volution in the
country sooner than a change in the feelings of its inhabitants with
regard to Chief Justice Sewell. He would suggest the appointment of an
agent in England, as had long been desired, and as had been effected in
almost every other colony. The opposition to this measure was even
ascribed to the Chief Justice. He would further suggest that Mr. Stuart
should be detached by motives of self-interest, from the party with
whom he acted, and which it was supposed, would dwindle into
insignificance without him. If the Attorney-Generalship should become
vacant, it might be offered to him. The most fruitful source of all the
dissensions in Canada was, nevertheless, according to Sir John
Sherbrooke, the want of confidence in its executive government,[28] not
so much in the personal character of the Governor as in the Executive
Council, who have come to be considered the Governor's advisers, and
who are watched with a jealousy that hampered every governmental
operation. To remove the distrust, the Speaker of the Legislative
Assembly should, _ex officio_, be a member of the Executive Council.

[28] True, and which an elective government will altogether
remove, to the great advantage and enduring honor of Great
Britain.

Sir John had stated a series of truths, since made apparent, by the
disclosures of Mr. Ryland.

The new parliament was convened for the dispatch of business, on the
15th of January, 1817, when Mr. Papineau was re-elected Speaker. The
Governor then formally opened the business of the session, by stating
that having ascertained that the crops had failed in several parts of
the province, he had taken steps to prevent the mischief that
threatened the country, the particulars of which should be laid before
the parliament; that he relied upon the liberality of the Assembly to
make the necessary provision for defraying the expenses already
incurred; that he felt assured such further aid would be granted as
necessity might require; that he would lay before the House a statement
of the revenue and expenditure of the province: that he felt it to be
his duty to call early attention to the renewal of the militia and
several other Acts, which either had expired or were about to expire;
and he intimated that the advantages to result from every improvement
calculated to open up the commerce of the country and encourage
agriculture were of themselves sufficient to recommend that matter to
their a