the whole, no inconsiderable advance towards those great ends, has been made. They inay rest assured that the same principles will be steadily borne in mind by His Majesty's (iovcrnmcnt, in every modifica- tion of the existing Laws, which they may at any future time have occasion to re- commend to Parliament. Sixthly. — The Assembly in their Address, proceed to state that the It^habi- tants of the different Towns, Parishes, Townships, extra Parochial places, and Counties of the Province, suffer from the want of sufficient legal power for regula- ting and managing their local concerns. lam huppy in the opportunity, which at present presents itself, of demon* strating the desire of His Majesty's Government, to co-operate with the local Le- gislature, in the redress of every grievance of this nature. The three Bills which Your Lordship reserved for the signification of His ^Majesty's pleasure, in the last Session of the Assembly, for establishing the Parochial divisions of the Pro- vince, and for the Incorporation of the Cities of Quebec and Montreal, will be confirmed, and finally enacted by His Majesty in Council with the least possible delay, and I expect to be able very shortly to transmit to Your Lordship the ne- cessary Orders in Council, for that purpose. 1 very sincerely regret that the Bill passed for the legal establishment of Parishes in the month of March 1829, should have been defeated by the delay which occurred in transmitting the official confirmation by the King in Council, many months elapsed after its arrival in this Kingdom, before that form could be observed, and His late Majesty's protracted illne».s, delayed still longer the bring- ing it under the consideration of the King in Council. If it should be the opinion of the Colonial Legislature that additional pro- visione are wanting to enable the local authorities in Counties, Cities or Parishes, to regulate their own more immediate affairs, Your Lodship will understand that you are at liberty to assent, in His Majesty's name, to any well considered Laws which may be presented to you for that purpose. Seventhly. — I proceed to the next subject of Complaint, which is, that un- certainty and confusion has been introduced into the Laws for the security and regulation of property, by the intermixture of different Codes of Laws and Rules of proceeding in the Courts of Justice. The intermixture to which the Address refers, so far as I am aware, arises from the English Criminal Code having been maintained by the British Statute of 1774, and from the various Acts of Parliament which have introduced into the Province the Soccage Tenure, and subjected all Lands so holden to the En- glish rules of alienation and descent. As a mere matter of fact, there can be no doubt, that the infusion of these partsof the Law of England into the Provincial Code, was dictated by the most . . ' sincere 9 II est flatteur de voir que cette plainte est accompogn^e de I'aveu franc que le pouvoir en question a 6t6 exerc^ avec avantage en plusieurs occasions pour la {)rosp^rit^ du Bas-Canadai. C'est, je le crains, una consequence inevitable de a connexion qui subsiste heureusement entre les deux pays, que le Parletnent exige quelque fois du corps mercanti'e du Bas-Canada, queiques sacrifices mutuels pour le bien g^n^ral de tout I'empiie. Je n'essayerai done pas de nier que leschangemens survenusdans la politique comraerciale de ce royaume, de- puis quelqnes ann^es, n'aient pu produire des inconv^niens et des pertes occa- sionnels a ce corps, puisqu'on pourrait a peine faire mention dun seul inter^t particuliSr dans la Grande Bretagiie, dont on n'ait exige queiques sacrifice pen- dr. t la m^ine p6riode. Tout ce que pcut faire la Legislation sur un sujet comme celui-ci, et une progression ccnstante, quoique graduelle, vers les grands ob- jets qui sont le but d'un systfeme 6claire de r^glemens commerciaux. Le relfi* chement des restrictions imposecs au Commprpe dos Colonies Britanniques, et ic Ucveiuppcment de leurs ressources n'ont jamais ete perdus de vue au milieu des changemens auxquels I'Adresse fait allusion ; et j'atteuds avec confiance de la candeur de la Chambre d'Assemblee, qu'elle admettra que, dails I'en- semble, on a fait des progrc-s assez marques vers ces grandes fins. Elle pent ^tre assur6e que le Gouvernement de Sa Majest^i adhcrera constamment k ces principes dans toute modification des lois cxistantes qu'il pourra par la suite avoir occasion de recommander au Parlenient. Sixi^inennent. L'Assemblee dans son Adresse procfede h exposer ; que les habitans des difl'6rentes Villes, Paroisses, Townsliips et places extra-parois- siales et Comt^s de la Province, souffrent du manque de pouvoirs l^gaux suffi- sans pour re'gler et regir leurs aflaires locales. jesuis bien aise qu'il se pr^sente maintenant une occasion de faire ^clater