The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-15 00:00:00

CANADA.

The provincial Parliament was opened at Montreal on
the 20th inst., with the usual formalities. The speech of
Earl Cathcart embraces several topics which make it in-
teresting to this country, and we therefore give it entire.
It will be noticed that he announces his permanent ap-
pointment to the office of Governor-General.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUN-
CIL, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY:
The duty of opening the session of Parliament has
necessarily devolved upon me, as' administrator of the
Government, in consequence of the lamented departure
of the late Governor -General. But I am commanded,
at the same time, to make known to you, that the Queen
has been graciously pleased permanently to designate me
as her Majesty's future representative in this province.
In announcing to you the fact of my having thus be-
come the successor of Lord Metcalfe, you will, I feel as-
sured, concur with me in the expression of sincere regret
at the painful cause which bas removed this distin-
guished nobleman from a station, the duties of which
he discharged with a zeal and ability that on every oc-
casion won for him the highest approbation of his So-
vereign, and the respect and gratitude of the people over
whom he presided as her representative.
The several addresses to the Queen which were
adopted during the last session of the Legislature have
been laid at the foot of the throne. It will be my
pleasing duty to annource to you her Majesty's gracious
replies.

1 should under any circumstances have ',directed your
early attention to the condition of the militia law. But
the unsettled state of the negotiations which have been
for some time past carried on between the Imperial Go-
venment and that of the United States of America, ren-
ders it imperative upon me to press immediately upon
your consideration the necessity of a re-organisation of
this arm of the public defence. I feel the most un-
bounded confidence that the loyalty and patriotism of
every class of her Majesty's subjects in Canada will be
conspicuous, as they have been heretofore, should occa-
sion call for their services to aid in the protection of
their country •, but a well-digested and uniform system
is indispensable to give a fitting direction to the most
zealous effort.
At the same time I feel warranted in assuring you
that, while our gracious Sovereign will ever rely on the
free and loyal attachment of her Canadian people for
the defence of this province, and the maintenance of
British connexion, her Majesty will be prepared, as her
predecessors have always
been, to-provide with promp-
titude and energy, corresponding with the power and re-
sources of the empire, for the security of her North
dominions.AmTehreicasnubjectof
the civil list, which was brought
under your consideration byulheYn I t
to make such a provision predecessor, will doubt-
less engage your attention,was
will
reernucasbt
lteo )h-e7rmwaisjdesotryra
to give effect to your wishes, by
Imperial Parliament the requisite
changes e'inn the
actthoef
reunion.

GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
The financial accounts of the province for the past
year will be immediately laid before you. The estimates
for the service of the current year will be likewise sub-
mitted to your early consideration.
The necessity of providing for the prosecution and
completion of the public improvements, undertaken with
the sanction of Parliament, will form a subject for your
deliberation.
It affords me pleasure to be able
ear has not fallen s or o the
the revenue of the past y
toinforhm ytoufthat
sui
ch
I rely on your w
expectations whieh were entertained of amount, and
provision for
•illinness to make
g
peoplethe public
may require.
service
GENTLEMENSSEIBLY ;
fD GENTLEMEN OF THE
HONOURABLELEG Is LEGISLATIVE A
Since your last meeting, the ancient city
has been subjected to unexampled calamityin
suc-
cessive fires which laid waste its building' Measures
rendered indispensable by the exigencyortigieuebceby my predecessor, which will be sent down for your
wereses
adoptedare
s approval.
The sympathy and benevolence of different portions
of the British empire were roused into active exercise
by the knowledge of the severe infliction with which it
had pleased Divine Providence to permit the citizens of
Quebec to be visited ; and we have the strongest reasons
for appreciating the noble generosity which has been
exhibited, and which has proved how truly the inhabi-
tants of Canada are felt by the people of Great Britain
to be brethren and fellow-subjects of the same mighty
nation. It will be for your wisdom to consider what
further measures it may be proper to adopt for the resto-
ration of what has been thus destroyed.
The last intelligence from the mother country
indicates a most important change in the commercial
policy of the empire. I had previously taken occasion
to press upon her Majesty's Government a due consi-
deration of the effect that any contemplated alteration
might have on the interests of Canada. But until we
have a fuller exposition of the projected scheme, which
a few days will probably bring to us, it would be pre-
mature to anticipate that the claims of this province to
a just measure of protection had been overlooked.
prolsti hpterietsye
oafncdatnhaedNa'a, rwiohuicshomthaeyr
oscuebujpecytsyoauff,elcotiffnegr
mth;
hearty co-operation ; and I earnestly trust that, under
tlw dire crt,,) i.f an all-wise Providence, we shall be en-
abled to pursue a course calculated to promote the best
interests, and to foster the rising growth of this rapidly
advancing colony.