The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-11 00:00:00

rook

Opening of the Canadian Parliament,

boundaries of Canada in that direction. Such a

definition of boundary is a desirable preliminary to
further proceedings with respect to the vast tracts
of land in that quarter belonging to Canada, but not

yet brought under the action of our political and muni-
cipal system. The construction of the public build-
ings at Ottawa, since the resumption of the work last
spring, has been prosecuted with so much diligence
as to justify me in announcing to the officers of the

civil service the intended early removal thither
of the seat of Government, in pursuance of her
Majesty's selection of that city as the future capi-
tal of Canada. The discoveries of gold and other
valuable ores within the province which have re-

Gently been made, and which have attracted very
general attention, appear to call for legislation, both
as regards the more systematic and perfect develop-
ment of our mineral wealth, and the rights as well

of the public as of private individuals connected
with it. I would also suggest to you the expe-

diency of making legislative provision for insuring
a more efficient system of investigation into the
cause of shipwrecks occurring on or near the sea
coasts of the province, as well as similar disasters
which, though occurring elsewhere, may from the
nature of the attendant circumstances seem calcu-

lated to effect the reputation of our marine service,

A fresh contract for our Ocean Mail Steam al p

Service has been entered into on terms which wil

be submitted for your consideration, and will, I be-
lieve, be found to combine efficiency, economy, and
safety. I rejoice that lam enabled to inform you
that the revenue of the past year considerably ex-

ceeded the estimate submitted to you last Session,
while the aggregate expenditure for the public ser-

vice of the year was less than the estimated amount.

Notwithstanding these gratifying results, however,
there was a large excess of expenditure over income,

and the revenue derivable from existing sources is

c.early inadequate to meet the unavoidable annual
charges on the public treasury. Measures will be
submitted for your consideration calculated to
equalize the annual income with the annual expen-
diture of the country."

LONDON COFFEE AND EATING-HOUSE BENE-
TOLENT ASSOCIATION.--Sills John Gibbons,
Alderman, has kindly consented to take the chair at the
anniversary dinner of the above association, on Tuesday,
April 13th, at the London Tavern.
ROYAL LITERARY FUND.—The annual general

meeting of the members of this excellent corporation

,00k place on Wednesday, at the society's chambers,
Adelphi-terrace, the Earl of Stanhope in the chair. Owing
to the tempestuous state of the weather the meeting was but
thinly attended. The minutes of the last meeting having
been read, Mr. W. H. Harrison read the registrar's report,
which stated that during the past year there had been 12
grants made to authors in the history and biography class,
amounting in the whole to £l2O ; and two in the Biblical
literature class, amounting to £5O. The following grants
had also been made to authors in other classes, namely :
Science and art, five, £190; periodical literature, six, 1235 ;
topography and travels, five, £130; classical literature and
education, six, £150; poetry, six, 180; essays and tales,
six, £95 ; the drama, one, £25 ; law, three, £6O ; miscel-
laneous, two, £so—making in the whole 54 grants, tee
total amount granted being £1,585. Twelve persons had
been relieved for the first time at a cost of £490 ; 20 for the
second, at £620; five for the third, £lO5 ; five for the
fourth, £l3O ; four for the fifth, £3O ; one for
the sixth, £25 ; four for the seventh, £9O ; and three
others, one for the eighth, one for the tenth, and one for
the thirteenth time, with a grant of £l5 each. 42 males
had received together £1,185, and 12 females £4OO, eight
who were authors, received £195, and the remaining £205,
was granted to four widows. During the year there had
been three grants of £lO, nine of £l5, 10 of £2O. 11 of £25,
six of £3O, one of £35, five of £4O, five of £5O, two of £6O,
and two of £BO each. (Hear, hear.) The treasurer's re-
port stated that the permanent fund, which at the date of
the last report amounted to £23,639 is 10d Consols, had
produced in dividends during the past year the sum of
£709 3s 4d. Since the payment of the dividends, the sum
of £3OO stock had been purchased. The permanent fund
therefore now amounted to £23,939 is 10d, pro-
ducing an annual dividend of £7lB 3s 4d. The stock of
the Newton property consisted of £8,167 15s. 10d. in the
Three per Cents. Reduced, producing an annual dividend
of £245 Os. Bd. The Newton estate at Whitechapel had
produced, during the past year, the sum of £203 in rents.
The total receipts during the year, including £663 15s. sub-
scriptions and donations at the dinner, amounted to
£2,409 15s. 4d. ; and the total disbursements to £2,025
17s. Bd. ; leaving a balance of £383 17s. Bd., of which
£278 ss. had been laid out in the purchase of stock. The
reports were unanimously adopted. On the motion of the
noble chairman, the cordial thanks of the meeting were
given to the treasurer and auditors, and also to the secre..
tary, Mr: 0. Blewitt, F.R.G,S., who has now filled that
office since 1839. A ballot was taken for filling up the fol-
lowing vacancies—two in the list of vice-presidents, caused
by the deaths of Archbishop Whately and the Marquis of
Normauby, which were filled by the election of Earl Gran-
ville and Lord Dynevor ; two in the council, caused by the
death of the Rev. Dr. Russell and the nomination of the
Dean of Westminster on the general committee, filled up
by the election of the Dean of Canterbury and Mr. R. S.
Holford, M.P.; and three in the general committee, caused
by the resignation of Dr. Guest, the nomination of Mr.
Robert Bell to the office of registrar, and the nomination
of Mr. W. F. Pollock to that of treasurer, filled up by the
election of Professor Owen, Mr. A. Trollope, and the Dean
of Westminster; Mr. R. Bell and Mr. W. F. Pollock having
been also elected, Mr. F. Ouvry was elected hon. solicitor,
in the room of Mr. W. Tooke, deceased. The chairman
announced that the Prince of Wales had consented to pre-
side at the annual dinner on the 18th of May next. A cor-
dial vote of thanks to the noble earl in the chair concluded
the proceedings.
MOVEMENTS OF BLOCKADE RUNNERS.—By the
arrival of the Cunard steamer China we have re-
ceived advices from Nassau to the 13th ult., giving the
arrivals and departures at that port since the last mail as
follow :—Arrived, the steamer Presto, Horsey, from Wil-
mington, and left on her return Jan. 29; Despatch steamer,
Coxeter, from Wilmington; Lucy, Dugaud,!rom Rey West
(afterr
Wild Da
repairing there),
caund bb sainisl, forfroedm
Wilmington Feb. 13 ;
steamer Wilmington,
and left
on her return Jan. 29; steamer Fanny, Dunning, from
Wilmington ; steamer Alice, from Wilmington ; steamer
Hansa, Atkinson, from Wilmington, and left on her return
Feb. 4; Mary Ann steamer, Dexter, from Wilmington •
Heroine, Jones, from Wilmington; Pet, Denis, from
mington, and cleared on her return, Feb. 12 ; steamer
Syren, Johnson, from Wilmington, and cleared Feb. 13 on
her return; and the sloop Jane Godfrey, from Savannah—
all with cotton.

