roused to exertion, powerfully convincing. Yet his eloquence rarely aimed at lofty declamation or pathetic description. Moderate in his passions, he had little of the thunder and lightning of a Demosthenes or a Chatham, but was excellent in calming the ruffled feelings of his audience, and enforcing the prudent, practical, yet honorable course of action. His weight in the assembly was increased by the fact that the three colonel Dicksons, who all had seats, were his brothers in law Mr. Smith was a friend and connection, and besides his own colleagues for the county of Halifax were partly obliged to him for their seats, as his power in Colchester and Pictou was considerable. Add to this, he was somewhat in favor

with general Kempt.

On the 21st March, Mr. Huskisson brought into the house of commons a series of resolutions, to remove most of the restrictions upon colonial trade, and his speech on the subject was received at Halifax on saturday morning, 23 April. This being St. George's day, and also kept as a holiday in honor of the king's birth, instead of the 12 August, the Royal standard was hoisted on citadel hill, and lieut. colonel Herries, of the 96th foot, then commandant, reviewed the troops in garrison, the militia artillery, and the grenadier and light companies of Halifax militia. It being understood that Mr. Huskisson's motion had the support of government, great excitement was manifested, and the town was illuminated in the evening. This is described in the papers of the day, as follows: "The contents of the speech of Mr. Huskisson and the substance or his resolutions were no sooner known than the generous flame of enthusiastic and patriotic joy burst forth into the most ardent and heartfelt expressions of congratulation among our delighted citizens. All parties, distinctions and animosities were for the time forgotten, and the young and the old, the grave and the gay, thronging the streets, clustered at noted corners or assembled in their families, joined in the exultation of this memorable 23d of April. Some of the most zealous assisted in preparing the Province building and Exchange coffee house, for illumination in the evening. Such a day of cheerfulness had not been witnessed in the place for ten years.

The blessings of a free trade to the provinces, were, in the opinion of the thinking part of the community, sufficient to erase from our hearts the sufferings and privations of many years, and those who could not enter fully into the reasoning that led to this conclusion, caught by sympathy a portion of the universal gladness. When the day ended, the Province house glittered with light-the national banners of Great Britain floated in the area, and the band of the 74th regiment enlivened the scene with national airs. The inside of the building was rapidly filled with spectators of all ranks and ages, all the public rooms having been thrown open for their reception; and we feel the highest gratification in stating that this permission was not in the slightest degree abused. The valuable books and paintings, and the highly finished decorations of the interior, although left in a great measure at the mercy of those whom some contemptuously term the mob, received no damage-no detriment from this exposure. This decency of conduct reflects lustre on the character of our native population. In the course of the evening a large body of the inhabitants went with the 74th band to the residence of the venerable president, to shew their joy at this event, and to manifest the respect they entertained for his character. He addressed them in a few words, and declared his conviction that the day was most auspicious to this country, and was replied to by the warmest cheering. Captain Stewart, of his majesty's ship Menai, then addressed the people—assured them he was a Nova Scotian in sentiment, and spoke of the day as an era in our history. He said that Britain had contended with the whole world-that she had paid the piper and had found herself equal to discharge the expence; that of all the colonies he had been in, and he had seen many, this was the most blest by natural gifts and in the amiable character of its people. His lively and humorous eloquence was interrupted by incessant shouts of applause and merriment. The day was very pleasant, but in the evening heavy rain at last compelled the numerous assemblage to disperse." The acts of parliament of 6 Geo. 4, c. 73, 109 & 114, passed 27 June, 1825,

5 July, 1825, carried into effect the changes in favor of colonial commerce, proposed by Mr. Huskisson.

Rev. Dr. Inglis was consecrated as bishop of Nova Scotia on 27 March, Palm sunday, in England. 3 May. John Young was elected member for the county of Sydney. In June, Sir Howard Douglas, lieut. governor of New Brunswick, visited Halifax. Monday, 13 June, lieutenant general Sir William Lumley, the governor of Bermuda, with his lady, arrived at Halifax in H. M. S. Menai. He was received with salutes of cannon, a guard of honor, &c., and welcomed here by Sir Howard Douglas and the officers of the garrison. In April it had been announced that a company had been formed to send a vessel direct to India. Its capital was said to consist of 150 shares, of £100 each. On monday morning, 20 June, the brig Trusty, Finlay, master, equipped by this company, left Clark's wharf, in Halifax, for Calcutta. Richard Tremain, junior, went in her as supercargo, or agent of the company.

