North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-11-11

civil lisi bad bcen voted by the Hoass 81
Assembly dufing three yrars OF rather that
q had been rejected By tho Legislative
Council; the government, was therefore
eft without money although correctness
requires us TO say that the public chest
had been opened by Lord Dalhop,e Who
had assumed The responsibility OF expend.
ing the public monies without the aathofi.
sa'ion OF eonsen, Of tue popular branch.
The Legislative Council could no, be- in.
duced TO concur with the House in these
Iour bills Of appropriation, which were
consequently lost.
The Province and more particularly the
District OF Quebec was thrown into grea,
alarm by the sudden news Of The bans.
rupley of The Sheriff Of Quebec, Mr.. De
Gaspe, who had failed to the amount, of
several thousand pounds. Those indisidu-
ais who had los, by his insolvency, urged
their claims an the House OF Assembly.
al.edging that they had a right to consider
their monies, deposited in the hands OF
the Sheriff as perfectly secure, and sup
posing that Mr.. De Gaspa had given the
requisite bail But il was found that
the government had neglected to take any
security whatever. and hence (Mr. De
Gaspe being insolveni) they must pocket
the loss and attribute tho fault TO them
selves for having reposed too much conf
dence IN the responsibility OF public Off
Ger. In the meantime the Governor had
been forced TO dismiss the Sheriff and 10
appoint another, but the new incumbent
was rather objectionable as he was the soa
of the Chief Justice Of the Province.
Every ono acquainted with the influence
Of the Chief Justice Of Province over the
Sheriff ofa District in The exercise oi his
judicial functions, and also the authority Of
a father over his son, will readily perceive
the improperly oil such an appointment
and it's direct ohstructions 10 the public
welfare. The House Of Assembly thought
prudent to submit oil these objections a.
ganst the new appointment Of Mr.. Sewcli,
but il was entirely useless.
The House Of Assembly passed resolu.
tion which was sent 10 the Legislative
Council for it's concurrence, for the APP
pointment OF Provincial agent near The
government. Du, the Le-
gislnlive Councillors took no notice Of this
resolution. This body was determined
upon doing as much harm as possible 10
the country. Out Of so bills which were
sen, to them by the House, So only " found
favor in their eyes," and IN return their
Honors offered four bills only for The con-
cnuence Of the House. A Court of 10.
dicature was this year established in the
District Of St. Francis. Many of the
most beneficial measures had been btirksd
in the second branch Of the legislature.
This session was brought to a close on
the 2and Of March when Lord Dalhonsis
bestowed ali the praise he could, on the
loyalty and patriotic feelings Of the mem
bers Of the House Of Assembly, who had
voted monies to meet the arrears Of some
OF the past years. although he could not
feicitate himself upon the entire disaT-
pearance OF all the difficulties attending the
financial question.
We shall now inform DOR readers ol one
oil the largest defalcations tina; ever tran
spired 10 SO small Colony as Lower
Canada. The Receiver General OF the
Province, who, at that time was the Hon
orable John Caldwell, bad succeeded his
father in this important Office. We men
lion this fact because the former gentle
man was responsible only for part Of this
public theft, as he accused his deceased
father Of having frat introduced his hand
into the public chest and abs,1acted there
from the public property. The son was
eonien. to be called a public delinquent
and peeulator Of the peoples monies
but he wished his deceased father ia par
tieipa;e in the honor OF having expended
or swindled the public money sseredly de-
posted in his hands. Such was the
epilaph that the Receiver General OF