Persons who have been in the habit of paying weakly a
borrowers of Sewing Machines will do well to apply at once
and become members of Messrs. Watts awl Co.'s Sewing
Machine Clubs. By so doing they will not only save the
money they now foolishly throw away, but at the same time
secure to themselves the possession of one of the best and
most celebrated sewing machines in the world. Every in-
formation given on application; or by letter addressed, with
a stamped envelope, to Messrs. Watts and Co., 12, Beaufort-
buildings, Strand, London, W.C., where mere rs are en-
rolled daily belvvetir 10 and 4 ; Saturdays, 10 airo,.

The second session of the eight Parliament of the
province of Canada was opened at Quebec on the
19th ult. The speech from the Throne contained the
following passages:—"l have taken steps for carry-
ing into effect the acts passed during the last session
for the organisation of the militia force of the pro-
vince, and I will continue my best efforts for the at-
tainment of so important an object. The period is
approaching when, by the conditions of the treaty of
reciprocity between her Majesty and the United
States of America, the notice for the termination
of its provisions may be given at the option of
either party. I have not failed to give
my best attention to the subject of this treaty,
and of the great interests affected by it.
Your attention will be invited to measures designed
by the improvement of our existing system of inland
water communication, to attract to the channel of
the St. Lawrence a larger share than we have here-
tofore enjoyed of the great and rapidly growing
commerce of the western lakes. Yon will also be
invited to consider the expediency of providing for
such improvements of the canals constracted to ob-
viate tile natural impedimenta to the navigation of
the Ottowa river as will, it is believed, without in-
volving a heavy outlay, greatly accelerate the de-
velcpment of the extensive and valuable territory
drained by that noble stream anei its territories.
Unforeseen obstacles have retarded the survey of the
route of the proposed railway between the province
and the sister colonies of Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick. Arrangements are, however, ns) win
progress, which I trust wilt soon lead to .tbe
execution of this preliminary work, the result of
which will enable all parties to form a more satis-
factory estimate than is possible at present of the
expense and practicability of the proposed under*
taking. The condition of the vast region lying to
the Lorth-west Of the settled portions of the proviuce
is daily becoming a question of greater interest. I
have considered it advisable to open a correspon-
dence with the Imperial Government, with a view
to arrive at a precise definition of the geographica