The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-04 00:00:00

AFFAIRS OF. CANADA.

TORONTO, Feb. 18.—The Provincial Parliament
was opened in the wtw capital, with much "pomp
and circumstance," by his Excellency Sir Edmund
Head, on Friday the I.6th inst. His Excellency
read the following speech : .

"HONOURABLE 6ENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE
CouNcrr,,

"GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY;

"I have thought it right to call you together at this
seas- n, because I believed it to be the wish of the coun-
try that your task of legislation should not. be delayed
until a later period of the year, and because it is at once
the desire anol'the duty of the ecutive Government to
profit by your advice and 'assistance when it may be
mo I convenient'y of faded,

"In referring Co the labours of your last session, I
cannot help congratulating .you on having Fettled the
disputed question of the Clergy Reserves.. You will
find, I believe, a large balance of funds arising from this
source, available for distribution among the municipali-
ties, but I think it likely that your assistance as legis-
lators may be required to give full effect to the fair and
equal allotment of these sums.
" In Lower Cousda the Act for the Abolition of the
Seigniorial Tenure promises in like manner to close a
long•peuding controversy by an equitable adjustment or
existing claims. No time has been lost by me in acting
on the powers conferred. by this law, and I trust that
you will be satisfied with the progress which has been
made.

" The subject of a change in the constitution of the
Legislative Council, by rendering it elective, will again
be brought before you.
"A measure for the organisation of a provincial po-
lice, capable of being applied by the Crown, for the pre-
vention of crime and the speedy apprebenSion of offen-
ders, deserves your attentive consideration.
"The increasing wealth and prosperity of the country
demand it creased protection for property, and the ad-
vance of civilisation in Canada should be marked by the
strict enforcement of law, and, by the perfect sense
of security from outrage.
" It is to you that I must look for the power of insur-
ing these great objects.
" I have spoken of our increasing prosperity. No
mark of its existence can be stronger than that afforded
by our extended lines of railway. Nor is this progress
confined to one section of the province. Ere tward to
St. Thomas, and westward to Guelph and Hamilton,
these lines, at once the sign and the cause of progress,
are already completed. I may congratulate you on the
fact that, since your last meeting, nearly 250 miles have
been got into working order, whilst it is hoped that not
less than 250 more will be finished before next year.
" Legal reforms are needed both in Eastern and
Western Canada. One measure, at least, will be sub-
mitted to you having reference to this important subject.
It may not be possible in the present session to effect all
that you desire, yet I trust that some progress will be
made in simplifying the procedure and facilitating the
working of our courts, by the adoption of practical
amendments.

" I should see with great satisfaction the adoption by
you of any general measure which tended still more to
abridge your legislative labours, in providing for the in-
corporation and for laying down the conditions of private
institutions of every kind.
" I regret to say that the presentments of numerous
grand juries throughout the country, which I have
directed to be laid before you, show too clearly the want
of improvement in the construction and discipline of our
gaols.
" Your zeal in the cause of education is known and
appreciated by all the world. It is important:to consider
whether we cannot combine the reform of the juvenile
offenders with the punishment of their crimes. At the
very least, it is incumbent upon us to take care that
such punishment does not in itself afford fresh oppor-
tunities for debasing the criminal and instructing him
in vice.

" The B oard of Audit constituted by the act of last
session is already at work, and it will, I trust, contri-
bute to insure a satisfactory examination of the public
accounts,

" With regnrd to the Militia Act, the ready loyalty of
the inhabitants both in Upper and Lower Canada has
enabled me to authorise theformationofnumerous troops
and companies of volunteers, w hose conduct and discipline
will undoubtedly doer e ditto the province. I have, more-
over, with the assistance of the Adjutant-General, done
my best to carry out your wishes by organising the
Sedentary Militia.
"The Government, in pursuance of the wishes of the
Legislature, has taken on itself to conclude a fresh ar-
rangement calculated to secure a line of ocean steamers
from the St. Lawrence to England during the approach-
ingseason,

"That the timber trade has been depressed is a deep
source of regret to me and to all others who have at
heart the welfare of the province. I trust that we are
about to witness iti revival, and that the commerce of
Quebec and Montreal will have suffered but a temporary
check.

"GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY,
" The accounts of the last year, and the estimates for
the present, will be laid before you.
" You will find that, on the whole, our finances are in
a satisfactory state. The people at large have reaped
the benefit of those reductions in the Customs Duties
which you made last year.
" The diminution the receipts, corvegnent on such
reductions, ❑early corresponds with the calculation sub-
mitted to you by my advisers. A large decrease has
been caused by the Reciprocity Treaty with the United
States ; but I conceive that any sue'," apparent loss is
more than coin;)ensated by the increased commerce, and
by the facility of intercourse between the two countries.
" It will be the duty of my Council to ask y,,ti in the
present session for such supplies for her Most Gracious
Majesty as you may see fit to grant.
" HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN,
"The year just ended has been one of difficulty and
conflict in Europe : on this side of the Atlantic we have,
by the blessing of Providence, escaped the direct evils
of war. In no part, however, of the Queen's dominions
has a deeper sympathy with her arms been shown, or
more fervent prayers for their success been offered than
in Canada.

" Our people have eagerly watched every turn of the
contest, and consisting as they do of men of French and
English origin, equal members of th• same free commu-
nity, and loyal subjects of the same Queen, they have
grieved at the sufferings, and exulted in the success, of
the allied armies.

" iu like manner, should it please God to establish a
firm and honourable peace, Canada will, I doubt not, re-
joice at the termination of the war. May it be my lot,
before the end of the present cession, to congratulate you
on so auspicious au event.
"At present I have only to leave you to the dis-
charge of your important duties.