The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-05 00:00:00

CANADA.

On the 16th ult. the Governor-General opened
the session of the chamber of the Legislative Coun-
cil at Quebec. His Excellency spoke as follows :
Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,
Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly—l congra-
tulate you on the abundance of the harvest with
which Providence has blessed us, and I think I may
express the hope that the commercial prosperity of
Canada is rapidly reviving. In the year 1860 we
have had the honour of welcoming to our shores his
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Our gracious
sovereign has acknowledged the loyalty which
greeted her son in this province, and I feel confident
that the grateful remembrance of his visit will
live long in the hearts of our people. Much has
lately been effected by legislation, and I hope
that the circumstances of the province are such
as to require few important measures to be laid be-
fore you in this the last session of the present par-
liament. It is a satisfaction to me to see that the
consolidated statutes, both of Upper and Lower
Canada, have been promulgated in an authentic
form; but I must remind you that something yet
remains to be done, and I desire your assistance in
assimilating, as far as possible, the law which
prevails in either section of the province. A mea-
sure will be submitted to you having for its object
the proper administration of bankrupt estates in
Upper Canada. I would earnestly request your care-
ful consideration of so grave a subject. Some changes
are required in our commercial law, and the further
improvement of our prison discipline demands the
establishment at particular places of certain well-
regulated gaols or local penitentiaries. The registra-
tion of j udgments in Upper Canada has been the cause
of expense and delay,ancl I think you will fin d it expe-
dient to amend the laws which relate to this matter.
The repo rt of the Commissioner of Crown Lands
will be laid before you. You will see that the
receipts from the department have increased, and
that the greatest efforts have been made to establish
a sound system of immigration and promote the
settlement of our waste lands. My attention has
been directed to the fact that a writ, issued by the
Court of Queen's Bench in England, has been served
in this colony. I have been advised to represent to
her Majesty's Government the expediency of pre-
venting by legislation in Great Britain any possible
conflict of jurisdiction. I will also add that certain
recent legal decisions appear to make it expedient
for you to define by statutory enactment of your
own the nature and extent of the laws and customs
of Parliament as they shall exist in Canada.
Gentlemen of the Legislative Assembly—The
accounts for the year which has just expired will be
laid before you immediately, and I hope you will
have no reason for being dissatisfied with the
results which they present. You.will see that the
reception of the Prince of Wales, whilst it was, we
hope, worthy of the province and of its illustrious
guest, was conducted by the Commissioners of
Public Works with a due regard to economy. I
have again to ask at your hands the supplies which
will be required for the service of her most Gracious
Majesty in the current year.
Honourable Gentlemen and Gentlemen,—l have
now only to desire you to give your best considera-
tion to the various subjects on which I have
touched, and I offer an earnest prayer that God
will aid your councils, and will bless our people
with his choicest gifts.