led^'sirdu Gouvernement de Sa Majestd de cooperer avec la Legislature locale au redressement de tout Grief do cette nature. Les trois Bills que Votre Sei- gneurie a transmis pour la signification du bon plaisir de Sa Majesty, passes dans la derni^re Session dc I'Assembluc, pour etublir les divisions paroissiales de la Province, et pour incorporer les Cites de Quebec et de Montr, et des divers Actes du Parlementqui ontintroduit dans la Province la Tenure Soc- cag^re, et soumis toutes les terres ainsi tenues aux regies d' Alienation et d« Succession des lois Anglaises. Comme simple matiere de fait, il ne peut y avoir de doute qui I'infusion de ces parties des lois d' Angleterre dans le code Provincial, a et6 dict^ par le d^sir le 10 sincere wish to promote the General welfare of the people of Lower Cuhada. 1 his wus especially the case with regard to the Criminal Law, and is suHiciently apparent from the language of the eleventh Section of the Statute 14, Geo. III. Chap. 83, with regnrd to the advantage to be anticipated from the substitution of Tenure in Socc^ge for Feudal services, I may remark that Parliament could scarcely be otherwise than sincerely convinced of the benefits of that measure, since the maxims ou which they proceeded, arc in accordance with the conclu- sions of almost all theoretical Writers and practical Statesmen. lam not indeed anxious to show that these views were just, but I think it not immaterial to .have pointed out that the errors, if any, which they involve, can be attributed only to a sincere zeal for the good of those whom the enactments in question more ini- mcdiately afftct. I Ailiv niliiiit, hun-crer, timt tl>i« ia n RiiUicct of local and mtcmal policy, upon which far greater weight is due to the deliberate judgment ol cnlignieneil un;ii in the Province, tliair to any external authority whatever. Your Lordship will announce to the Council and Assembly, His Majesty's entire disposition to con- cur with them in any measures which they may think best adapted for ensuring a calm and comprehensive survey of those subjects in all their bearings. It will then remain with the two Houses to provide such Laws as may be necessary to ren- der the Provincial Code more uniform and better adapted to the actual condiiion ot society in Lower Canada. To any Lawii prepared for that purpose, and calcu- lated to advance it. His Majesty's Assent will be given with the utmost satisfac- tion. It is possible that a work of this nature would be be.st executed by Com- missioners to be especially designated for the purpose. Should such be Your Lordship's opinion, you wi!l suggest that mode of proceeding to both Houses of the Provincial Legislature, who, 1 am convinced, would willingly incur what- ever expense may be inseparable from such an undertaking, unless they should themselves be able to originate any plan of enquiry and proceeding at once equally eti'ectivc and economical. Eighthly. — The Administration of Justice is said to have become inefficient and unnecessarily expensive. As the Provincial Tribunals derive their present Constitution from local Statutes, and not from any exe.ci>e of His Majesty's proiogative, it is not within the ])ower of the King to improve the mode of administering the Law, or to diminish the costs of litigation. Your Lordship will, however, assure the House of Assembly that His Majesty is not only ready, but de- sirous, to co-operate with them in any improvements of the judicial system, which the wisdom and experience of the two Houses may suggest. Your Lordship will ini mediately ussont to any Bills which may be passed for that purpose, excepting in the highly improbable event of their being found open to some ap{)arently conclusive objection. Even in that case, however, you will reserve any Bills for improving the administration of the Law for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure, instead of immediately rejecting them. Ninthly. — The Address then states that the contusion and uncertainty of which the House complains, has been greatly increased by enactments affec- ting real property in the Colony, made in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, since the establishment of the Provincial Legislature, without those interested having even had an opportunity uf being heard ; and particularly by a recent decision on one of the said enactments in the Provincial Court of Appeals. His Majesty's Government can have no controversy with the House uf Assembly upon this subject. The House cannot state in stronger terms than they are disposed to acknowledge the fitness of leaving to the Legis- lature of Lower Canada exclusively, the enactment of every law which may be required respecting real property within thut Province, » ; 11 filus sinc^re d'avancer le bien-£tre g£n6falc du pcuple du Bas-Canada. cela a ^te