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Enjoying all the rights and privileges of British subjects, under the paternal government of our most gracious sovereign, and a wise system of laws, framed by yourselves, administered at the charge of your generous and affectionate parentWith capabilities of high statistical value, and such as these, in possession of a hardy, loyal, industrious and well disposed population:I hold not too high the advantages which you may secure to your

selves, and transmit to your descen. dants; nor indulge too freely in the hope and expectation, that New-Brunswick shall flourish in no common degree, if her inhabitants continue to show that they know how to estimate the blessings, and improve the advantages they possess; and if proper mea sures be taken by all on whom it may depend to promote and secure them.

LEGISLATURE OF NOVA SCOTIA.

From the Halifax Royal Gazette, February 11,

On Thursday, at two o'clock, his excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland, attended by his suite, went to the Council Chamber, and having taken his seat, a message was sent to the Assembly, commanding their attendance; on their entrance, his excellency opened the session with the following speech:

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of his Majesty's Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,

I have called you together at the time which best accords with the ordinary course of public bu. siness, with the desire I have felt to obtain early, for my administration, the advantage of your council and support.

It is a great satisfaction to me, that I can rely with confidence for this constitutional aid, on that temper and public spirit which have ever been so honourable to this legislature, and so productive of successful consequence to its labours.

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the
House of Assembly,

that
I am happy to acquaint you
your address respecting the dispo-
sal of the duties collected under
the statutes of the Imperial Parlia-
ment, for regulating the colonial
trade, has received the considera-
tion of his majesty's government;
and I doubt not you will discern in
the communication I am instructed
to make to you, a fresh proof of
that liberal policy towards the co-
lonies, which prevails in his Majes-
ty's councils.

The usual accounts and estimates shall be laid before you, and I trust you will make the necessary provision for the public service. Mr. President, and Gentlemen of

his Majesty's Council, Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,

Fully sensible that it is my duty, as it is my inclination, to execute the trust committed to me by my sovereign with the utmost advantage to the province, it has naturally been my endeavour to make myself acquainted with the general

interests, and to ascertain how far the measures, recently adopted by the legislature, were on trial likely to produce the results for which they were contemplated.

The fisheries have, under the encouragement you have afforded them, been engaged in with spirit, and it is hoped, with advantage to the persons most interested in their success; and although I am not yet enabled to give you all the information desirable, in regard to the operation of your act for promoting the establishment of schools, it appears to have been

extensively beneficial. A full report on this interesting subject shall be submitted to you, so soon as the commissioners in the several counties shall supply the necessary details.

I shall freely communicate with you by message on all subjects touching the public interests, as occasions may arise; in the fullest assurance, that any suggestion which, by our labours, can be rendered subservient to the increase of the general welfare, will not be recommended by me to your consideration in vain.

OPENING OF THE PARLIAMENT OF LOWER CANADA.

Quebec, November 21, 1828. A little before two o'clock his excellency the administrator of the government came down in state from the castle of St. Louis. Being seated on the throne, his excellency opened the session in the following speech:

Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,

Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,

His majesty having been most graciously pleased to confide to me the government of this important colony, it affords me great satisfaction to meet you in provincial parliament.

Placed in a situation of so much importance, at a period of peculiar difficulty, I cannot but feel that very arduous duties are imposed upon me duties, indeed, which I should despair of being able to discharge, to the satisfaction of his majesty, and his faithful and loyal subjects the inhabitants of this

province, if I did not look forward, with a sanguine hope, to the enjoy. ment of your confidence, and your cordial co-operation in my administration of the government.

Without a good understanding between the different branches of the legislature, the public affairs of the colony cannot prosper; the evils which are now experienced, cannot be effectually cured, the prosperity and welfare of his majesty's Canadian subjects cannot be promoted; and you may therefore believe that no exertions will be spared on my part, to promote conciliation, by measures in which the undoubted prerogatives of the crown, and your constitutional privileges, will be equally respected.

His majesty's government has, however, relieved me from the responsibility attendant upon any measures to be adopted for the adjustment of the financial difficul. ties that have unfortunately occurred; and I shall take an early op.

portunity of conveying to you by message, a communication from his majesty, which I have been especially commanded to make to you upon the subject of the appropriation of the provincial revenue. It will be my duty to lay at the same time before you, the views of his majesty's government upon other topics, connected with the government of this province, to which the attention of the ministers of the crown has been called; you will see in them proofs of the earnest desire of his majesty's go. vernment, to provide, as far as may be practicable, an effectual remedy for any case of real grievance; and you may rely on my affording you every assistance towards the elucidation of any questions which may arise for discussion in the course of your proceedings.

Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,

I shall direct the accounts of the provincial revenue, and expenditure of the last two years, to be laid before you, as soon as possible, with every explanation respecting them, which it is in my power to afford you.

Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,

Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,

Relying on your zeal and diligence in the discharge of your legislative duties, I feel persuaded that you will give your immediate attention to the renewal of such

useful acts as may have recently expired; and, indeed, to all matters of public interest that may appear to be of pressing necessity and importance.

Possessing, as yet, but an imper. fect knowledge of the great interests of the province, and the wants of its inhabitants, I refrain at the present time, from recommending to you measures of public improvement, which it will be my duty to bring under your consideration at a future day. In all countries, however, good roads and other internal communications;—a general system of education, established upon sound principles ;and a well-organized, efficient militia force, are found to be so conducive to the prosperity, the happiness, and the security of their inhabitants, that I may be permitted to mention them, at present, as objects of prominent utility.

