It will be remembered that a similar proposal had been made much earlier. This application was doubtless owing to the charter granted to St. John by governor Carleton in the spring.

15 Nov'r. An office was opened at Halifax by the hon'ble. colonel Thos. Dundas, and Jeremy Pemberton, esq'r.,, commissioners of enquiry, into the losses sustained by the American loyalists. The British parliament had voted £150,000 as a payment on account to these sufferers for their present relief. They (the commissioners) accordingly advertised for claims, affidavits, &c. On the 16th, they received a complimentary address, signed by 53 loyalists. On the 19th, brigadier general Arnold, (formerly in the American, now in the English service), came to Halifax, passenger in the brigantine Lord. Middleton, 5 weeks from London.

The sixth general assembly met at Halifax, in its first session, on monday, 5 Dec'r., 1785. Mr. Bulkeley was president of the council, and Francis Shipton secretary of that house. The house of representatives chose Sampson S. Blowers speaker. Governor Parr, in his opening speech, recommended to the assembly to encourage a whale fishery,—to re-enact expiring laws, to act with unanimity and despatch, and to defer business not immediately pressing. The house chose James Boutineau Francklin, clerk; the rev. Wingate Weeks, chaplain, and Peter Etter, messenger. 14 Dec'r. The notes and warrants outstanding, £8992 Is. 74d.; demands on treasury, £2591; total of public account, £12,477 4s. 8d. £100 a year was voted to Matthew Pinnell, the keeper of Sambro light house. 22 Dec'r. The house passed a vote of thanks to major-gen'l. Campbell, for ordering soldiers to assist in repairing Windsor road. 23 Dec'r. A joint address of both houses to limit importation from the United States to flour, wheat, rice, corn and rye meal, and a complaint of American vessels trading at Canso. Saturday, 24 Dec'r. Bounties were proposel, viz.: 2s. 6d. per bushel for flax seed raised in the province; £5 per ton for potash made here; £20 for every saw mill to be erected in 1786; ten shillings per ton on vessels over 40 tons built in the province; an aid to whale fishermen to build

habitations; £50 for the greatest quantity of hemp raised here, &c.,—most of which were voted. On the 28 December, (wednesday), the assembly was prorogued, after passing 6 acts. The members returned to this new house were:

:

County of Halifax S. S. Blowers,* John George Pyke,* Rich'd. J. Uniacke,* Michael Wallace.*

Town of Halifax: John Fillis,* William Cochran.*

County of Lunenburg: D. C. Jessen,* John Wm. Schwartz.*
Town of Lunenburg: Casper Wollenhaupt.

Queen's county: Simeon Perkins,* Benaja Collins.
Town of Liverpool: Ephraim Dean.*

County of Annapolis: Thomas Barclay,* David Seabury. Town of Annapolis: colonel Delancey.

Granville Benjamin James.*

County of Hants: Benj. Dewolfe,* Winckworth Tonge*.

Windsor John McMonagle.*

Newport: John Day.*

Falmouth Jeremiah Northup*

King's county: Jonathan Crane,* Elia. Laurence.*

Cornwallis Benj. Belcher.

Horton Gurden Dennison.*

County of Cumberland: John B. Dight,* Chris. Harper.

Amherst Wm. Freeman.

Truro Matthew Archibald.*

Onslow Charles Dickson.

Londonderry James Smith.*

The members marked * attended at the opening of the session, being 24 in number. The seat of Mr. Harper, for the county of Cumberland, was declared vacant, as he was not an inhabitant of the province. Mr. Seabury's election for Annapolis county was declared void. Mr. Freeman's return for Amherst was annulled, as he is not an inhabitant of the province. These three gentlemen, it appears, were absent-les absents ont toujours tort. 17 Dec'r. Alexander Leckie, and Charles McNeal, members returned by the new county of Shelburne, and Isaac Wilkins for the town of Shelburne, were

all declared duly elected, and took the oaths and their seats. New writs were asked for the vacant seats.

1786. Some persons in Halifax and Annapolis proposed to cut a road from Annapolis to St. Margaret's bay, and asked for a grant to each of a lot half a mile wide and two miles long - that is 640 acres — which was agreed to in council.

