138 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



The line separating Canada and New Brunswick creates no separation 

 between the people inhabiting on either side. The Canadian inhabitants 

 there have long found it to their advantage to deal principally with New Bruns- 

 wick, and to avail themselves of the conveniences afforded by that fine river, 

 the St. John. 



The people of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (once united in the same 

 Province) know no distinction. 



Some of the finest portions of Nova Scotia, — Cumberland, Digby, Annap- 

 olis, parts of Kings, Hants and Colchester, — are more closely united by busi- 

 ness relations with New Brunswick than with any part of their owti Province, 

 — while the north-eastern coast of that Province, — with resources of great 

 value, derived alike from the land and the water, are drawn by the facilities 

 of navigation to Halifax rather than to St. John. 



The Gulf of St. Lawrence brings us all together. There Canada, New 

 Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton and New- 

 foundland unite in encircling the estuary of the great river of the north, and 

 there as to a common centre, the traders from all the Colonies are every 

 season brought together. 



The hindrance to a Union which probably will be found the most difficult 

 of removal will result from real or supposed differences of interest in relation 

 to the regulation of commerce and tariff. But if arrangements of '.his nature 

 necessary for the common good, should oppose in some particulars the policy 

 of a portion of the Union, it may -well be supposed that more tiian compen- 

 sation will be found in the advantage of a uniform system, em'.iracing all the 

 Colonies, and conferring on each the privileges and b'Saefits of unfettered 

 intercommunion which at present is not and cannot easily, be enjoyed. 



It does not, however, appear to be necessary or expedient to deal at large 

 with this question now. If, on general and enlarged views, a Union be desir- 

 able or necessary, I cannot but think that all suoh questions wliU be found 

 capable of a solution consonant with the general welfare — and besides they 

 require to be brought into definite form after interchange of opinion and dis- 

 cussion among the several governments, before they can be practically dealt 

 with in open debate in the Legislature. 



The same remarks are applicable to the pressent disparity in the liabilities 

 of the several Provinces, which I have made in reference to the disparity in 

 the rates of their several tariffs, and supposed differences of commercial 

 policy. 



The debt of Canada is very large — but the works for which it was incurred 

 remain — and her abundant revenues, after meeting the expenses of Govern- 

 ment — the interest of her debt — the contingent of her sinking fund — and 

 liberal allowance for education and other objects of public benefit— leave stlU 

 a large surplus. 



Lord Elgin's despatch, of the 16th August last, states the net revenue of 

 1852 to be greater than the expenditure including interest on public debt and 

 sinking fund, by $188,553. Gentlemen may see the statistics at large, in the 

 very useful compilation I have in my hand— Mr. Scobie's Canadian Almanac 

 for the present yiear. 



But, Sir, when I reflect on the immense resources of Canada, I apprehend 

 the obstructions to the Union may arise from measures very different from the 

 fastidiousness of the Lower Colonies, in view of the Canadian debt. 



Let us then assume that if a Union of the British North American Prov- 

 inces be a measure calculated to consolidate their strengt/h — improve their 

 institutions— accelerate their progress and promote their well-being — there 

 exists no insuperable objection to that Union — either in the distance that sep- 

 arate.s — the diversities of races and of habits and sentiments — from geographi- 

 cal impediments, or financial or fiscal difllculties, or other causes of an indivi- 

 dual nature. 



