acity, which could be defended and preserved, as
British property, for a time, notwithstanding the assertions made,
previous to the war, that the country was in a state of dormant
insurrection. The war restored confidence and promoted emigration to
Canada.

The Canadian Militia, Voltigeurs, Chasseurs, Drivers, Voyageurs,
Dorchester Dragoons, and the Battalion Militia, in both provinces,
were, by a General Order, issued on the 1st of March, to be disbanded
on the 24th of that month, not a little proud of Detroit and the River
Raisin exploits, of the battles of Queenston, Stoney Creek,
Chateauguay, Chrystler's Farm, Lacolle, and Lundy's Lane, and of the
capture of Michillimackinac, Ogdensburgh, Oswego, and Niagara, by
assault.

The eighth parliament of Lower Canada was summoned for the despatch of
business, on the 21st of January. In this new parliament, there were
James and Andrew Stuart, and for the county of Gaspe, a George
Brown,[26] and in all there were fifteen members of British
extraction--not much less than one half of the entire House, which, in
all, numbered fifty members. After the opening speech from the throne,
the House proceeded to the election of a Speaker. The Honorable Jean
Antoine Panet, was no longer eligible for election, having been removed
to the Legislative Council, and the chair of the Assembly fell upon
Louis Joseph Papineau, a man of superior manners, of considerable
independence of character, of fluent tongue and impassioned utterance,
of extraordinary persuasive powers, and of commanding aspect. He was
accepted by Sir Gorge Prevost, and business began. A vote of thanks was
unanimously accorded to Mr. Panet for his steady, impartial, and
faithful discharge of the speakership for twenty-two years, during the
whole of which time he had upheld the honor and dignity of the House,
and the rights and privileges of the people. One of the first measures
which occupied attention was the militia law. An Act was introduced by
which it was so far amended and revised that substitutes were permitted
to persons drafted for service. A grant of new duties upon tea,
spirits, and on goods, sold at auction, was made; one thousand pounds
granted for the promotion of vaccination as a preventative of small
pox; L25,000 was granted for the construction of a canal between
Montreal and Lachine; a bill was introduced granting the Speaker of the
House an annual salary of L1,000; and another was passed granting a
simil