[cruikshank] ÏADMINISTRATION OF^SIR JAMES CRAIGj 77 



act of the British Paxliameiit in the 31st }'iear of the reign of George 

 III, and while not directly challenging the supremacy of Parliament or 

 the validity of that Act^ yet they asserted that they were to be regarded 

 as tlie sole judges of their own proceedings, and refused to be controlled 

 or bound by (the acts of another legislature. They did not even ask Mr. 

 Hart toi avow or deny his religious belief, and it appeared that he had 

 taken the oath in exactly the same manner as every other member of 

 tlie Houise. Craig and tlie Executive Council, to whom he submitted 

 the case, on the otlier) hand, were unanimous in the opinion that he was 

 eligible, providing he took the oaths prescribed by the Act of Parliament. 

 A month was consumed in desultory and profitless discussion, while the 

 number of members present seldom exceeded twenty-five or thirty. The 

 Governor-General had apparently considered the expediency of dissolv- 

 ing the House as soon as he foundl a reasonable pretext, even before it 

 had met, and he then determined to act. On May 15th, after giving 

 his assent to half a dozen immiportant bills, he prorogued and dissolved 

 the Assembly, scolding them soundly in a lengthy speech for wast- 

 ing their time in fmvolous and factious debates while he as warmly 

 commended the' Legislative Council for their zeal, im/animity, and public 

 spirit. This indiscreet and arbitrary act seems to have commanded the 

 approval of the greater part of the British and a portion of the French 

 inhabitants. Soon after the dissolution of the Assembly, he visited 

 Three Elvers, Montreal, St. Johns, and Sorel, where he was warmly wel- 

 comed. At all of these places he was presented with addresses signed 

 by many of tlie principal residents, strongly approving of his conduct. 

 Lpon his return to Quebec, he received another, in which many citizens 

 of that place congratulated him upon his " judicious and finii adminis- 

 tration." These indications of popular approval certainly induced him 

 to believe for a time that the coming elections might result in the return 

 of a majority of members favourably disposed towards the Government. 



But liord Castlereagh, the Secretary of State for War and the 

 Colonics, was not inclined to view his action in tbis respect with un- 

 qualitied approbation. 



'' I have no doubt," he informed him, " that in the measures you 

 have taken you have been really influenced by a sense of your duty to 

 His ]\rajest}% and as you represent that it is approved by the English 

 part of the community and the sensible part of the Canadians, I shall 

 entertain a hope that it may not be attended with any prejudicial effect. 



" I am at the same time to impress upon you this counsel that if 

 any unfortunate difference should arise hereafter between you and the 

 liegi'slative Assembly, which may render it necessary for you to advert 

 to their proceedings, (which should always be done cautiously), and in 