ecas, surtont pourlcs lois criminellcs, et c'est ce qui paraitra assez clair par le laiigage dc la Onzi^me Section du Statut de la 14e Geo. 3. Chap. 83, touchant leg avantages qui doivent r<-sulter dela substitution de la tenure soccag&re aux services feodeaiix , je puis remarquer que le Parlement ne pouvaitgu^re etre mu que par la conviction sincere des avantages de cette mesure, d'autant plus que les maxi< nies d'apres lesquelles il proceda, s'accordent avec les opinions de presques toute les \ la signification du bon plaisir de Sa Majeste', au lieu dc les rejetter sur le champ. Neuviemenient. — L'Adresse expose alor» que la confusion et Tincertitade doiit la Chambrc se plaint ont et^ angmenteesde beaucoup par des Actcs afiectant les biens-fonds de la Colonic, passes dans le Parlement du Woyaume-Uni, depuis I '£tablissement de la Legislature Provinciale, sans que les interesses eussent eu mtnie I'occasion d'etre entendus, et surtout par une decision recente sur un de ces Actes dans la Cour d'Appel Provinciale. II ne pent y avoir sur ce sujet aucune dispute entre Je Gouvernem rt de Sa Majest6 ct la Cnambre d'Assembli'e. La Chambre ne saurait exposer en termes plus forts, que cenx dans lesquels il est dispose a la reconnaitre, la convenaoce de laisser exclnsivement a la L/'gis- lature du Bas-Cnnada la passation de toute loi qui pourra £tre necessaire pour re* gir la propriete dans cette Province. '■ i; 1 f ' rR-'» j2 It cannot be denied, that, at a former period, a difl^rent opinion was entertained by the British Government, and that the Statute Book of this Kingdom contains various' regulations on the subject of Lands ia Lower Canada, which might perhaps have been more conveniently enact- ed in the Province itself. I apprehend, however, that this interference of Parliament was never invoked except on the pressure of some supposed ne- cessity ; and that there never was a period in which such Acts were in- troduced by the Ministers ut the Crown without reluctance. To a certain extent the Statute 1 Will. 4. Cap. — which was passed at the instances of Hid Majesty's Government in the last Session of Parliament, has anticipated the complaint to which I am referring, and has prevented its recurrence by authorizing the local Legislature to regulate whatever relates to the incidents of soccage tenure in the Province, without reference to any real or supposed repugnancy of any such regulations to the Law of England. If there is any otner pare of the Biiiisfi HtatutcLnw bonrin^ up.>n thU topic to which the Council and Assembly shall object, His Majesty's Government will be prepared to recommend to Parliami nt that it should be repealed. Tenthly— It is stated that several of th^. Judges of the Courts in the Province have long been engaged in, and have even taken u nublic part in the political affairs and differences of the Province, at the same time holding offices at pleasure, and situations incompatible with the due discharge of their jud'cial functions. Under this head again, it is very gratifyinp; to the Ministers of the Crown to find that they had in a great measure obviated by anticipation the com- plaint of the House of Assembly. In the despatch which I addressed to your Lordship on the 8lh of February, No. 'i'2. evciy arrangement was made which could either by suggested or carried into effect by I lis Majesty's authority for removing the Judges of the Province from a. I connection with its po- litical affairs, and for rendering them independent, at oace of the authority of the Crown, and th- control of the other branches of the Legislature, thus placing them exactly in the same position as 'Iiat of the Judges of the Supreme Courts at Westminster. The Judges themselves have, it appears, with laudable promptitude, con- curred in giving etiect to these recommendations, by discontinuing tlieir at- tendance at the Executive Council. Nothing thiiefbrc, in fact remains for terminating all discussion upon this subject, but that the House of Assembly should make such a permanent provision for the Judges, as without exceed- ing a just remuneration may be adequate to their inclependent maintenance in that rank of life wiiich belongs to the dignity of their station. 