and the reasoning of Mr. Ryland. He agreed
with the Clerk of the Executive Council that a great change was to be
brought about in the system of the provincial government, especially
with respect to its finance; but, when it was considered that the
mother country was "at present" struggling with pecuniary
embarrassments, it was not surprising that ministers should call upon
the colonies to contribute to their own support. It was very obvious
that, ever since the present constitution had been given to Lower
Canada, the House of Assembly had been gradually obtaining an increase
of power, whilst the Legislative Council remained in _statu quo_.
The proper balance had consequently been lost and he knew of no better
mode of giving new weight and importance to the Upper House than the
measure devised by the Prince Regent that as often as the House of
Assembly should impeach, the Legislative Council should adjudicate upon
the case, and the Council having declared that they had not the power
to do so, some more formal instrument than a letter from the Secretary
of State to the Governor, to invest the Council with the necessary
authority to act, would be required. To the address of the Assembly an
answer was given in a message to both Houses. The message intimated
that the adjudication of impeachments by the Assembly was to rest with
the Legislative Council; that the Regent trusted that the Council would
discharge the important duties which thus devolved upon them in such a
manner as to give satisfaction to all classes of people in the
province; and that the Governor, not having had instructions, as to the
manner in which the adjudications were to be conducted, would apply to
the Regent for instructions and communicate them as soon as obtained.
The House of Assembly did nothing, as the wisest course to be pursued,
and the Council, now almost raised to a level with the House of Lords,
in its own estimation, expressed its thanks in a series of resolutions
offered by Mr. Ryland, for the confidence which His Royal Highness had
reposed in it. Mr. Ryland and some other members of the Council were
most anxious to adjudicate upon Mr. Foucher's impeachment at once; but,
says the Clerk of the Council, in a letter written subsequently to
Colonel Ready, the resolutions offered by me, which would have been
adopted by a majority of the legislature, were stifled or repressed by
artful and solemn asseverations made in the House for the purpose of