An extraordinary sessian of the Parliament of Lower Canada was

opened on the 18th of last month, by the Earl of GOSFORD, Governor-in-Chief. On this occasion, his Excellency delivered a speech of unprecedented length ; which we give entire, because it contains the case of the Colonial Office against Lower Canada ; and, in reference to the struggle on which this country is about to enter with that province, must be considered an important state paper.

" Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, Gentlemen of the House of Assembly—In obedience to the Royal command, signified to me through the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, I have convened von at this unusual period, for the purpose of communicating to yon proris'olings that, since your last session, have taken place in the Imperial Purl anent, and the resolutions that have been adopted on the affairs of this province. "This course has been prescribed to me, in order to ad'nol the House of Assembly, before that resolution which relates to the payment of the arrears now due for the civil service of the Government shall have assumed the binding shape of a law, an opportunity of reconsidering the course which, for the last few years, they have thought it expedient to pursue with in Teel' to the titian. cial difficulties of the province, and in the earnest hope that he the timely in- tervention of the Legislature the exercise of the power intended' to he intrusted to the head of the Local Government may be rendered mita cess result,

for the attainment of which, her Mai!stv's Government wriall make

every sacrifice, save that of the honour of the Crown and the integrity of the empire. "Since the receipt of the instructions which I have alluded to, the mournful intelligence has reached Us of the demise of our late deservedly heloved Mo- narch. Few kings have reigned incite in the affections of their subjects than William the Fourth. The warm and lively interest he always took in every matter connected with the welfare of his Canadian subjects, cannot fail to in- crease their feelings of regret for their loss. The succession of our present gracious Sovereign Victoria to the throne of the British empire, his not pro- duced any alteration ill the course that had beeu previously prescribed for my adoption. The reports of the Royal Commissioners on the several subjects which tame under their investigation during their stay in Lower Canada having been laid before the two !louses of Parliament, a series of resolutions; ten in number, was shortly afterwards introduced by Alinisters relative to the affairs of this province ; Copies of which I shill trans nit to :ou, is the usual way, at the earliest opportunity.

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" The principal objects of those resolutions are to declare— rights, privileges, and liberties, which the spirit of the constitution was in- " 1st. That in the existing state of Lower Canada, it is unadviaable to make tended W impart, and which every frieud to that constitution is bound to sup. the Legislative Council elective, but that it is expedient tol adopt ;amperes for port and maintain. securing to that branch of the Legislature a greater degree of public confidence. • " Castle of St. Lewis, Quebec. 18th August 1837." .tsi " 2d. That while it is expedient to improve the composition ot the Execu-

tive Chamber, it is unadvisable to subject it to the responsibility demanded by Though bland in its tone and language, the pith of this speech She House of Assembly. . is insult. Lord Gosroan might have fulfilled his mission, and the 4. 3d. That the legal title of the British American Land Company to the commands of the Colonial Office whose subservient instrument be had they hold under their charter and an act of the Imperial Parliament ought is, by saying in a single sentence—" Give me such a civil list as 1 OD be maintained inviolate. like, or I'll break into your exchequer." He has received orders

"4th. That as soon as the Legislature shall make provision by law for dis-

charging lands ham feudal dues and services, and for removing any doubts as to plunder the treasury, and avows himself ready to rob. ha the incidents of the tenures of lands in free and common aoccage, it is expe- Onoe more, that the iniquity of this proceeding may be fully 'tient to repeal the the Canada Tenures Act and the Canada Trade Act, so far as remembered, let us state the facts of the Canadian question. the latter relates to the tenures of land in this province; saving, nevertheless, to By a solemn act of the Imperial Parliament, the Legislature of all persons the rights vested in them under or by virtue of these acts. Lower Canada is invested with the entire control of a cer- 4. ath. That for defraying the arrears due on account of the established and a ustomary charges of the administration of justice and of the civil government of tain revenue. There are abuses in the government of the pro- the province, it is expedient that, after applying for that purpose such balance as vince, the remedy of which the House of Assembly demands, but should on the 10th day of April last be in the hands of the Receiver-General, has not obtained. Until these abuses be removed, the Assembly arising from the hereditary, territorial, and casual revenue of the Crown, the has declared, by a very large majority, that the supplies shall be Governor of the province be empowered to issue, out of any other monies in withheld. By this resolution no law is violated—neither the the hands of the Receiver-General, such further sums as shall be necessary to effect the payment of such arrears and charges up to the 10th of April last. letter nor the spirit of the constitution is infringed. There was "6th. That it is expedient to place at the disposal of this Legislature the an attempt to make out that an implied understanding with the net proceeds of the hereditary, territorial, and casual revenue arising within Colonial Office had been violated; but the charge was proved to be the province, in case the said Legislature shall see fit to grant a civil list utterly groundless by Mr. ROEBUCK, and abandoned by Lord for defraying the charges of the administration of justice, and for the main. STANLEY, in the House of Commons. So far from having duped

teosoce and unavoidable expense of certain of the principal officers of the go-

vernment of the province. And Lord GODER1CH into the expectation that in return for his cession s, Lastly, that it is expedient that the Legislatures of Lower and Upper of revenue a civil list would be granted, the House of Assembly Canada respectively be authorized to make provision for the joint regulation and voted exactly the reverse ; and Lord AYLMER, the Governor-in- adjustment of questions respecting their trade and commerce, and other ques- Chief, warned Lord GODERICH that the Assembly would not give tions wherein they have common interest. way. The conduct of the popular party in the House of Assembly,

