prosperity than either of them, having no desire to be handed over to the tender mercies of republicans, and will take the liberty to refer to that instance that was so triumphantly demanded. I allude to a more deliberate opinion, the result of study and reflection, emanating not from the excitement of debate and the conflict of party spirit, but from the retirement of his closet. On a former occasion he thus expressed himself on this subject:

"Each nation derives greater benefit from having an increasing market in one of its own provinces, than in a foreign country.

"The colonial trade is always increasing and capable of indefinite augmentation; every operation of colonial traffic replaces two capitals, the employment and distribution of which puts in motion and supports the labour of the different members of the same state.

"The increasing wealth of Russia, Prussia, or Denmark, can never benefit Great Britain unless by the increasing demand for British produce which it may occasion. It may, and often is, on the contrary, turned against her wealth and power; whilst the riches of colonies have a certain tendency to widen the market for British produce, and can never injure the wealth or power of the mother country.

"The possession of remote territories is the only thing which can secure to the population of a country those advantages derived from an easy outlet, or prospect of outlet, to those persons who may be ill provided for at home.

"It is absurd to represent the defences and government of colonies as a burden. It is ridiculous for the United Kingdom to complain, that she is at the expense of governing and defending her colonial territories."

Among the benefits to be derived from the "diffusion of useful knowledge," it is certainly not the least that we are enabled to compare the professions of public men with their acts, and the actors with each other. My Lords Brougham and Durham have both travelled the same road-selected similar topics-supported them by the same arguments-and aimed at one conclusion; and yet, strange to say, they stand opposed to each other. Coming from a small province, and a very limited sphere of action, I may be allowed the privilege of a stranger, and be permitted to express my surprise. I had read in the speech to which 1 have referred, of certain commissioners of in quiry who were placed in an extraordinary situation, "where each one generally differed from his colleague in the views he took of the

argument, and frequently also from himself; but both agreeing in the conclusions at which they arrived, by the course of reasoning one way, and deciding another." It is an awkward position for men to be found in; but little did I anticipate finding the noble author illustrating, in his own person, the case he has described with such pointed and bitter irony. But this is a digression, and I must return to my subject.

Whether a country extending over such an immense space, containing such a great and growing population, and affording such an extensive and profitable trade, has been misgoverned, is therefore a question of the first importance. The affirmative of this proposition which the governor-general has advanced, has inspired the rebels with new hopes; and forms, no doubt, a principal ingredient of that satisfaction which he says his adminstration has given to the inhabitants of the neighbouring republic. It is a charge, however, in which the honour of the nation is deeply concerned, and should neither be flippantly made nor easily credited,

In the month of October following the treaty, His Majesty published his proclamation, under the great seal of Great Britain, for erect

ing four new civil governments, to wit, those of Quebec, East Florida, West Florida, and Granada, in the countries and islands in America, which had been ceded to the Crown by the definitive treaty. In this proclamation the King exhorted his subjects as well of his kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, as of his colonies in America, to avail themselves, with all convenient speed, of the great benefits and advantages that would accrue, from the great and valuable acquisitions ceded to his Majesty in America, to their commerce, manufactures, and navigation. As an encouragement to them to do so, he informed them that in the commissions he had given to the civil governors of the said four new provinces, he had given express power and directions that, so soon as the state and circumstances of the said colonies would admit thereof, they should, with the advice and consent of the members of his Majesty's councils in the said provinces, summon and call general assemblies of the people within the said governments, in such manner as was used in those colonies and provinces in America which were under his Majesty's immediate government; and that in the meantime, and until such assemblies could be called, all persons inhabiting, in, or resorting to his Majesty's said colonies,

might confide in his Majesty's royal protection for the enjoyment of the benefit of the laws of his realm of England; that for that purpose his Majesty had given power, under the great seal, to the governors of his Majesty's said new colonies, to erect and constitute, with the advice of his Majesty's said councils respectively, courts of judicature and public justice, within the said colonies, for the hearing and determining all causes, as well criminal as civil, according to law and equity, and as near as may be, agreeably to the laws of England; with liberty to all persons who might think themselves aggrieved by the sentence of such courts, in all civil cases, to appeal, under the usual limitations and restrictions, to his Majesty in his Privy Council.

On the 21st day of November 1763,* about six weeks after the publication of the aforesaid proclamation, his Majesty issued his commission of captain-general and governor-in-chief of the province of Quebec, to Major-general Murray, which was received by him, and published in the province in the month of August 1764. This commission, and the insurrection that accompanied it everywhere, pre-supposed that the laws of England were in force in the province, being * See Smith's History of Canada.