North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-09-23
Original.
HISTORY OF LOWER CANADA,
(cosrIsugp.)

The thlfd session OF the fourth Province
o. Parliament, took place on the eisi Jan
vary, 1907, when il was opened by His
Honor the President, the Honorable Mr..
Thomas Dunn. His speech was unim-
poftant and contained nothing new nor
did it recommend any measure beneficial
TO the county.
No important legislative ensctmcnts,
were passed during this session. On the
cath OF February TIE question was dis
eussed in the House whether il would not
he proper to delray the expenses of those
members who did not reside in the city OF
Quebec. But this question was finally
settled by postponing it TO the LIST Of July
ensuing which was equivalent to It's rejec-
ton.
Bill was passed 10 build new Hall
in the Cry OF Montreal for public mar
kei, in consequence OF which the market
now opposite the old Jail, near Nelson's
monument, was constructed. This ses-
sion renewed the bill for the better preser-
vation Of the British government in the
Province. Alter a session OF two months
&c days. this Parliament was prorogued
OF The 10th Of April, when the royal assent
was given to eight bills, and the Quebec
Benevolent Society bill was reserved Tor
the Specification Of His Majesty's plea
sure
On the 2sd Of June of that year, occur
red the affair between the Leopard Brit
sh ship OF war carrying fifty guns, and the
American frigate Chesapeake. The crew
Of this latter vessel counted nineteen men
wounded or killed, and was forced to strike
its colcrs. This unjust provoeation on
the part of a vessel OF war belonging TO a
nation with HON the United States were
then at peace, excited the highest indig-
nation possible in the breasts OF ell true
Americans. After some negotiation be-
tween the two governments, it was final
ly agreed on the part OF the British gov
eminent which disownsd this disrepu-
table attack, that provision should be paid
BY the English government TO the families
Of those Americans, who had persisted or
had been disabled in this cowsrdly attack
on the Chssapeake. We shall no, here
discuss the grca. question whether the
right Of search which was then advocated
by the British, was just or not, neither
shall we bring forth the arguments used by
either party for its justification. Whilst
the one was asserting that the English were
rgh, in searching American vessels TO dis
cover and apprehend their own deseriers,
the other was declaring that the national
flag should not be subjected, under any pre-
tsnce whatever, 10 bow before the British
Jack, and allow its vessels TO be exposed to
ssuie, search, and frequently see its own
ssiive citizens dragged from Ifs vessels
under the false pretencs that they were
British born sshjeeis. We shall not enter
into these questions at large but shall mere
" express our opinion that the Americans
we're in the right, and thai the pFsisnsions
81 The British nation were vioieat en-
s'Oaehment upon the national rights Of
The Americans.
The hostile encounter between the
Lsspard and the Chesapeake, YVES Of such
aehsrseIer that the President Of Loves
Canada, though, proper to issue on the
iaIh OF August, a proclamation by which
hs expressly prohibited the expectation
iron the provinces, Of ell munitions OF war