LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 365 
The legislative council of Lower Canada 
consists of fifteen members; that of Upper 
Canada of seven. The number of the mem¬ 
bers in each province must never be less than 
this; but it may be increased whenever his 
Majesty thinks fit. 
The counsellors are appointed for life, by 
an instrument under the greal seal of the 
province, signed by the governor, who is in¬ 
vested with powers for that purpose by the 
King. No person can be a counsellor who 
is not twenty-one years of age, nor any ^one 
who is not a natural-born subject, or who has 
not been naturalized according to act of par¬ 
liament. 
Whenever his Majesty thinks proper, lie 
may confer on any persons hereditary titles of 
honour, with a right annexed to them of being 
summoned to sit in this council, which right 
the heir may claim at the age of twenty-one; 
the right, however, cannot be acknowledged 
if the heir has been absent from the province 
without leave of his Majesty, signified to the 
council by the governor, for four years toge¬ 
ther, between the time of his succeeding to 
the right and the time of his demanding it. 
The right is forfeited also, if the heir takes an 
oath of allegiance to any foreign power be¬ 
fore he demands it, unless his Majesty, by 
