Enjoying all the rights and privileges of British subjects, under the paternal government of our most gracious sovereign, and a wise sys. tem 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 bless. ings, 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.

On Thursday, at two o'clock, his excellency Sir Peregrine Maitland, attended by his suite, went to the Council Chamber, and having ta ken 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 administra. tion, 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 la. bours.

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

I am happy to acquaint you that your address respecting the disposal of the duties collected under the statutes of the Imperial Parlia ment, for regulating the colonial trade, has received the consideration 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 colonies, 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 natu. rally 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.

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 dis. charge, 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 adminis. tration 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 difficulties 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 Assem. bly,

I shall direct the accounts of the provincial revenue, and expenditure of the last two years, to be laid before you, as soon as possi. ble, 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 le. gislative 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 imperfect 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 ge. neral 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 government, 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 flourishing portions of the North American continent.

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 financial 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 legislative counsel, that the discussions which had occurred some years past between the different branches of the legislature of this province respecting the appropria. tion 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 adjusted 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 commanded 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 majesty's treasury, the duty of appropriating the produce of the revenue granted to his majesty by the first