Motion for Repeal of the Corn Laws..... Various Improvements
in the Law..... A Select Committee to inquire into the
Operation of the Poor Laws..... Combinations in England and
Ireland..... Debates in Parliament on John Thorn, alias Sir
William Courtenay..... Committee on Church Lands..... Act
for abolishing Pluralities..... The Subject of Education
discussed in both Houses..... The Question of Canada
renewed..... Queen Prorogues Parliament..... Disaffection
among the Working Classes..... Proposed Reduction of the
Rates of Postage..... The State of Ireland..... The Affairs
of Canada..... The State of the Continent.

PARLIAMENT REASSEMBLES--DEBATES ON CANADA--ADDRESS TO THE THRONE
MOVED BY LORD JOHN RUSSELL--BILL FOR SUSPENDING THE LOWER CANADIAN
CONSTITUTION.

{A.D. 1838}

Parliament reassembled on the 16th of January. The first subject brought
under notice was the affairs of Canada. This subject was introduced by
Lord John Russell, who, after recapitulating the principal events that
had occurred since the connexion of that colony with Great Britain
down to the report of the Committee in 1828, took up his ground on that
report, which the assembly of Lower Canada had characterised as
"an imperishable monument to the justice and profound wisdom of the
committee, an authentic testimonial of the reality of their grievances
and of the justice of their complaints, faithfully interpreting their
wishes and their wants." It might have been supposed, said his lordship,
that after the people and the government of this country had proved
themselves anxious to perform all that was asked for, and that was
indicated by the reports of the committee, the Canadians would have been
not only satisfied, but willing to express their cordiality towards the
British government. The case, however, was the very reverse of this. On
the 6th of December, 1828, the house of assembly resolved, "That on
the permanent settlement before mentioned being effected, it would
be expedient to render the governor, lieutenant-governor, or person
administering the government for the time being, the judges and
executive councillors, independent of the annual vote of that house,
to the extent of their present salaries." Having adverted to other
resolutions indicative of the growing dissatisfaction of the Canadians,
Lord John Russell proceeded to state what had been done in order to
remedy the grievances