{boukinot] 



BUILDERS OF NOVA SCOTIA 



41 



ton and others. Uniacke joined the liberal forces at a critical time, when 

 Sir Colin Campbell, an honest but obstinate old soldier, and confirmed 

 Tory, was throwing obstacles in the way of the establishment of respon- 

 sible government. In later j-ears Howe and Uniacke became colleagues 

 in several administrations, and when the latter died the great Liberal 

 paid to his memory an eloquent tribute. "Bis noble form," said Howe, 

 " easy depoi'tment, graceful manners, and ready flow of language, are 

 familiar to many. ... A mind ever fruitful, a tongue ever eloquent, 

 humour inexhaustible, and pathos which few could resist, were among 



ARCHBISHOP CONNOLLY. 



-the gifts or attainments of my honourable friend. His colloquial powers 

 were even more marvellous than his forensic or parliamentary displays. 

 He charmed the senate by his eloquence ; but how delightful was he 

 when surrounded by a knot of friends beneath the gallery or seated at 

 the head of his own hospitable board." But the very exuberance of his 

 social gifts, his irrepressible love for companionship, during the close of 

 his brilliant life, impaired the vigour of an intellect which might have 

 achieved much more for Nova Scotia under happier and wiser conditions.^ 



1 I am indebted to Mr. James J. O'Brien, secretary of the Irish Charitable Society, 

 for the portraits of the two Uniackes that appear in tliis book. 1 understand that 

 the portraits in the possession of this society are taken from the original paintings 

 in the possession of the Rev. J. B. Uniacke, of Mt. Uniacke, the well known 

 country seat of the family. Attorney-General R. J. Uniacke was the first president 

 of this society, which was founded on the 17th January, 1786, and continues to 

 show every evidence of usefulness. The other officers were : vice-president, Thomas 

 Cochran ; first assistant vice-president, G. W. Sherlock ; treasurer, Charles Hill ; 

 and secretary, Gerald Fitzgerald. For interesting details of distinguished men 

 connected with this historic society, see a paper by Mr. O'Brien contributed to the 

 Halifax Herald of the 17th March, 1890. 