1 am not aware that any Judge in Lower Canada holds any othce, excepting that of Executive (Councillor, during the pleasure of the Crown, or which is in any respect incompatib'e with the due iliiscimigc of lii» oftici d IVmctloiiB. If any such case exists, Yoiu" lordship will have the goodness immediately to report to me all the circumstances by wh ch it may be attended, in ordi r that the necessary in- structions on the si bject may be given. In the mean time I may state without reserve, that no Judge can be permitted to retain any otiice corresponding with the desciiption thus given by the llousi; of Assembly, in combination with that inde* pendent position on the Bench to which I have referred. Eleventhly — The Address proceeds to state, that during alonaf scries of years. Executive and Judiciary ofliccs have been bestowed almost exclusively upon one class of suljccts in the IVoviu' c, ami ( specially tipon those the least connected by properly or otherwise witii its permanent Inhabitants, or who have shewn themselves the most averse to the rifflits, liberties and iiuerosts of the People. It is added that several of these persons avail themselves oCth • means afforded by their situa- tons to prevent thi* constitutional and harmonious co-opetatiou of the Government and the House of Assembly, and to excite ill feeling and discord between them, while they are remiss in tiieir diflercnt situations to forward the public business. irent opinion tatute Book of Lands ia iently enact* erference of upposed ne- ts were in- as passed at Parliament, revented its relates to the to any real >t' England. i»n tiiU topic Government repealed. )iirts in the iblic part in ime iiolding irge of their I' the Crown n the com- !sed to your made which s authority nth its po- lority of the hus placing le Suj)reme litude, con- ; their at- *emains for f Assembly outexceed- naintenance ^ '» excepting ch is in any f any sucFi t to me all cessary in- itc without ig with the li that indc> es of years, ' upon one nnected by themselves t is added their situa- overnmint k'cen them, usiness. , On ne pent nier qu'^ une epoque ant^ienre le Gouvemement Britannique avait une opinion diff^iente, et que le livre des Statuts de ce Royaume, contient touchant les terres du Bas-Canada, divers r^glemens qui auraient peut-^tre ^t6 passes avec plus de convenance dans la Province mt)me ; je croirais cepsndant qu'on n'a invoqu^ I'intervention du Parlement, que dans des cas d'urgence et de n6- cessitt' supposees, etque ce n'a jamais 6ti sans repugnance que les Ministresde Sa Majeste ont inti oduits de tels Actes. Le Statut ler. Guillaume IV. Chap : qui fut passe a I'instancedu Gou- vemement de Sa Majesty dans la derni^re Session du Parlement, a jusqti'a un certain point, anticipe les plaintcs dont je fais maintenant mention, et en previent le retour en autorisant la Legislature locale a r^gler tout ce qui a rapport aux inci- dents de la tenure soccagere dans la Province, sans ^gard pour aucune difference reelle ou sapposee, qui pourra se trouver entre ses reglemens et leslois d'Angle- terre. S'ily a d'autres parties des Statuts Britanniques relatives h ce point, aux- quelloB loConseilctl'AsseiiiblOe objecteront, !e Gouvernement de Sa Majeste sera pret ii recommander au Parlement de les revoquer. Dixi^mcment. — U ct d;t que plusieurs des Juges des Cours de la Province se sont trouv^s mf-lcs, et oni nris une part publique dans les aH'aires et disputes po- litiques de la Province, tenant a la fois des offices sous bon plaisir, et des situations incompatibles avec la dueexecution deleurs fonctionsjudiciaircs. Sur ce point encore, il est tres-flatteiir pour les Ministres de la Couronnede voir, (lu'ils ont en grande partie remc'die d'avance a la plainte de laChambre d"As- aemblte. Dans la Di'p^che que j'adressai a votic Seigneurie le 8 Fcvrier, No. 22., il a eti- pris tous les arrangemens qui pouvaient etre sugger^s et s'eftectuer par ruutorit('' de Sa Majeste pour retirer les J'lges de la Province de toute connexion avec les affaires politiques, et pour les rendre independans et de Tiiutoriti^de la Couronneet du Controle des autrcs branches dc la Legislature, les pln9ant ainsi dans la meme position cxactement que les Juges des Cours Supremes h West- minster. Les Juges eux-mcmcs, ont a ce qn'il parait, concouru avec une louable promptitude, i\ donner effbt a ces recommandations, en cessant d'assister au Con- aeil Executif. Ainsi, il ne rcstc plus a faire pour terminer toute discussion sur ce sujet, qu'une allocation permanente jiour les Juges par laChambre d'Assemblee, laquelle allocation sans exci'der une juste rclribution devra ctre suttisante pour leur assurer unecxistancc ind' pendantc dans Ic rang qu ils doivent occuperdans laSo- ci(!'le d'aprts la dignite de leur charge. Je ne sache pasqu'aucun Juije dans le Bas-Canada tiennc aucun officCj au- tre que celui de Conscilkr Executif, durant bon plaisir, ou qui soit sous nucun lapport incompatible avec la due exrcution de ses fonctions ofticielles. Si tel cas existe votre Seigneurie aura la bont6 de nie faire incessamment rapport de toutes lescirconstaiiccsqui peuvent laccompagner, afin que les instructions m'cessaires sur le sujet soientdonnecs. Dans I'intci valle, je puis dire sans reserve, quil ne pent etrepcrmis ;\ aucun Juge dc retenir aucun cilice dc la nature de ceux dont parle ici I'Asscmblee, en combinaison avec cctte position independantc sur Ic Banc i\ laquelle j'ai fait