d, it was argued by ministers that the aggrandisement of Russia
at the expense of Turkey would injure both our commercial and political
interests; and that the possession of Oczakow would facilitate the
acquisition, not only of Constantinople, but of Alexandria and Lower
Egypt. The address was carried, and several resolutions afterwards moved
against the armament were rejected by large majorities. The armament
therefore continued, and the Czarina was soon compelled to give up
Oczakow with all her other acquisitions in Turkey, acquisitions which
had cost her many thousand men to obtain.

BILL FOR THE REGULATION OF CANADA.

When Canada became a British colony the king had promised its
inhabitants the benefits of the British constitution. Since that time
the French settlers in that country, and the Canadians, had been joined
by many British subjects, and by loyal emigrants from America, who were
anxious to secure the advantages which the royal promise held out
to them. Ministers had for some time directed their attention to the
subject, and on the 4th of March Pitt moved for leave to bring in a
bill for regulating the government of Canada, and entered into a minute
detail of every provision which he meant to propose. He proposed to
divide Canada into two provinces, Upper and Lower, and to establish
distinct legislatures; the division being meant to separate the parts
which were chiefly inhabited by French Canadians, from those inhabited
by more recent settlers. The legislature of each province was to consist
of a council and house of assembly. The members of the council were to
hold their seats for life, with a reservation of power to the crown
for annexing to certain honours an hereditary right of sitting in
the council; and the members of the assembly were to be chosen by
freeholders possessing landed property to the amount of forty shillings,
or occupiers of houses worth twenty pounds per annum. The _habeas
corpus_ act was to be rendered a permanent law of the colony; and a
provision was to be made for the Protestant clergy by an allotment
of lands. Appeals were to be made to the privy-council in the first
instance, and from thence to the house of lords. The British government
gave up the right of taxation, asserting only that of regulating
external commerce: no taxes were to be imposed except such as were
necessary for this regulation. This bill was read twice; it passed
the committee, and the report was receive