" Having laid before you an outline of the measures contemplated by the re-

solutions, which were passed, after full discussion, in the House of Commons representing the vast majority of the people of Lower Canada, has by large majorities, in the House of Peers without a division, I proceed, hi obe- been honourable, manly, consistent, and courageous throughout. thence to the Royal commands, to assure you that it was with the deepest regret Moreover, it has been strictly within the law, and in accordance and reluctance that her :Majesty's Government yielded to the necessity of in- with the constitution which the Imperial Parliament imposed yoking the interference of Parliament, in order to meet the pressing difficulties on the colony for its government. It will be seen that Lord

which other resources had failed to remove from the administration of the

affairs of the province. GOSFORD nowhere in his elaborate address attempts even to "Gentlemen of the House of Assembly—The accounts showing the pay- insinuate that the House of Assembly has outstepped its rightful meats that have been made since the close of the session in March 1836, out authority. of the revenues at the disposition of the Crown in part liquidation of the large But, finding that nothing but force will suffice to get the money arrears then due in respect to the civil establishments of the province, shall as they svant from the Canadians, the British Ministers have resolved, soon as possible be submitted to you, with every explanation you may desire and I eon supply. I have likewise, in obedience to the injunctions I have re- and have ordered Lord GOsFORD to communicate their deterniina- ceived, directed that an account of the balance of arrears, owing on the 10th of tion to the Representatives of the Canadian people, to set aside the April last for official salaries and other ordinary expeuditure of the Local Govern- Canadian constitution—to trample on the solemnly-guaranteed anent, be made out and laid before you, with the estimate of the current half- rights of the colony, and act the part of despots and plunderers. year. And in recommending, as I do most earnestly, these matters to your The records of arbitrary governments may be searched, and nu- early and favourable consideration, I am commanded to express to you at the same time, the anxious hope that the Governor of this province may not be thing more atrocious in principle will be found than this proceeding. compelled to exercise the power with which the Imperial Parliament has de- It is an act of similar character to that which brought CHARLES Glared its intention of investing him, iu order to discharge the arrears due in the First to the block, and to that latter aggression which drove respect to public services, for the payment of which the faith of the Crown the American colonies into a viccesVal as well as righteous has heen repeatedly pledged. The chief object, therefore, fur which you ate rebellion. But the Canadians are as yet weak, and our Whig now called together, is to afford you an opportunity, by granting the requisite supplies, of rendering unnecessary, on the part of the Imperial Parliament, rulers fear not the immediate consequences of their arbitrary any further action on the 8th of the stake of resolutions to which I have conduct. They reek not that from the present generation of alluded : and it will, I can assure you, be to me matter of unmixed satisfactiou, Canadians a mighty nation will spring, whose enmity for ages to should you resolve to concede to the united voice of the British People, as ex- come we are taking the most likely means to secure. pressed through the several branches of the Legislature, that which you have Having withstood cajolery, the Canadian House of Assembly not thought it expedient to yield to the solicitations of the Executive Govern- will not yield to threats. The majority at once showed its sense

nient alone.

" Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, Gentlemen of the House of Assembly of the treatment they had received, by refusing even to consider —I am further commanded to express to you the earnest desire of her Majesty s the bill relative to the district of St. Francis, which the Governor Government to cooperate with you in the removal of every obstacle to the be- had especially mentioned in his speech. M. PAPINEAU took the neficial working ot the existing constitution, and in the correction of every lead in opposition to the Government; and there was no doubt defect which time and experience have developed in the laws and institutions of that a hostile address in reply to the speech would be voted. The the province, or in the administration of its government ; and I aril also to assure you of a prompt attention ion the part of her Majesty's Government to Canadians will throw upon the Government the responsibility of every representation which may proceed from you, tending to effect improve- actually violating their constitution ; they will not in the slightest meats of this nature, calculated to strengthen the connexion subsisting between degree be consenting parties to the crime.

Great Britain and Lower Canada, by the promotion of the welfare and the in- terests of all classes of her .Majesty's subjects in the province.

" At the time the summons was issued for assembling you on this day, I had Pains are taken to persuade people in this country that the every reason to believe that it would have been in my power to announce to you Upper Canadians are superlatively loyal, and have little sympathy as alerted those alterations which you may gather from the resolutions of which with their brethren of the Lower province. But, in spite of Sir

I have spoken it is intended to effect in the composition of the Executive and introdud into the two w

to carry into effect the intentions they have expressed on these points.

Lave proved useful. I would, moreover, especially invite your attention to the public works on the Chambly Canal, and for time maintenance of the quarantine

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