This was not relished by the Reformers, who were strongly
disposed in favour of an equitable union of the two Provinces, a step
which, as they believed, would go far to adjust the balance of parties.
A considerable number of the members had already left for their homes,
and Dr. Rolph took advantage of this circumstance as a plea for
postponing the further consideration of the matter until the next
session. He moved an amendment to that effect, and said a few words in
support of his motion. Dr. Morrison and Thomas Parke[266] took up the
argument, and spoke for some minutes. They were subjected to frequent
interruptions from the supporters of the Government, who were evidently
anxious to prevent discussion. Dr. Rolph then rose to speak to the
question of order, upon which the interruptions were renewed. Frequent
appeals were made to the Speaker, who soon found himself involved in an
animated discussion with Dr. Rolph. Nearly all the prominent members of
the House erelong became participants, and the situation became
critical. Hard words were freely bandied about, amid the greatest
confusion and disorder. An eye-witness compares the scene to a wasp's
nest disturbed.[267] The Speaker finally put a stop to the ebullitions
of temper, and brought the scene to a close by announcing that the time
had arrived for waiting on the Lieutenant-Governor with certain
addresses. There was no opportunity of renewing the discussion, and at
half-past three o'clock Black Rod summoned the House to the bar of the
Legislative Council. In proroguing Parliament the Lieutenant-Governor
referred in complacent terms to the legislation of the session, and
applauded the harmony which had prevailed between the two branches of
the Legislature.

By this time it began to be apparent to discerning persons that Sir
Francis's success as an Administrator had been rather apparent than
real. All through the election campaign, as well as for some time before
and after, the Tory party had sounded his praises with stentorian lungs.
He had to a large extent been accepted by the country at their
valuation. But sufficient time had now elapsed to enable the people to
judge for themselves, and it was shrewdly suspected that the current
estimate of him had been too high. He had triumphed at the elections,
and had managed to pack the Assembly with an overwhelming majority of
members pledged to support his policy; but he now began to discover that
he had raised a spirit