allusion. Onzitmet.ieut. — L'Adiesse expose ensiiite, que pendant une longiie suite d'anut'es, les Offices Exi'culifs et Judiciaircs ont etc presquc cxdusivemcnt ac- cord'.'s a une classe de Siijets dans la Province, et specialement de ceux qui se trouvaicnt avoir par la proprie'te ou autromcnt, le nioins de liaison avec la po- pulation Hxe d(i pays, ou qui se sont montros le plus opposes aux droits, libert^s et int( rets du peuple ; il est ajoute que plusieurs de ces gens proh'tent des moyens que leur fournisscnt Icurs situations pour empecher la co operation constitu- tiunnelle etla boime intelligence d'cxister entre le (Jouvcrnement et la Chambre d'Assemblee, et pour exciter entr'cux la mesintelligence et la discorde, tandis qu'ils sont negligens dans leurs differcntcs situations a avanccr les affaires pu- blii 1" (.8. 14 ^2 I quote thus largely tlie language oft he Address, because I am desirous to meet every part of it in the most direct manner as well as the most conciliatory spirit. It is not from any want of thi^t spirit that I recommend you to suggest for the consideration of the House of Assembly how far it is possible tluit His ' Majesty should clearly understand or effectually redress a grievance which is brought under his notice in terms thus indefinite. If any publip officers can be named, who are guilty of such an abuse of their powers, and of such remissness in their duties as are implied in the preceding quotation. His Majesty would not be slow to vindicate tha I'ublic Interest, by removing any such persons from service. If it can bi.> shewn, that the patronage of tho Crown has been exercised upon any narrow and exclusive maxims, they cannot be too entirely disavowed and abandoned, especially if it be true, that the permanent Inhabitants of the Colony do not enjoy ivfiill paiticipation in all Public Employ- ments. The House of Assembly may be assured, that His Majesty can have no de- sire that any such invidious distlticiiuns should b« systomatit^ally iniiiiitaincd. Be- yond this general statement it is not in my power to advance. I am entirely ignorant of the specific cases to which the general ex; lessiuns of the Assembly point. I can only state that since His IMajcsty was jileascd to entrust to iiiysclf the Seals of this Department no opportunity has occurred lor exercising tlie patronage of the Crown in Lower Canada to which it is possible that the Ass>.inbly can refer; nor have my enquiries brouglit to light any particular case of a more remote date to which their language would appear to be applicable. TweUthly — The next subject of conij)lai!it is developed in the following words •.— that their exists no sutHcient responsibility on the |)art of the persons hold- ing these situations, nor any adequate accountability among those of them entrusted with Public Money, the consequence of which has b en flic misapplication of large hums of Public Money, the loss of large sums of Public Money,, and of the money of Individuals by Defaulters, with whom Deposits were made under legal authority, hitherto without reimbursement, or redress having bem obtained notwithstanding thf humble representations of Your Petitioners. It would be impossible without a violation of truth, to deny that at a period not very remote, heavy losses were sustained, both by the Public and by Indiiidnals fiom the whnt of p oper securities having been taken by Pid)lic .\ccountants, and still more from the want of a proper system of passing; and auditing these Accounts. I find, however, that in his Despatch of the '2!)il) September, iSiS, .Sir (Jcorge Murray adverted to this subject in terms to which 1 lind it difficult to make anv uscfid addition. His words are as follows, •' tlie complaints which have reaclud *' this Office respecting the inadequate security given by the Receiver General and " the yheiifls for thj due applii ation of Public Money in their hands have not *• escaped the very serious attention of the Ministers of the Cirown. The most •* effectual security against abuses of this nature would he to prevent the accuinu- " lation of balances in tbu bands uf Public vVccountunts by ol)liging tliom to ex- " hibit their Account to some conqietent authority at short intervals, and im- " mediately to pay over the asccrtainj-nl balance. The proof of having pmictuallv " performed this duty shoidd be made the indispensible condition of receiving " their salarii. s, and of their continuance in office." In the Colony of New South Wales, a Uegidation of this nature has been established, under His Majesty "s Instructions to the (lovernor of that Settlement, and it has been productive of great public convenience, if a similar practice were introduced in Lower Canada for the Regulation of the Office of lleceiver Clcneral, and fr that of Sheriff, the only apparent difficulty would be to find a a safe place