the cost of
certain local establishments, the expenses of the legislature and the
necessary expense of collecting the revenue. The Assembly assured the
Governor of their great satisfaction that he had not questioned the
constitutional doctrine which they had enunciated, that the public
money should only be applied conformably to law. They were indeed sorry
that the standing rules of the Council prevented their House from
entertaining even the hope that its invariable disposition to provide
for the necessary expenses of the civil government could have its
proper and legal effect. But they would grant no supplies whatever.
This manoeuvre might have been most successfully practised upon the
government of Lower Canada, if it had not also affected Upper Canada.
The supplies of Upper, as well as of Lower Canada, were cut off. Quebec
was the only seaport the two provinces had. It was in Lower Canada that
the duties on imports were levied. Of these import duties Upper Canada
was now entitled to a fifth, instead of an eighth, as at first agreed
upon. And if the whole was sacrificed, the value of a fifth of the
whole would not amount to much. The government, and, indeed, the whole
people of Upper Canada were annoyed at the loss of revenue inflicted
upon the country, for the sake merely of principle. But that was not
all. Upper Canada was already so rapidly increasing in population that
a fifth of the whole duties collected was not looked upon as her fair
share of receipts. Her commissioners desired a larger share of the
incomings. Lower Canada would not grant the increase and there was
another difficulty between the provinces. The subject was brought under
the consideration of the imperial parliament, by Upper Canada, through
the instrumentality of an agent, in London, appointed to communicate
with the government at home. The parliament of Lower Canada was
prorogued on the 18th of February. Lord Dalhousie was satisfied that no
benefit to the public could be expected from a continuance of the
session, and had come to prorogue the parliament. He regretted that the
supplies had been withheld, but neither the civil government, nor the
officers of justice, nor any of the officers of the government or of
the courts would be at all affected. The mischievous effects of their
proceeding would fall upon trade and of course be highly injurious to
His Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects, who should know how to bring
about a remedy. He was m