North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-08-26

by which b. expressly prohihitsd tbs
export of wheat, -Four and peas, EXCEPT e
Englsnd snd her colorisl dependencies.
On the Cab September following, 10 con
sequence of the same misfortune extending,
40 we have above stated ,to Lower Canada,
the Governor imposed another embargo not
only on the wheat. -four aud pess, bat
also on corn, oats, barley and biscuit.
Thrse embargoes were imposed by iheGov-
ernor General 10 consequence Of despatch
- he had received from the Colonial Sc
eretafy ia England, who bad apprised
him Of the existing state Of the crops IN
the United Kingdom.
The Provincial Legislature was convok-
et hat year on the Goth day Of November.
HIS rxoeIlpncy informed the members Of
the eg stature in his speech OF the neces-
sit, under which he had been OF laying the
two en- 10 goes which we mentioned above,
and again urged their special attention to
the organization Of the Provincial Militia,
as the bill which had been passed in the
second session of that Parliament was
10 expire on the 10Th OF July follow
ing.
The House Of Assembly in their answer
10 the Governors speech admitted the
necessity and the justice of the embargoes
laid by His Excellency on the grain, and
promised their concurrence in the means
Of facilitating an effectual organization Of
The militia.
This last session Of the first Provincial
Parliament. exhibited more political learn
ing and more patriotic efforts for the pub
lie good than the preceding ones. AL
though the Alien Bill again dsgraced the
proceedings Of that session, yet we find a
spirit of enlightened policy as TO COM
merce which had not yet been displayed ;
and several bills were passed, whilst others
prematurely conceived 10 the existing state
OF the Province, were not then brought in
90 actual existence. Among the latter,
we think the most important was the Bill
10 provide for Canal between the port OF
Montreal and the parish Of Lachine,
y hicn bill was afterwards passed by the
Legislature and carried into effect. We
shall lave occasion TO speak hereafter OF
the great commercial advantages this
projec, has bestowed upon the city of
Montreal, whose trade with the Upper
Province was considerably inpeded for the
want OF such public Improvement. In
this session, an act was introduced but
was not passed, for establishing turnpike
road between the city of Montreal and
Lachine, hut whether any material benefits
lave been actually derived from such es-
enlistment is matter Of great doubt
md we look upon such impost on the peo-
lie as only providing public fund for
helping lew interested individuals.
This session was prorogued on The 7th
81 Nay 1906, after five months and II
days Of constant labour, which did much
honor 10 the members who took an active
part therein. If we consider that the re-
representatives. in that Parliament were to-
tally inexperienced in legislative business,
except indeed few who had taken part in
the old system of Provl. Legislation under
the Quebec act Of I774, we must acknow-
ledge that they certainly deserved great
credit, and the gratitude of their consti,u-
ents.
II our readers will allow US before dis
missing this subject TO take RETROSPECT
tive view Of the proceedings of this first
Parliament, we shall be able to
discover 10 some Of the members of the
OF that period thirst for ex-
elusive domination over the majority OF
The people who were counted as nothing.
We have already ia the course Of this work,
expressed our opinion that it would have
been very happy event for the present
race of the Lower Canadians, had they
been entirely assimiIated TO the English Ian
guage SO IS to be able TO communicate free
y with their neighbours who now surround
hem 10 the number of above twenty mil.