of deposit for their balances. I am however, authorized to state, that the Fiords Commissioners of His Majesty s Treasury will hold themselves responsible to the I'rovinee for any "sum which the Receiver (leneral or Sheriff • nniy pay over to the Conmiissary (iencral. Your I'.xcellency, llurefbre, will • propose to the Legislative Council and .Assembly the KuMctment of u Law • binding these Officers to render account of the Keccijits at short Intervals, ' and to pay over the Ilahuiccs in their hands to the Commissary (ieneral, upuii I 5f 15 ' Je fapporte ainsi au l«r ^ le langage de I'Adresse, car je suis prfit a la ren- contFer dans toutes ses ;^if de la maniere la plus directe, et en m^me temps dans I'esprit le plus conciii , re. Ce n 'est pas du tout le manque de cet esprit qui me portc a vous rccoinaiaiidcr de suggdrer a la consideration de la Cham- bre d'Assemblee, jusqua quel point il est possible pour Sa Majesty d'entendre clairement, et de redresser efficacement unGri^fqui lui est expose en termes si in- detinis. Si I'oa peut nommer quclque Officier public, qui se soit rendu cou- pablc dun abus de ses pouvoirs ct d'une negligence dans ses devoirs tels que le comporte la citation qui precede, Sa Majeste se hatera de venger I'int^rct pu- blic en le destituant de service. Si on peut montrer que le patronage de la Cou- ronne a dte exerc6 d'apriis des principes etroits et exclusifs, on ne pent trop les disavouer et les abandonner : surtout, s'il est vrai que la population fixe de la Colonic ncjouisse pas d'une pleine participation ii toutes les emplois publics, la Cliambre d'Assemblee peut ^trc assur6e que Sa Majeste ne peut desirer que <1o8 diatinct!oiis aussi udieusu soieiitsyst(imatiquelement maintenu. II est hers de nion pouvoir de rien avancer au dela de cet exposd g^n(5ral. J'igmirc mtiiircmcnt les cas particuliers, auxquels les esfpressions gcn^rales de rAssemblt'c sappliqucnt. Tout ce que je puis dire c'cst que clepuis le temps qu'il a plu .\ Sa Majeste de me confier le Sceau de ce Dc'partement, il ne s'est j.ircscnte aucune occasion d'oxcrccr le pationajre de la Couronne dans le Bas- Canada a laq'uelle I'Asscmbiec puissc fiure allusion, ct les reclierches quej'ai i'aites ne inc iournisscnt aucuu cas particuliers d'une date plus reculee, que ses paroles somb!eraicnt designer. Douzi^'inemont : — Le sujetde pluintcsuivant est developp(:5 dans les termes qui suiveiit : Qu'il n'y a pas une responsabilit^ suffisante a I'cgard de ceux qui oecupent ces places, ni de coinptabilitd convenablc pour ceux qui ont le nianie- nient des deniers publics, d'oi\ sont resultes les mauvais emplois de sommes de deniers considerables, soit pour le public soit pour les parti juliers, par la faute defniictionnaires cutre les mains desquels ces sommes <"taient depos^es en vertu dc la loi, sans ce remade cHieace, et sans que ces sommes aient ctd rem- boursees jiisqu'a cejour, nonobstant les humbles repi'esentations de vos Peti- tionnaires. II serait impossihls, sans violerla verite, denier qu'a une (fpoque qui n'est pas ties reeul(5c le public et les particuliers n'aient soutfert des pertes par suite de ce que les Comptables publics n'avaicnt pas donne des suret^s suffisantes, et encore phis par le mi.nqiie d'lin sjKtime convenable d'njustement et d'audi- t ion (le ces Compti s, Jc vois cepoiidant que dans la depecbe du 29 septembre 182H, Sir George Murray s'appliqua sur ce sujet en termes auxquels je trouve qu'il serait dilticile de pouvoir utilenient ricn ajouter. II s'exprima ainsi. '• Les " plaintes qui sunt parvenues a ce Bureau au snjetdes suretes insuffisantes, que " donnint le Ileceveur G(^ntial et les Sherifs pour la due application des deniers " publics qui sont entrcleurs mains, n'unt pas £chapp6 a 1 attention la plus sd- " rieuse des Ministres de la Couronne. Lii sftret^ la plus efficace centre' les «' abiis dc cette nature serait d'cmpechcr qu'il ne s'accuniuh\t des sommes con- " siderables cntro les mains des comptables publics, en les obligeani -de pr<5- •• scnter leiirs Comptes ;\quclque autorit^ competentc, i\de courts intervalles " etde payer immediatement la balance 6tablie. La preuve d'avoir ponctuel- ♦* lenient reinpli ce devoir, devrait venir une condition indispensable de la r6 " ception de leurs salaires etde leur continuation en office. Dans la Colonic dc la Nouvelle Galle Mrfridionale, il a^te etabli un rtfgle- nient de cette nature d'aprtis les instructions de Sa Majesty au Gouverneur de cet (■tablissement, et il en est r(f'sult6 un grand avantage public. Si on intro- duisuit une semblable pratique danslo Bas-Canada, ;\ I'egard du Bureau du Re- ceveur General et de ccltii des Sli^rifs, la seulc difficulK: qui rcstcrait serait dc tvouvc- 16 !