hority in local matters was to be granted to
the municipal courts in Lower Canada--that of forming districts and
settling the boundaries of such districts. His lordship concluded by
making some remarks on the clergy reserves, in the course of which he
stated that a bill had been passed by the Upper Canada assembly, which
proposed that the clergy reserves should be sold, and that one half of
the proceeds should be given to the churches of England and Scotland,
and that the remaining half should be divided among the clergy of all
denominations of Christians recognised by certain acts of the province,
such as that of registration. His lordship thought that this bill would
give general satisfaction; but Mr. Hume stated that the noble lord
was mistaken in supposing that such a bill would settle discontent in
Canada. The Canada union bill was read a first and second time without
opposition; and on the 29th of May Lord John Russell moved that the
house should go into committee on its details. After a few words in
opposition from Messrs. Pakington and O'Connell, and in support of it by
Messrs. Gladstone and Charles Buller, the house went into committee, and
the various clauses of the bill were all agreed to almost unanimously.
The third reading was carried by a majority of one hundred and fifty-six
against six. In the course of the discussion Sir Robert Peel had
suggested that the civil-list should be charged on the consolidated fund
of the provinces, and Mr. Ellis had proposed the omission of all the
clauses relating to district councils; and on a subsequent evening Lord
John Russell intimated that he should adopt those suggestions. On
the second reading in the house of lords, on the 30th of June, a
considerable discussion took place; but the bill was allowed to go into
committee without a division. In committee the Duke of Wellington moved
that the commencement of the operation of the act should be postponed
to fifteen months, instead of six, after its passing, as proposed by
government; and Lord Ellenborough moved a clause to empower the governor
and two-thirds of the council to suspend any member guilty of unworthy
and disreputable conduct. Both these amendments were agreed to, and the
bill afterwards was read a third time. A bill introduced by Lord John
Russell for the sale of the Canada clergy reserves also subsequently
passed, without much opposition, through both houses of parliament.

ECCLESIASTICAL DUTIES AND REV