Section IL, 1899. [ III ] Trans. R. S. C. 



I. — Builders of Nova Scotia : A Historical Review^ ivith an Appendix 

 containing Copies of Rare Documents Relating to the Early Days 

 of the Province. 



By Sir John G. Bourinot, K.C.M (t., LL.D. 

 (Read 26th May, 1899.) 



PEEFATOEY NOTE. 



This paper was first read in part before tlie Historical Society of 

 Nova Scotia, in the old chamber of the legislative council of the province, 

 so full of the memories of three-quarters of a centur}^, as well as before 

 the professors and students of Acadia College, situated in the beautiful 

 country, so intimately associated with the sad story of the French Aca- 

 dians. Subsequently it was repeated at the special request of the Mayor 

 and leading citizens of my native town of Sydney, whose history goes 

 back to nearh^ twelve decades of years. The paper is now printed in the 

 Transactions of the Eoyal Society of Canada with the addition of many 

 interesting portraits, and of an appendix containing a number of import- 

 ant documents relating to the constitution and history of the oldest Eng- 

 lish province of the new Dominion, and now only found in a number of 

 rare and expensive books not always available for students. I have also 

 printed in this appendix the eloquent addresses delivered in 1854 by the 

 Honourable James William Johnston, leader of the Conservative party, 

 and the Honourable Joseph Howe, the eminent exponent of responsible 

 government, on the occasion of the introduction of the first resolution 

 moved and carried in a British North American legislature in favour 

 of the union of the pi'ovinces. I have thought that these historic 

 speeches should be known to the people of Canada generally and to 

 the present generation of Nova Scotians especially. My readers will 

 notice that I have not been able to give portraits of Governors Corn- 

 wallis and Lawrence, who performed such important functions in 

 connection with the settlement of Nova Scotia after the foundation 

 of Halifax. I have exhausted every effort to find in Europe and America 

 portraits of these two eminent Makers of the province, but so far 

 to no purpose. I have given, with one excej^tion, only the jjortraits 

 of public men who have long since joined the ranks of the " gi-eat 

 majorit3^" The exception is Sir Charles Topper, who, despite his age of 

 seventy-eight years, displays remarkable intellectual vigour and properly 

 takes a place in these pages as a historical link between the ante-federa- 

 tion and the post-federation times of the province of which he is one of 

 the most distinguished sons. I have also thought it due to the pioneers 



