exclusive maxim, they cannot be too entirely disavowed and abandoned, especially if it be true, that the permanent inhabitants of the colony do not enjoy a full participation in all public employments. The House of Assembly may be assured, that his Majesty can have no desire that any such invidious distinctions should be systematically maintained. Beyond this general statement it is not in my power to advance. I am entirely ignorant of the specific cases to which the general expressions of the Assembly point. I can only state, that since his Majesty was pleased to entrust to myself the Seals of the Department, no opportunity has occurred for exercising the patronage of the crown in Lower Canada, to which it is possible that the Assembly can refer; nor have any inquiries brought to light any particular case of a remote date to which their language would appear to be applicable.

Twelfthly The next subject of complaint is developed in the following words: That there exists no sufficient responsibility on the part of the persons holding these important situations, nor any adequate accountability among those of them entrusted with public money, the consequence of which has been the misapplication 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 been obtained notwithstanding the 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 individuals from the want of proper securities having been taken by public accountants, 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 29th September, 1828, Sir George Murray adverted to this subject in terms to which I find it difficult to make any useful addition. His words are as follows: 'The complaints which have reached this office respecting the inadequate security given by the Receiver General and the Sheriffs for the due application of public money in their hands have not escaped the more serious attention of the Ministers of the crown. must effectual security against abuses of this nature would be to prevent the accumulation of balances in the hands of public accountants, by obliging them to exhibit their accounts to some competent authority at short intervals, and immediately to pay over the ascertained balance. The truth of having punctually performed this duty should be made the indispensable condition of receiving their salaries, and of their continuance in office.'

The

In the country of New South Wales a regulation of this nature has been established under his Majesty's instructions to the Governor of that settlement, and it has been productive of great public convenience. If a similar practice were introduced in Low

er Canada for the regulation of the office of Receiver General, and for that of Sheriff, the only apparent difficulty would be to find a safe place of deposit for their balances. I am, however, authorized to state, that the Lords Cominissioners of his Majesty's Treasury will hold themselves responsible to the Province for any sum which the Receiver General or Sheriff may pay over to the Commissary General. Your Excellency therefore, will propose to the Legislative Council and Assembly the enactment of a law binding these officers to render account of the receipts at short intervals, and to pay over the balances in their hands to the Commissary General, upon 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 Majesty's Government to provide, as far as may be practicable, an effectual remedy 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 may be recommended for the purpose either by yourself, or by either Houses of the Provincial Legislature.

The losses which the Province sustained by the default of the late Mr Caldwell is a subject which His Majesty's Government

contemplate with the deepest regreta feeling enhanced by the painful conviction of their inabil ity to afford to the Provincial Revenue, any adequate compensation for so serious an injury. What is in their power they have gladly done by the instruction 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 £7,154 15s 44d recovered from Mr Caldwell's property. The 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 pecuniary interests of the Province.

Thirteenthly The address proceeds to state' the evils of this state of things have been greatly aggravated by enactments made in the Parliament of the United Kingdom without even the knowledge of the people of this colony, which enactments have rendered temporary duties imposed by the Provincial Legislature permanent, leaving in the hands of public officers over whom the Assembly has no effectual control, large sums of money arising within this Province, which are appled by persons subject to no sufficient accountability.

I understand this complaint to refer to the 21st clause of the stat. 3, George IV, cap. 129. 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 the Governor of Upper Canada, and shall have been laid before both Houses of Parliament and assented to by his Majesty. The motive for this enactment is explained 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 Exports at the Port of Quebec. I acknowledge without reserve, that nothing but the necessity of mediating between the two Provinces could have justified such an interference by Parliament; and that if any adequate security can be devised against the recurrence of similar difficulties, the enact ment ought to be repealed. The peculiar geographical position of Upper Canada, enjoying no access to the sea, except through a Province wholly independent of itself on the one hand, or through a foreign 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 Majesty's Government would at once recommend 10 Parliament the repeal of that part of the statute to which the address of the House of Assembly refers. The Ministers of the Crown would even be satisfied to propose to Parliament the result 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 communications between the Legislatures of the two Provinces.