■ 1 *' condition that that Officer shall be bound on demand to deliver Bills on *< His Majesty's Treasury, for the amount of his receipts. I trust that in this " proposal the Legislature will find a proof of the earnest desire of His Ma^ , *' jesty's Government to provide, as far as may be practicable, an effectual re- *• medy for every case of real grievance." If the preceding Instructions have proved inadequate to the redress of the inconvenience to which they refer, I can assure Your Lordship of the cordial . concurrence of His Majesty's Government in any more effective measures which nay ba recommended for the purpose, either by yourself or by either of the - Houses of the Provincial Legislature. The losses which the Province sustained by the default of the late Mr. Cald- well, is a subject which (lis Majesty's Government contemplate with the deepest regret, — a feeling enhanced by the painful conviction of their inability to aitbrd to the Provincial Revenue any adequate compensation for so serious an injury. What is in their power they nave gladly done by ilie iusiiuction conveyed to Your Lordship in the early part of this Despatch, to place at the disposal of the Legislature, for general purposes, the sum of £'if\54> I5s. 4^d. recovered from Mr. Caldwell's property. — J he Assembly will, I trust, accept this as a proof of the earnest desire of His Majesty's Government to consult, to the utmost of their ability, the p. ciiniaiy interests of the Province. Thirteenthly, The Address proceeds to state, " the evil of this state of " thini;s has been greatly nggravatcd by enactments made in the Parliament of " the United Kingdom, without even the knowledge of the people of this Co- " lony, which enactments have rendered temporary Duties imposed by the Pro- " viacial Legislature permanent, leaving in the hands of Public Officers over whom •• the Assembly has no efftctual control, large sums of money arising within this " Province, which are applied by persons subject to no sufficient accountability.'* I understand this complaint to refer to the 21st Clause of the Stat. 3, Geo. 4, Cap. 119. The Duties mentioned in that enactment are continued until some Act for repealing or altering them shall be passed by the Legislative Council and Assembly of Lower Canada ; and until a Copy of any such new Act shall have been transmitted to tlio Governor of Upper Canada, and shall have been laid before both Houses of Parliament, and Assentcu to by His Majesty. The mo- tives for this enactment is expla ncd in the Preamble to have been the necessity of obviating the evils experienced in the Upper Province, from the exercise of an exclusive control by the Legislature of Lower Canada, over Imports and Ex- ports at the I'ort of Quebec. I acknowledjjte without reserve, that nothing but the necessity of medi.iting between the two Provinces could have justified such ah interference by Parliament ; and that if any adequate security can be devised againsi the recurrence of similar difhculties, the enactment ought to be repealed. The peculiar Geo vapliical position of Upper Canada, enjoying no access to the Sea, except through a Province wholly independent of itself on tho one hand, or through a Uorei^n State on the other, was supposed, in the year 1822, to have created the necessity for enacting so peculiar a Law for its protection. I should be much gratified to learn that no such necessity exists at present, or can be reasonably anticipated hereafter; for upon sufficient evidence of that fact His Majesy's C>overnment woild at once recommend to Parliament the repeal of that part of the Statute to which the Address of the House of Assembly i-efers. The Ministers of the Crown would tvcn be satisfied to propose to Parliament the repeal of the enactment in question, upon proof that the Legislature of the Upper Province deem such protection superfluous. Perhaps it may be found practicable to arrange this matter by Communication between the Legislatures of the two Provinces. The Ministers of the Crown are prepared to co-operate to the fullest ex- tent in any measure which the two Legislatures shall concur in recommending for i r trouver une place de D^p6t s{^r pour Ics balances qu'ils auraienten caisse. Je suis autoris^ cependant c\ dire que les Lords Commissaires de la Tr^sorerie de Sa Majest6 se tiendront responsables envers la Province de toute " somme que *• le ReceveurG6ii6ralou le Sharif pourront verser entre les mains du Commis- " saire General. Votre Excellence proposera done "u Conseil Legislatif et i . " I'Assembl^e, de passer une loi qui obligera ces officiers k rendre compte de " leurs recettes ^ de courts intervalles, et a verser les balances qui seront entre " leurs mains entre celles du Commissaire General, a condition que cat Offi- *• cierseratenu ;\ demande, defournirdes lettres de chanjic sur la Tresorerie de " Sa Majestc, pour la montant de sesrecettes. Je me flatte que la Legislature " verra dans