[bourinot] builders OF NOVA SCOTIA 161 



the American Sitates after their independence ; and now take up Lord 

 Durham's report of 31st January, 1839. 



In this wie find that in 1S14, the project, of a Union of the North American 

 Colonies had been formed by the late Chief Justice Sewell of Lower Canada ; 

 and by him submitted to his late Royal Highness the Duke of Kent-^the 

 father of our sovereign — and approved by the Prinoe, whose personal know- 

 ledge of these Colonies, and whose deep interest in their welfare are well- 

 known facts. 



The report of Lord Durhiam gives the Duke^iS letter in an'swier to Chief 

 Justice Sewell's proposal. So interesting a document coming from such a 

 quarter, the House will excuse me for reading : — 



Kensington Palace, Nove'mbeT 16th, 1814. 

 " My Dear Sewell,— I have this day had the pleasure of receiving your 

 note of yesterday, with its emciO'Sure ; nothing can be better arranged than 

 the whole thing is, or more perfectly I cannot wish ; and when I see an 

 opening, it is fully my intention to hint the matter to Lord Bathur&t, and 

 put the paper into his hands without, however, telldng him from whom I have 

 it, though I shall urge him to have some conversation with you relative to 

 it. Permit me, however, just to ask you whether it wa's an overslghit in you 

 to state that there are five Houses of Assembly in the British Colonies in 

 North America, for if I am not under an error, there are six, viz.: — Upper 

 and Lowier Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the Islands of Prince 

 Edward and Cape Breton.^ Allow me also to beg of you to put down the propor- 

 tions in which you think the thirty memberte of the Riepresentatlve Assembly 

 ought to be furnished by each Province ; and to suggest whether you would 

 not think two Lieut. -Governors, with two ExecuJtive Councils sufiîcient for 

 the Executive Governmient of the whole, viz.: — One for the two Canadas, and 

 one for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, comprehending the small depen- 

 dencies of Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island ; the former to reside 

 at Montreal, and the latter at whichever of the two situations may be con- 

 sidered most central for the two Provinces, whether Annapolis Royal or 

 Windsor. But at all events should you even oonsider four Executive Gov- 

 ernments and four Executive Councils requisite I presume there cannot be 

 a question of the expediency of comprehending the two small Islands in the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence with Nova Scotia. EDWARD." 



Lord Durham's report has been in everybody's hand and need only be 

 referred to. That able statesman believed a Union of the North American 

 Colonies to be most desirable for their progress and advancement, and after 

 much deliberation, and it would seem some change of opinion, adopted the 

 conclusion that the Union should be Legislative, and complete to secure the 

 full attainment of its advantages. The reasons by which His Lordship's 

 views are sustained are given succinctly, but powerfully in the report. So 

 clearly and conclusively indeed that it seems as if the best advocacy of the 

 measure might be confined to the reading of those passages of His Lordiship's 

 report which relate to this point. 



Next and last in the order of time, is the scheme of the British Ameri- 

 can League, adopted at its second convention at Toronto, in November, 1849. 

 I hold in my hand a full report of the speeches and prooeedings on that 

 occasion, and I may say that the knowledge, ability and eloquence, displayed, 

 well entitle to our respectful consideration the opinions of the gentlemen who 

 adopted the conclusion that a Union of all the Provinces was desirable and 

 proper. They were strong in number as in talents — of varied engagements 

 in life, and being selected from all parts of the Province may be considered 

 as expressing sentiments widely diffused. 



1 Cape Breton never had an Assembly and Chief Justice Sewell was correct. 



Sec. II., 1899. 11 



