proceedings of the Assembly; that all
censure of any proceeding of the Assembly, by either of the branches of
the legislature, was an assumption and exercise of power contrary to
law, a breach of the undoubted rights and privileges of the House of
Assembly, and subversive of the constitution of the government, as by
law established in the province; and that it was the undoubted right of
the Assembly, in voting aids or supplies, or offering money bills for
the consent of the other branches of the legislature, to adopt such
order or mode of proceedings, as it might find conformable to its
rules, and to propound such matter as in its judgment should seem
fitted and most conducive to the peace, welfare, and good government of
the province.

Mr. Andrew Stuart, a man of brilliant attainments, was busily engaged
in the exposure of the enormous abuses that had prevailed in the
improvident and prodigal grants of the Crown lands. A bill was brought
forward in the Assembly for more effectually ascertaining the state of
the public funds in the hands of the Receiver General. The Receiver
General was to account annually to the legislature for his
expenditures, and he was to tell over, for its disposal by the
Assembly, the balance which he should have remaining in hand. He was to
be allowed a commission on all monies paid into his hands, in lieu of a
salary. And he was not to be engaged in trade. The bill did not,
however, receive a third reading, and the Receiver General still
continued to carry on the business of a lumber merchant. A bill was
also introduced for the trial of impeachments by the Legislative
Council, but was afterwards relinquished. An effort was made to obtain
a per diem allowance for the members of the Assembly, but it was not
successful. Mr. James Stuart was named agent for the province in
London, and the sum of L2,000 was voted to defray his expenses in that
capacity; but the appointment was set aside by the Council, because a
Mr. Gordon, who held a situation in the Colonial Office, had been
previously appointed agent for the province by the Executive
government, with a salary of L200 a year. Several messages, relative to
public improvements were sent down to the Assembly in the course of the
session, but the House only promised to consider them next session. One
bill, of great importance, was, however, passed:--that to open a canal
between Montreal and Lachine, at the public expense. Before the close
of the ses