The Ministers of the Crown are prepared to co-operate to the fullest extent in any measure which the two Legislatures shall concur in recommending for the amendment or repeal of the Statute, 3, George IV, cap. 119, sect. 28.

Fourteenthly-The selection of the Legislative Councillors, and the constitution 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 matter of a separate communication, since the topic is too extensive and important to be conveniently embraced in my present despatch.

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The preceding review of the question brought by the House of Assembly, appears to me entirely to justify the expectations which I have expressed at the commencement of this despatch of a speedy, effectual, and amicable termination of the protracted discussion of several years. 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 statement I have made of the general accordance between the views of his Majesty's Government and their own upon so many important questions of Canadian policy. Little indeed remains for debate, and that little will, I am convinced, be discussed

I am happy to find myself among you, in the centre of this place where France has received my oaths.

Penetrated with the duties which they have imposed upon me, I shall always give effect to the national will, of which you are the constitutional organs, and I expect on your part the frank and entire co-operation which will assure to my government that strength, without which it will be impossible to answer the expectations of the nation.

I have said, gentlemen, that the charter shall be a truth: what I have said is accomplished; the charter is the constitutional monarchy with all its conditions loyally maintained, with all its consequences frankly accepted. (Lively applause.)

It is true that by the uniform

action of all the powers of the state, we shall put an end to those prolonged agitations which feed the guilty hopes of those who work for the return of the fallen dynasty, or of those who dream of the chimera of a republic. (Loud applause from the chamber here interrupted his majesty, and loud cries of long live the king!') Divided upon the object, they agree, however, in the will to overthrow, no matter at what price, the public order, founded by the revolution of July, but their efforts shall be disconcerted or punished. (Fresh applause.)

In calling me to the throne, France has willed that the royalty shall be national; it did not desire that royalty should be powerless. A government without strength would not suit the desires of a great nation.

I have just returned from travelling in France; the proofs of affection which I have received

in this journey have very deeply touched my heart. The wishes of France are present to my thoughts you will aid me to accomplish them. Order shall be protected; liberty be guaranteed; and every factious effort confounded and repressed. Thus, that confidence will be renewed for the future which alone can reestablish the prosperity of the country.

It is to carry this into effect, it is to consolidate more and more the constitutional monarchy, that I have caused to be prepared the different projects of laws which will be proposed to you.

You will, I hope, recognise in that which has for its object the decision of a great constitutional question reserved by the charter for the examination of the chambers, that I always seek to put our institutions in harmony with the interests and wishes of the nation, enlightened by experience and matured by time.

You will have likewise to examine, conformably to the promise of the charter, the projects of the laws destined to complete the departmental and municipal organization, to determine the responsibility of ministers, and of other agents of government, and to regulate the liberty of instruction.

Some other projects of laws upon the recruiting of the army, upon the penal code, upon finance, and on different public interests, will be equally submitted to you.

I admit the whole extent of the sufferings which the actual commercial crisis has caused to the nation: I am afflicted at it,

and I admire the courage with which they have been borne. I hope that they now approach their termination, and that soon the consolidation of order will give the necessary security to the circulation of capital, and restore to our commerce and industry that spirit and activity which, under a government always guided by the national interests, can only be momentarily interrupted.

The state of our finances is satisfactory if our wants are great, abundant resources are exhibited for their aid.

The annual budgets for 1831 - 1832 will be presented to you in the opening of this session.

Reductions have been made in the different branches of the administration. They would have been carried still farther, if the increase of our means of defence, and the development of our military force, had not, up to this time, imposed upon us great sacrifices. (Bravos.)

I shall hasten to diminish this burden as soon as I have acquired the certainty of accomplishing it without compromising the dignity and safety of France.

This certainly will depend upon a general disarming. France desires this, the governments of Europe will feel its necessity, the interests of all requires it.

I have the satisfaction to announce to you, that up to the present time I have not been under the necessity of employing all the resources which the chamber had placed at my disposal.

Since the revolution of July, France has regained in Europe the rank which belongs to her.