5 Jan'y. The birth-day of queen Charlotte had been kept as a great festival in this province for many years; and this year, 1786, much pains were taken to make it genial and happy. Capt. Buller, R. N., capt. Addenbrook, of the army, and collector Newton, distributed the tickets for the ball. I cannot better pourtray this festive affair than by inserting here the description published in the Gazette on the second day following, exhibiting, as it does, the tone and feeling of the social circles of that period in their own good humored and fantastic language :-" 1786. Halifax, January 20. [N. S. Gazette.] Wednesday last (18 Jan'y.) being the anniversary of her majesty's birth day, the same was celebrated here by a discharge of cannon from the fort on citadel hill, and H. M. ships in the harbour. Detachments from each of the regiments in the garrison were drawn up opposite major-general Campbell's, where they discharged three vollies; after which, there was a levee at his excellency governor Parr's, at which were present the gentlemen of the navy and army--the officers of government, and many of the principal inhabitants of the town. The evening was concluded with a splendid ball at Roubalet's, the following description of which has been sent us by a correspondent: A brilliant assembly was opened at the Pontac, where the splendid array of the Cytherian train, and the confectionary preparations of signor Lenzi, exhibit a most celestial appearance. The ball began at half after eight and considering the numerous concourse of subscribers, who were chiefly dancers, and the consequent confusion of so crowded a company, the whole was conducted with that necessary good order and impartial regulation that afforded additional pleasure to every one present, and honor to the gentlemen who officiated as managers. At the close of the fifth country dance,

supper was announced in the most romantic manner, by the sudden elevation of a curtain that separated the two rooms, and displayed to the enraptured beholders a complete masterpiece of pastry work. In the middle of the table sprung up an artificial fountain, in defiance of the frost itself; and on each side, at proper distances, were erected pyramids, obelisks and monuments, with the temples of Health and Venus at the top and bottom. During the course of the repast, the music attended to delight the ear, and pleased the more delicate senses, while the great variety of most exquisite (dishes?) served to gratify the palate." In our modern manners of solemn seriousness--in this age of political excitement, of white chokers and black frocks, it is doubtful whether the innocent gayety--the lively abandon of harmless mirth -- the universal good fellowship that existed some 80 or 100 years ago, could ever be restored or replaced. We have no doubt made many steps onward in civilization, science and refinement, but we still do not agree to differ, and it is perhaps far more difficult in this advanced community to bring together its divided elements in social and amiable companionship, than it was in the days of our grandfathers; and it may be a question whether, in the contests attending on our process of perfecting political institutions, we have not lost much of that simple, neighborly kindness of heart that somehow co-existed with the less perfect state of things as we esteem it of a century ago.

Mr. Philip Marchinton was chosen for the vacant seat in the assembly for the county of Cumberland. (He was the grandfather of major Welsford, killed in the Crimea, at Sebastopol.) Mr. Charles Hill was returned for the township of Amherst. J. M. Freke Bulkeley and James Putnam were chosen to represent the new county of Sydney.

Lord Sydney, secretary of state, wrote 28 April to governor Parr, disapproving of the introduction of the whale fishermen from Nantucket into Nova Scotia.

From the 20th to the 30th May a great fire raged in the woods, near Halifax. On sunday, 28th, a house at Birch cove, called Bedford lodge, was destroyed by it, In July, the fires spread Eastward, and did much damage at Sheet harbor.

On sunday, 4 June, the king's birth-day, there was a levée at government house, a royal salute from the citadel, and three vollies fired by the troops; and next day the ship Lively arrived here from a whaling voyage.

The assembly met thursday, 8 June, (6th assembly, 2d session.) Messrs. Bulkeley, Putnam, Marchinton, Hill, Seabury and Millidge, were sworn in. Subsequently Alexander Howe obtained the seat for which Seabury had been returned, and was sworn in. Balance of debt against the province, £8862 5s. 24d. 23 June. Major Barclay was ordered to apologise for a letter, in which he said "the majority of members appear' "to have come determined, right or wrong, to vacate the" election," referring to the contest for Annapolis between David Seabury and Alexander Howe, and the major accordingly apologised. Wednesday, 28 June. The house passed an address, complaining of the fees taken from coasters, &c., at the custom house and naval office. I July. They addressed the governor to limit the United States trade, as destructive to this province, asserting that lumber, oats, potatoes, peas, beans, &c., are raised here in plenty for use and export.Monday, 3 July. A bill was debated on for raising a revenue by a tax on unmarried men, but deferred to the next session. No doubt this was an attempt of some jocose member to produce a little merriment. The votes of money were liberal for these times. Assistant justices, each £400; treasurer, £400; clerks of council and assembly, £100 each; expences of council, £30; speaker, £100; clerk of crown, £100; solicitor general, £100; king's printer, £80; keeper of building, £30; two waiters at Halifax, £140; guager, £80; contingencies, £150; agent, £100 sterling; keeper of light house, £100; £50 sterling to miss Elizabeth Belcher, for 1787, provided she resides in the province; £300 contingent expences of the assembly; chaplain, £10; messengers, £7; Mrs. Deborah Cottnam, past services as keeper of building, £30; Dr. Almon, services at poor house, £60; Dr. Nicolai, £100, &c. &c. On tuesday, 11 July, the assembly was prorogued.

The king in council had, on the 24th March, 1786, ordered "that no goods or commodities, being the growth or manu