210 SPEECH ON THE TIMBER-DUTIES. 



Of the monster grievances against the mother country 

 with which the colony has been made to ring, the 

 removal of the timber-duties was one which long held a 

 prominent place. In regard to these, while they were 

 under discussion in the Provincial Legislature at Frede- 

 ricton, my friend and travelling-companion, Mr Brown, 

 made a very effective as well as characteristic speech. 

 After relating all that England had done from time to 

 time in defending, and supporting, and aiding her colo 

 nies, and fostering their commerce of which these 

 timber-duties, levied so long for their advantage, were 

 an example he adverted to their boasted loyalty, which 

 had been so much shaken, if not altogether dissipated, 

 by the new Timber Act of the Imperial Legislature. 

 u Gentlemen,&quot; he said, &quot; you remind me of that passage 

 in Job where Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth 

 Job fear God for naught? Hast not thou made an 



the designation of the European and North American Railway is given. 

 The objects of this scheme are, jii st, to complete the existing railway, 

 eastward through Maine to the eastern boundary of the State ; second, 

 to continue the line through New Brunswick to the city of St John, 

 and thence through the vale of Sussex to the eastern boundary of this 

 province in the Sackville marshes ; third, to prolong it thence through 

 Nova Scotia to a point near the Gut of Canseau : and lastly, to establish 

 a line of magnificent quick steamers from that point to the harbour of 

 Galway in Ireland. Between these points the distance by sea is 2000 

 miles, while the shortest from Boston is 2600, and from New York 3100. 

 The sea-voyage will thus be lessened one thousand miles, and the jour 

 ney from London to New York will be accomplished in six or seven 

 days. The Legislature of Maine and the Provincial Governments have 

 entered warmly into the plan, and, if it can be executed, it must be 

 productive of great material benefits to the whole of North-eastern 

 America. 



With the view also of rendering more easy, cheap, safe, and healthy, 

 the transfer of the poorer classes of emigrants, and, in general, of pro 

 moting the intercourse between the home islands and the North 

 American colonies, it is proposed to establish aline of emigrant steamers, 

 under Government contract, as the Cunard line is maintained. Such a 

 line of boats as this would no doubt be productive of many benefits 

 both to the provinces and to the mother country. 



