150 COL ONIAL.

UPPER CANADA.

The Legislature of Upper Canada met on the 31st ult. The following is the Speech of his Excellency Sir John Colborne on the occasion.

Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, and Gentlemen of the [inure of ﬂsumbly.

' The continued Emigration unprecedented as regards the industry and capital transferred to this country from the parent state, is by its beneﬁcial inﬂuence, forcing the Province ra- pidly forward, and opening to you the fairest prospects. Your deliberations, therefore, can. not but render this Sessiod of peculiar impor- tance to the general interest: of the Colony.

You will learn with satisfaction,that the po- pulation hasincreased not less than a fourth since the re ports forwarded for your informa tion last session; that the Emigrants, with few exceptions. are fully occupied in the districts in which they are established; and that the ex- tensive agricultural improvements, and actual cultivation, promises support and employment for Our countrymen whom the current ofevents may induCe to ﬁx their abode in this part of the Empire.

In directing your attention to these favo‘ rsble results, you will ﬁnd that under existing circumstances no subject is more closely con- nected with the immediate prosperity of the colony or requires an immediate consideration. than the anticipated progressive increase in the number of Emigrants, that will from this season annually flow into the Canadas.

The Rideau Canal has been completed by the exertions and perseverance of the Officer who had charge ofthat great national work. The chief advantages of this navigation. can. not be attained while the unﬁnished works on the River Ottawa obstrnct the passage into the St. Lawrence; but with reference to the degree of improvetnent._which the colony has reached, and the interest of the parent State, it must be obvious to you who are ac- quainted with the districts intersected by the Rideau and adjoining Lakes, and with the ave- nues to eternal commerce recently opened: that the expenditure incurred in thus accele- rating the developement of your resources, will produce in every respect a proﬁtable re- turn.

The arbitrators appointed to aijnst the claims on the part of Upper Canada, to a proportion efthe duties levied at Quebec. have not agreed on any satisfatory arrangements, a third arbi- trator will be nominated by the King, in con- {ormity to the British Act passed in the third year of his late Majesty’s reign.

l on happy to be enabled to inform you the disease which, by the dispensation of Divine Providence, has so widely prevailed, has nearly disappeared in every district of the province Al the time when the disease ﬁrst extended itsravages to the Eastern districts. the Ex- 'Qontive Government adopted such active heel-res as the exigency demanded, and i leel ,eonﬁdent that you will approve of the responsi- ‘ my assumed, and the arrangements made at list distressing period for the preservation of the pubic health.

I I have ordered detailed accounts to be tun-mitth to yomot‘ the sums placed by n-y auction, at the disposal of the magistra-es ' Quilt. urgent occasion to which I have allu “you will, I have no doubt. provide for the repayment of the amount advanced.

His Majesty has acceded to a request of the

abuse “Assembly in respect to the appropri-

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ation of the sum arising from the sale of Lands formerly set apart for Grammer Schools, and not alienated by the authority of his Majesty’s Government; the accounts of theﬁoard under whose controul the School Reserves have been hitherto placed will be delivered over to the King’s Receiver General at the close of the year—tn this instance ofthe consideration ot' the king in complying with the prayer of the address of the House of Assembly, you will perceive the solicitude of His Majesty to pro- mote the wishes of the Province.

It will be for you to decide upon the prac- tical mode of applying to the intended object. the srhool funds; and whether it tnay not be more desirable to appoint a commission to car- ry into effect the measures of the Legislature in regard to the distribution ofthe proceeds of these lands. than to dispose of them by annual vote. Whatever ecurse yon may deem it eXpedi- entto pursue, it will be gratifying to me to con- Clll' in such enactment as may appear best cal- culated to secure the interests of the people.

From the .ﬂlbitm, November 10,

We have copied the speech of Sir John Col. borne on opening the present session of the Legislature of Upper Canada, and have tnore than usual pleasure in doing so from the tran— quil and prosperous state ofwhich that highly favored volony has at length arrived. The people in that part of his Majesty’s dominions now begin to reap the full beneﬁt of the en- lightened system of Government which now happily exerts its mild sway over them, and of that state ofinternal peace which th- absence of demagogues, and the destruction of party spirit. has ensured. The Governor with un- tiringindustry and devotion, is ever alive to the true interests of the country. and we be- lieve that th. man is not to be foun'l. who de- ﬂies the ttpinscendent services, and the inﬁ- nite beneﬁts which that province has derived tom his excellent administration. Long may he remain to perpetuate these blessings.

