Cbourinot] builders OF NOVA SCOTIA 147 



on business. The Committee having returned acquainted the memlbers that 



His Excellency desired tlhat they would attend him at the Council Chamber 

 to be qualified which being' done His Excelliemcy signified to the Housie that 

 they should proceed to the choice of a Speaker, the Members then retumied 

 chose William Nesibitt, Esq., ajid presented him to His Exoeilency who 

 approved of their ohoice. 



Mr. Speaker then prayed His Excellency that the members of the 

 Assembly might have their usual privilege, to which His Excellency answered 

 that he would allow the House all such privileges as His Majesty's Insitruc- 

 tions would permit. 



TJ-ien His Excellency was pleased to make the following speech : 



" Gentleonen of the Council and House of Represeaitatives, — I embrace 

 this pleasing opportunity of our first meeting to congratulate you on the 

 universal success with which it has pleased the Almighty to bless His Majesty's 

 Arms by sea and land, in this year of His most Glorious Reign : but as we 

 are more immediately interested in these events of the conquest that have 

 been made in the northern countries of this Continent, I would more especially 

 rejoice with you upon the victory of that ever memorable day which (by 

 Divine permission) through the wise perseverance and active vigor of His 

 Majesty's Admirals and Generals, seconded by the matchless intrepidity of 

 their followers, justly rebuked the pride of France and put His Majesty in 

 possession of that barbarous metropodis from whence his good subjects of 

 this Province and of the King's other American Dominions have groaned 

 under such continual and unpardonable wrongs. It is not to be doubted but 

 that this blow will soon be rendered so fatal to the insolence of Canada by 

 the unwearied zeal vigilance and activity of our first Deliverer General 

 Amherst as will put a final period to those interruptions the Enemy have 

 too successfully thrown in the way of our progress in every part of this 

 province as well as to the monstrous cruelties they have liitherto exercised 

 with impunity over the British American Empire in peace and in war without 

 distinction. 



This, Gentlemen, is the important change we have all along look'd and 

 wished for, and for which I am persuaded our spirited and Nobleminded 

 Countrymen by sea and land. Regulars and Provincials, who performed the 

 work, will have our latest and sincerest acknowiledgments with the prayers 

 of our children's children : This I say is the crisis we have eagerly but 

 justly panted after and which thank Heaven our most Gracious and August 

 Sovereign has outlived his labors to be happy in. 



Under these circumstances and with the enjlivening prospect that is before 

 us of introducing so many hundreds of youtlhful settlers into the Colony as 

 axe now preparing to Establish the vacated and other Lands we may form 

 to ourselves the strongest assurance that if we rightly improve the oppor- 

 tunity, we cannot fail to be as much an object of envy as we were before of 

 compassion. I persuade myself, gentlemen, that oh your parts nothing will 

 be wanting that may contribute towards it, on my own, I can only renew 

 those engagements which I entered into with many of you as members of the 

 Houses before. 



In the meantime the Gentlemen of the House of Representatives as I see 

 more reason than ever for doing it I must here repeat my recommendation of 

 the Bill for laying a Duty on Spirituous Liquors retailed in any quantities 

 under Fifteen gallons, it was rejected by the late Assembly upon considera- 

 tions I will not enter into ; but as I flatter myself no such motives will 

 influence the conduct of the present Assembly, I make no doubt of your see- 

 ing it in a very different light and passing it ; because it cannot but be of 

 Publick utility. 