cctte proposition unepreuvedu vifdesir qu"a le Gouvernement de •' Sa Mnjest6 d'apptiquer autant que la chose sera pruticable un renifide efficace " i\ tons cas de Grief reel." Si les Instructionspr6cedent.es sesont trouvees ins'iffisantes pour remedier au mal dont etlcs parlent.je puis assurer Votre Seigncurie du concours cordial d^ Gouvernement dfi Sa Majeste ;\ toutp mpsmo plmctficocc qui pounu £tro lecom- mander a cet fin, soit par vous meme, soit par I'une ou I'autre branche de la Le^ gislature Provinciale. Les pertes que la Province a souffertes par la dL'falcation de feu M. Caldwell, est un sujet que le Gouvernement de Sa Majestc voit avec leplus profond regret, qui se trouve encore angmente par la penible conviction de son incapacite de (lonner aux revenus provinciaux aucune compensation ^tjale ^ une perte aussi considerable. Toutcequ'il est en son pouvoir de f.iire, il Ta fait debon coeur, par I'instruction qui est donnie ;\ Votre Seigneurie, dans laprfemi^re fiartie de cette d(?pcche, de mettre a h\ c'isi osition de la Lt'gislature, pour es fins gen 'rales, la somme de £7154, 15s, 4id, recouvrie sur les biens de M.- Caldwell. J'espure que I'Assemblee accepteia ceci comme unepreuve ilu vifdesir qu'a le Gouvernement de SaMojestede consultcr de son mieux les interets pecuni- aires de la Province. TreiziemiMuent : — L'adresse expose aussi, "que les maux resu'tans de cet " etatde thosrsont tte considerablement aggravt's par les lois pass^es dans le Par- " lenient du Uoyaume-Uni, sans mC'iue la conna'ssauce du peuplede ce pays, qui *♦ ont rendu peimanens des impots fixrs fem[)orairement par la Legislature Pro- •' vineiale, ct laissaut entre les mains d'otficitrs publics sur lesquels la C hambre " d"Asseml;U'e ne pent exerccraucun conlrole efficace, des sominesconsid;.M'ables *' prc'leviLS dans la province, pour ^tre empioyies par des personnes qui ne sont " pas assiijetties a un systemc sutlisant de comj)tabiiite.'' .le vois que cette plainte a rapport a la 21 e clause du Statiit de la 3e, Geo. 4, Chap. II!). Los (Irots mentionnt's dans cet acte sont continii sjiisqu'i\ ce que le Conse I .L'gislatif ct I'Assemblee du l?;is-Canada aient passe un acte pour les r^- voquerou alt rer, ( t jusqu'a cc qu'une copie d'un tel acte ait ttetiansmise au Gou- verneui du Hant-Canuda, et aitete' mise (levant les deux Chambresdii Parlement et ait rc^u ra.ssentiment de Sa Majeste. Le preambule de I'acte donne pour mo- tif de sa passation la necessit(^' d'obvicraiix maux que souttVait la Province sup6- rieurc p r ,^uite de I'excrcice d'un controle exclusif par la Legislature du Bas-Ca- nada, sur I'mportation ct I'cxportation du port de Oui^bec. .Je leeonuais sans nserve que Ja necessite de se porter m£diateur entre les deux Provinc ,i | u seiile justifier une pareille intervention de la part du Parlement, et Sue 6i Ton pent foui nir quelque garantie sutHsanle centre le recours de pareilles dif- cultc-, cet ac e devra etre revoque. On suppose en 1822 que la position G^o- graphique particulierc du Haut-Canada, qui ne pcut communiquer avec la mer que par une province tout-a-fait ind^pcndante de lui, d'un c6t^, ou par un 6tat Stranger de I'autre, rendaitla passation dune loi aussi irreguli^re, ndcessaire pour le protegcr Je serai bien flatte d'apprendre qu'une telle necessity n'existe pas ii pr^sen , ou q I'ou pent raisonnablement esp&rer qu'elle ne se presentera plus a I'avenir ; c r auss tot que le Gouvernement de Sa Majeste aura pardevers lui db» preuves suili.'^aiitesde cc fait, il rccommandera au Parlement la r(Jvocation de cette partie du .stut it, auquel se rapporte l'adresse de la Chambrc d'Assembl^Ct i I r IS for the ameDdnaent or repeal of the Statute 3 Geo. IV. Chap, 119, Section 28. Fourteenthly. — .The selection of the Legislative Cooncillors, and the Con> stitution of that Body, which forms the last subject of Complaint in the Address, I shall not notice in this place, any further than to say that it will form the mat- ter of a separate Communication, since the topic is too extensive and important to be conveniently embraced in my present Despatch. The preceding review of the Questions brought by the House of Assem- bly, appears to me entirely to justify the expectations which I hav6 expressed at the commencement of this Despatch, of a speedy, effectual and amicable ter- mination of the protracted discussions of several years. It would be injurious to the House of Assembly to attribute to them any such captious spirit as would keep alive a contest upon a few minor and insignificant details, after the state ment I have made of the general accordance between the views of His Majes- ty's Government, and their own, upon so many important questions of Cana- dian policy. Little indeed remains for debate, and that little will, I am con- vinced, be discussed Wllll ftelinga of mutiMl kta