of Assembly will release Mr. Bedard; an idea so firmly
established that there is not a doubt entertained upon it in the
province. The time is therefore come, when I feel that the security as
well as the dignity of the King's government, imperiously require that
the people should be made to understand the true limits of the rights
of the respective parts of the government, and that it is not that of
the House of Assembly to rule the country." And Mr. Bedard, sensible of
having done no wrong, remained in gaol until the Parliament was
prorogued, as an example to the people that there was no public opinion
worth heeding, in the province, and that the power of the Governor was
something superior to that of the Assembly. The Assembly went to work
after having made the fruitless attempt to liberate Mr. Bedard, and
passed as many bills as were required. The "gaols" bill was temporarily
continued: the repairs of the Castle of St. Lewis having cost L14,980,
instead of L7,000, as contemplated, the additional outlay was voted;
L50,000 were voted towards the erection of suitable parliament
buildings. The Alien Act and that for the Preservation of the
Government were continued, together with the Militia Act, to March
1813; the bill to disqualify judges from being elected to the Assembly
passed both Houses, and to these the Governor assented, proroguing the
Parliament afterwards with great pleasure. Communication with Europe
had been difficult during the winter, on account of the impediments
thrown in the way of American commerce. The Princess Charlotte had
died, and the sovereign himself had become alarmingly indisposed. A new
Act of non-intercourse had been passed in the American Congress. He had
seen among the Acts passed, and to which he had just declared His
Majesty's assent, with peculiar satisfaction, the Act disqualifying the
judges from holding a seat in the House of Assembly. It was not only
that he thought the measure right in itself, but that he considered the
passing of an Act for the purpose, as a complete renunciation of the
_erroneous principle_, the acting upon which put him under the
necessity of dissolving the last parliament. The country was becoming
luxuriantly rich, and he hoped that all would be harmony and tolerance.
He would be a proud man who could say to his sovereign that he found
the Canadians divided and left them united.

On the 19th of June, 1811, Lieut.-General Sir James Craig embarked for
England, in