186 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY : 



John Smith, Alex. Legge, Jordan Post, sen., Andrew O'Keefe, S. A. Lumsden, John Murchisou, 

 Thomas Deary, Ezek. Benson, A. McNabb, Edward Wright, John Evans, W. Lawrence, Thos. 

 Duggan, George Duggan, Benjamin Cozens, Philip Clinger and Sheriff Ridout. To which His 

 Excellency was pleased to make the following answer : Gentlemen : After so long an absence 

 from this place it is particularly gratifying to find the same sentiments of cordiality to me, 

 and of approbation of my conduct, which I experienced during my former residence in this 

 Province. It is but doing me justice to say that, while in Europe, I paid every attention in 

 my power to promote your prosperity ; and such, you may be assured, shall be my future 

 endeavour when residing amongst you ; earnestly hoping that, under the fostering care of our 

 Parent State, and under that security which Peace alone can bestow, this Colony will speedily 

 become a valuable, though distant part of the British Empire. York, 27th September, 1815." 

 Under date of Oct. Tth 'following it is announced that "His Royal Highness, the Prince 

 Regent acting in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, has been pleased to appoint 

 Thomas Eraser, Esquire, of Prescott, Neil McLean, Esquire, of Cornwall, Thomas Clark, 

 Esquire, of Queenstou, and William Dickson, Esquire, of Niagara, to be members of the 

 Legislative Council ; Samuel Smith, Esquire, of Etobicoke, to be a member of the Executive 

 Council, and Doctor Johji Strachan, to be an Honorary Member of the same Council." 



By one of the acts passed during the administration of Gov. Gore, the foimdation was 

 laid of a parliamentary library, to replace the one destroyed or dispersed during the occu- 

 pation of York in 1813. In the session of 1816 the sum of £800 was voted for the 

 purchase of books for the use of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly. The 

 sum of £800 for such a purpose contrasts poorly, however, with the £3,000 recommended 

 in the same session to be granted to Gov. Gore himself for the purchase of "Plate.'' 

 The joint address of both Houses to the Prince Regent, on this subject, was couched 

 in the following terms: "To his Royal Highness, George, Prince of Wales, Prince Regent of 

 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, &c., &c., &c. : May it please your Royal 

 Highness : We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Legislative Council and 

 House of Assembly of the Province of Upper Canada, in Provincial Parliament assembled, 

 impressed with a lively sense of the firm, upright, and liberal administration of Francis Gore, 

 Esq., Lieutenant-Governor of this Province, as well as of his unceasing attention to the indi- 

 vidual and general interests of the colony during his absence, have unanimously passed a biU 

 to appropriate the sum of three thousand pounds to enable him to purchase a service of plate, 

 commemorative of our gratitude. Apprized that this spontaneous gift cannot receive the 

 sanction of our beloved Sovereign in the ordinary mode, by the acceptance of the Lieutenant- 

 Governor in his name and behalf, we, the Legislative Council and Assembly of the Province of 

 Upper Canada, humbly beg leave to approach your Royal Highness with an earnest prayer 

 that you will apjirove this demonstration of our gratitude, and graciously be pleased to sanc- 

 tion, in his Majesty's name, the grant of the Legislature in behalf of the inhabitants of Upper 

 Canada. Wm. Dummer Powell, Speaker, Legislative Conacil Chamber, 26th March, 1816. 

 Allan Maclean, Speaker, Commons House of Assembly, 25th March, 1816." To which, as we 

 are next infoi-med, his Excellency replied : "Gentleman : I shall transmit your address to his 

 Majesty's Minister, in order that this expression of your approbation of my past administration 

 may be laid at the feet of his Royal Highness, the Prince Regent. Government House, York, 

 26th March, 1816." The Bill which suggested this allowance was popularly spoken of as the 

 " Spoon-bill." The House that passed tlie measure was the same that, a few weeks later, was 

 so abruptly dismissed. 



XIIL— QUEEN STREET— PROM THE ASYLUM WESTWARD. 

 The name on the allotment following that occupied successively by Col. Bouchette and Col. 

 Givins is "David Burns." Mr Burns, who had been a Navy surgeon, was the first Clerk of the 

 Crown for Upper Canada, and one of the "Masters in Chancery." He died in 1806. In the 

 Oracle of Saturday, Feb. 15, in that year, we have verses to the memory of the late David 

 Burns, Esq. We make the following extract, which is suggestive : — 



" Say, power of Truth, so great, so unconflned, 

 And solve the doubt which so distracts my mind — 

 Why Strength to Weakness is so near allied ? 

 Perhaps 'tis given to humble human pride. 



