at Britain, or a
subject become so by the conquest and cession of the Canadas, or had
been naturalized by an act of the British parliament. A bill was now
passed giving to a naturalizing act of the Canadian legislature the same
effect as to one of the legislature in England; providing, however, that
such act should be null and void, unless ratified by his majesty within
two years after being presented to him for that purpose. The only other
measure regarding our relations with foreign states, besides these
already noticed, which occupied the attention of parliament, was the
expiry of the Alien Act. This session it died a natural death; and a
milder set of regulations, conferring no power of sending aliens out of
the country, were adopted in its stead. In relinquishing that power, Mr.
Peel said that he had the gratifying consciousness that in no instance
had it been abused. The only case in which it had been used was one
which had not the slightest shade of a political aspect attached to it.
It was that of a person who had menaced a foreign ambassador, and who,
it was believed, would have carried his threats into execution had he
not been brought before the privy-council and dealt with according to
that act.

PROROGATION AND DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.

The session of parliament was shortened by the approach of its
dissolution. The session was terminated on the 31st of May by
commission. The speech, which was delivered by the lord chancellor,
mentioned his majesty's intention of dissolving the present parliament,
and directing the issue of writs for the calling of a new one. A leading
topic in the speech was the success of the British arms in the Burmese
empire, success which had led to the signature on honourable terms of a
preliminary treaty with the Burmese monarch, which his majesty had
every reason to expect would be the foundation of a secure and permanent
peace. Parliament was dissolved on the 2nd of June; and writs were
issued for a new election, which were to be returnable on the 25th of
July.

GENERAL ELECTION.

The elections which followed immediately the dissolution of parliament
presented several scenes of active and vigorous individual combat; but
they did not possess the interest which attaches to them when their
issue is to decide the fate of contending parties. The chief topics
on which candidates were tested were the corn-laws and Catholic
emancipation. As the lower classes were under th