The population has increased by emigration, and by its own multiplication to the enormous extent of twenty-ﬁve percent since last year; and every expectation is in favor ofau equally rapid increase in the year to come. As a proof ofthe respectability of the emigrants. let us state one fact, namely, that during the present summer, three hundred thousand sovereigns have been deposited in the Bank ofUpper Cana- la! What may not be expectet from such an inﬂux of population and capital?

Prosperity, almost equal in extent wuuld at- tend the province of Lower Canada, but from the benighted spirit which there prevails among a party of politicians, who are unhappin able to paralyse all the effects of the mother coun- try, and all the good intentions of the local gu~ verninent. The impediments thrown in the way ofemigration anl other disabilities which to wet Canada, from her local position and po. litical system, throws in the way of the Upper Province,hzive induced the peipleot' the lat- ter colony to seek for the acquisition of Moo. trea‘, in order that thev may enjoy a port of theirown, nnshacklcd by the ohstancy and an. tiquated dogmas of the French Canadian 8-:h0nl. Montreal herselfis even desirous ot the. change. Gaspe, another large. district in lnwcr Canada, which has by a Course ufthe most illegal. unjust and tyrannical Nntlucl ever witnessed in a civilized country. living deprived ufher representative in Parliament by the House of Assemth of that province. seeks to se varate herself from h-r uuvtat -ral pa- rent, and to unite herself to N wv-lirunswick. Will the arty to which we allu is for ever re- main dea to the voice of reason? Will they

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not see the folly oftheir course, now that the“ country is in a state of oismemberment? Sm ly the time has arrived when they should a“. ken from their trance, and open their eye. to the broad day light at knowledge that sur- rounds them.

Crown Land System in Canada.—Cw,'. ous Facts. There are, we believe, ac. cording to the map of the Province of Upper Canada, about 350 Townships with. in its limits containing generally about tit- ty-six thousand acres each. Now we win deduct 3,000 acres from each townshipr waste lands, such as marshes, waters, he. which will leave 63,000 acres in each township ; again we will deduct two-se. venths for crown and clergy reserves, which will leave 49,000 acres to be given out to settlers : again we will deduct other two-sevenths for free grants, such as U E Loyalists, Ste. which will leave 35,0001. cres in each township on which fees hm been, or are to be paid ; but, on second thoughts, we will deduct ﬁve thousand from each tOWnship f0. gentlemen’s grant; of from 500 to 12,000 each as an exemp- tion from fees, leaving ::0,00.) acres in each township. Now allowing each lotto be charged fees, to the amount of is acre which is, we think, nearly a fair av- erage, and we have £225,000, or, upwar of two millions of dollars, which have been or are still to be. received, and for whic' our hoaorable land council have hitherto refused to render any account either to tht House of Assembly, or, we believe, to any body else. A pretty sntn indeed, thit for pocket money to our Gentry oft Council. who, by the bye, have ample laries for their services besides: and, which may be added, about “2,000 ac of land each, and perhaps 100'.) acres each clerk in the different ofﬁces, wh take good care to pick the pockets of ti Locatees ol'afew shillings at each pla where an applicant has to call, as perqu' sites ofotﬁce, to enable youngdandies play billiards and act the coxcomb; this, together with now and then at grant to an honorable ('ouncillor’s favori .idy, forms a pretty fair picture of pure system of To ' m under which live. No wonder the oiﬁcials anti the' hirelings have no grievances to complai of. We really think the above estiina’ is rather below than above the true es mate. Probably the real amount is nea three millions oftlullars than two.”—U.

ST. ViNCt-iNT.—-A dissolution of th House of Assembly took place on the [5 ult. “so that,” says the proclamation,“ householders and electors of the sen parishes of the island shall have an oppol tunity of exercising their elective t_ra chise.” 0n the day previous to the dis lution, His E‘cellencv the Governor, George Fitzgerald Hill, sent down to House of Assembly two hills—thed’O and the Tonnage Duty Bills--“ With

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