86 [ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



the address voted by this House on 24th Decembier last to His Excellency 

 îlie Governor-in-Chief.'' Mr. Coffin moved in amendment, seconded by 

 Mr. Bowen, to leave out all words after "that," and insert " the mes- 

 sengers be discharged from presenting the said message." Mr. Joseph 

 Papineau moved, seconded by Mr. Debartsch. that the consideration of 

 the main question and of the question in amendment be adjourned, and 

 this motion was carried by sixteen voies to thirteen. No further action 

 was taken. Joseph Papineau's conduct in this matter seems to have been 

 perfectly straightforward and consistent, and nothing but his great 

 personal influence and tact could have possibly averjted another conflict 

 wdth the Governor-General and a dissolution of the Assembly. 



The Alien Act and the Act for tlie prevention of seditioius practices 

 recommended by the Governor-General were first introduced in the Legis- 

 lative Council, by which they were promptly passed without discussion 

 and transmitted to the Assembly. A new clause had been inserted in 

 the latter Act, providing that no member of the Legislature should be 

 jjnprisoned during a session unless the cause of his arrest had been pre- 

 viously made known to the House and its consent obtained. The opposi- 

 tion lacked the courage to resist this measure and it was passed without 

 !t division, although they had declared within twenty-four hours that it 

 was " la. subject of much apprehension in the province and required their 

 most serious consideration." Dissensions soon arose in their ranks. 

 They quarrelled bitterly amongst themselves and several of the strongest 

 (opponents of the Government returned to their homes in great disap- 

 pointment before the session concluded. The behaviour of the remainder 

 towards the English members became decidedly more friendly and even 

 cordial. 



" It ha.s been observed," ?aid Craig, " that their manner and de- 

 portment towards the English party has been in general veiy different 

 tjiis session from what it was during the two or three last meetings. 

 Some few, however, of the most violent continued to obseiTe the same 

 distance, and among themselves the usual scenes of extravagance and 

 indecorum have occurred even so far as to afford the spectacle of one 

 member pursuing another around the Salle." ^ 



After the prorogation of the Legislature the Governor-General's 

 health failed so much that he determined to return to England by the 

 first opportunity without waiting for permission. On June 19th, 1811, 

 "he accordingly embarked on the frigate Amelia amid the strongest ex- 

 pressions of esteem from the English population of Quebec, and the ad- 



' CraJK to Liverpool, 28th March, 1811, Canadian Archives, Q. 114, p. 12. 