But an oblivion of all past jealousies and dissentions is the first great step towards improvement of any kind; and when that is happily accomplished, and the undivided attention of the executive govern. ment, and the legislature, shall be given to the advancement of the general interests of the province, in a spirit of cordial co-operation,

there is no reason to doubt that

Lower Canada will rapidly advance in prosperity; and emulate, ere long, the most opulent and flourish. ing portions of the North American continent.

PARLIAMENT OF LOWER CANADA.

Legislative Council Chamber,
Friday, Nov. 28th.

Lieutenant Colonel Yorke, civil secretary, brought down the fol

lowing message from his excellency the administrator in chief.

MESSAGE.

James Kempt.-His excellency

the administrator of the govern. ment avails himself of the earliest opportunity of conveying to the legislative council the following communication, which he has received the king's commands to make to the provincial parliament.

In laying the same before the legislative council, his excellency is commanded by his majesty to state, that

His majesty has received too many proofs of the loyalty and attachment of his Canadian subjects, to doubt their cheerful acquies. cence in every effort which his majesty's government shall make to reconcile past differences, and he looks forward to a period, when by the return of harmony, all branches of the legislature will be able to bestow their undivided attention on the best methods of advancing the prosperity, and developing the resources of the extensive and valua. ble territories comprised within his majesty's Canadian provinces.

With a view to the adjustment of the question in controversy, his majesty's government has commu. nicated to his excellency Sir James Kempt its views on different branches of this important subject; but as the complete settlement of the affairs of the province cannot be effected but with the aid of the imperial parliament, the instructions of his excellency are at present confined to the discussion of points alone, which can no longer be left undecided without extreme disadvantage to the interests of the province.

Among the most material of these points, the first to be adverted to, is, the proper disposal of the finan. cial resources of the country; and with the view of obviating all future misunderstanding on this matter,

his majesty's government have pre. scribed to his excellency the limits within which his communications to the legislature on this matter are to be confined.

His excellency is commanded by his majesty to acquaint the le gislative counsel, that the discus. sions which had occurred some years past between the different branches of the legislature of this province respecting the appropriation of the revenue, have engaged his majesty's serious attention, and that he has directed careful enquiry to be made, in what manner these questions may be adjust. ed with a due regard to the prerogative of the crown, as well as to their constitutional privileges, and to the general welfare of his faithful subjects in Lower Canada.

His excellency is further com. manded to state. that the statutes passed in the 14th and the 31st years of the reign of his late majesty, have imposed upon the lords commissioners of his ma. jesty's treasury, the duty of appropriating the produce of the revenue granted to his majesty by the first

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of these statutes; and that, whilst the law shall continue unaltered by the same authority by which it was framed, his majesty is not authorized to place the revenue under the control of the legislature of this province.

Geo. 3.

The proceeds of the revenue carising from the act of the imperial parliament, 14 Geo. 3. together with the sum appropriated by the provincial statute 35 Geo. 3 and the duties levied under the provincial statutes 41 Geo. 3. cap. 18 and 14, may be estimated

Casual Reve

nue.

3,000 Fines, &c. 400

£3,400

for the current year, at the sum of £3,700. The produce and casual and territorial revenues of the crown and offines and forfeitures may be estimated for the same period at the sum of £3,400. These several sums, making together the sum of £38,100, constitute the whole estimatad revenue arising in this province, which the law has placed at the disposal of the crown.

His majesty has been pleased to direct that from this collective revenue of £38,100, the salary of the officers administering the government of the province, and the salaries of the judges, shall be defrayed. But his majesty being graciously disposed to mark, in the strongest manner, the confidence which he reposes in the liberality and affection of his faithful provincial par. liament, has been pleased to command his excellency to announce to the legislative council, that no farther appropriation of any part of this revenue will be made until his excellency shall have been enabled to become acquainted with their sentiments, as to the most advantageous mode in which it can be applied to the public service; and it will be gratifying to his majesty, if the recommendation made to the executive government of the province on this subject, shall be such as it may be able with propriety, and with due attention to the interest and the efficiency of his ma. jesty's government, to adopt.

His majesty fully relies upon the liberality of his faithful provincial parliament, to make such further provision as the exigencies of the public service of the province (for

which the amount of the crown revenues above mentioned may prove inadequate) may require.

The balance in the hands of the receiver general, which is not placed by law at the disposal of the crown, must await the appropriation which it may be the pleasure of the provincial legislature to make.

His excellency is further commanded by his majesty to recom. mend to the legislative council, the enactment of a law, for the indemnity of any persons who have here. tofore, without authority, signed or acted in obedience to warrants for the appropriation to the public service of any appropriated moneys of this province: And his majesty anticipates that they will, by an acquiescence in this recommendation, show that they cheerfully concur with him in the efforts which he is now making for the establishment of a permanent good understanding between the different branches of the executive and legislative government.

The proposals which his excellency has been thus instructed to make for the adjustment of the pecuniary affairs of the province, are intended to meet the difficulties of the ensuing year, and he trusts they may be found effectual for that purpose.

His majesty has however further commanded his excellency to acquaint the legislative council, that a scheme for the permanent settlement of the financial concerns of Lower Canada, is in contemplation, and his majesty entertains no doubt of such a result being attainable as will prove conducive to the general welfare of the province, and satisfactory to his faithful Ca. nadian subjects.

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