REVIEWS. 277 



report, limiting the expenditure to the money sufficient to keep the Canal in repair, 

 but, although proposed by the Solicitor General, it was Toted down by 31 against 

 27. On the I'Zth December, a second report was presented. It sets forth that the 

 sum of of £814, 319 6s. 2fd. (s^■c) was the amount required to be paid by the Pro- 

 vince to make the Canal " strictly a public work :" including the Provincial ex- 

 penditure for stock taken, and for the several loans advanced to the Company. 

 Of this sum £200,000 was estimated as necessary to complete the Canal perma- 

 nently. The report did not recommend that the whole money should at once be 

 paid : £100,000 would be ample for 1837, which would include £55,000 to replace 

 the wooden locks by stone structures. The matter, in this position, came before 

 the House on the 11th January, 1837. The first resolution was carried by a vote 

 of 29 against 6. It affirmed the paramount importance of the Canal, the necessity 

 of its completion in a substantial manner, and that stone locks should be substitu- 

 ted. The remaining resolutions appropriating the following sums were voted 

 through with little opposition : — 



£20,000 to purchase the Hydraulic Works sold. 



£25,000 to enable the Company to pay its liabilities. 

 £200,000 to complete the Canal in a substantial manner. 

 £117,800 to purchase the stock of private individuals. 



The Act embodying these resolutions was cai'ried by large majorities. Indeed 

 it was now apparent to all, that without the direct intervention of the Province, 

 the Canal would experience fresh difficulty. Still the Legislature did not advance 

 the full step of assuming the work. The £102,000, previously advanced on loan, 

 was turned into stock, and the Government was authorized fo subscribe £245,000 

 new Stock ($980,000.) The Capital Stock of the Company was declared to be 

 £597,300. The Directors were further limited to an expenditure of $400,000 on 

 the Canal, in full of repairs, new works, and old debts, during the year. The 

 troubles of 1837 and 1838 prevented any further legislation, and no further steps 

 were taken with regard to the shareholders until April, 1839, when a resolution 

 was carried by a vote of 26 against 9, that the private stock should be purchased 

 by the Province, in order that the Canal should become wholly the property and 

 be under the management of the public. As above stated, the amount was £117,- 

 800, of which, in 1836, £31,712 10s, was owed in Canada. Of all legislation on 

 this subject, this record is the most pleasing to read, for it was just and honest ; 

 and as the stock was not held in the Province, it was untinctured by selfishness, 

 while at the same time it was necessary and politic. The Bill was reserved for 

 Her Majesty's pleasure. "When the legislature met, later in the year, even the 

 pressing business attending the Union Bill did not deter " the friends of the mea- 

 sure " from moving an address, asking her Majesty to give her assent. It was 

 carried on the 25th of January, 1840 by 23 against 11. The bill, however did not 

 beeome law until the 5th July, 1841, the first session of the United Parliament, 

 when Lord Sydenham sent a message to the House announcing that Her Majesty 

 had confirmed the Bill in Council on the 11th of September previous. 



We have now arrived at that period in the history of the Province when the 

 improvements were carried on systematically and simultaneously. In opening the 