The report of Francis Hall, engineer on the Shubenacadie canal, dated 17 June, was now published, in which he says: 'I feel confident of the practicability of the undertaking, and' 'with fewer difficulties than I have seen or experienced in' 'canal works, either in Britain, Canada, or the United States.' He estimates the expense of completing a canal from the harbor of Halifax to the basin of Minas, of the depth of 4 feet water, at £44,136 18s. 5d.; but if terminating at the South end of the first Dartmouth lake, with a railway thence to the harbor, at £29,494 18s. 5d., and for a canal of 8 feet depth, £39,702. June 24, friday. Sir H. Douglas and Sir William Lumley reviewed the troops in our garrison. Sunday, 26th June. In the afternoon the troops of the garrison of Halifax, consisting of the 81st, 96th, and part of the 74th regiments of foot, were formed into a square on the exercising ground. Major general Douglas, lieut. general Lumley, admiral Lake, Mr. president Wallace, many ladies and gentlemen, attended. The rev. Mr. Twining having made a prayer over the colors of the 96th regiment, lady Lumley presented them to lieut. colonel Herries, their commanding officer, and made a suitable address to the men of his regiment. The colonel then harangued his

men at some length, and after some evolutions the parade terminated. 25 July. John Puttum, for forging province notes, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment, one hour in the pillory, and to have one of his ears cut off. Thursday, 18 August. Sir James Kempt arrived at Halifax, in the packet Sphinx, 31 days from Falmouth, with his A. D. C. major Yorke. He landed privately, and next day held a levee, which was numerously attended. Major general Sir James Carmichael Smyth, major Sir George Hoste, and captain Harris, R. E., commissioners to inspect the military establishments and fortifications in British North America, came here from New Brunswick, 13 August. 30 August. Charles Ramage Prescott, of Cornwallis, was appointed by the lieutenant governor to the seat in H. M. council, vacant by the death of Mr. Hill, and sworn into office. 30th and 31st August, and Ist September, races took place on the Common, at Halifax. The first bank established in Halifax advertised its opening 3 September, as a bank of issue and discount. It had no act of incorporation or charter. The partners who signed the public notice were, Henry H. Cogswell, president; William Pryor, vice president; Enos Collins, James Tobin, Samuel Cunard. John Clark, Joseph Allison, Martin Gay Black, of whom Mr, Collins alone now survives.

The summer of 1825 had been unusually warm. In August and September fires raged in the woods of these provinces far more than was usual. In the middle of September, timely showers checked them in many places. In Miramichi there had been all along an absence of rain, and the fire which had been spreading on the upper parts of the river rushed down with great velocity on friday, 7 October, and great loss of life and property ensued. A terrific storm, simultaneous, if not caused by the conflagration, augmented its horror. The tidings of this disaster reached Halifax on saturday, 15 October, and on sunday morning a meeting was held at the Exchange coffee house, at which £1200 was instantly subscribed to aid the sufferers. [See appendix.]

On the 19th November, doctor John Inglis, now lord bishop of Nova Scotia, arrived, with his lady and daughters, in H. M.

S. Tweed. Next day he landed in the admiral's barge, under a salute of cannon and ringing of bells. On the 11th, he was sworn in as a member of H. M. council, under a mandamus, and took the seat next after the president, and was speedily complimented in addresses from many of the inhabitants of Halifax, his late parish and place of residence,-from the graduates of Windsor college, of which he was a governor, &c.

During this season, a joint stock company, with £15,000 capital, was formed in Halifax, to carry on the South sea whale fishery.

APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XXXIX.

(1.)

Died, May 29, at Demerara, Miss Gertrude E. Tonge, of Windsor, N. S., a young poetess. [See Acadian Recorder of 5 March, and 9 and 16 July, 1825.] Died, May 31, Jacob Miller, aged 83.

Died, August 16, hon. Charles Hill, aged 77.

Died, December 17, at Falmouth, William Young, member for township of Falmouth, aged 48.

Married, 28 June, at St. Paul's church, by Rev. Dr. Willis, hon. Enos Collins, to Margaret, eldest daughter of the hon. judge Halliburton.

(2.)

NOTE.-In page 25 of my first vol. I attributed the name of L'Equille to the stream called Allen's Creek. I have since been enabled to refer to the original edition of L'Escarbot, Paris, 1609, and from what he says page 481, and in Les muses de la Nouvelle France, of same date, annexed, p. 24, on margin, as well as what I find in Champlain, I am now satisfied that the river now called the Annapolis river, was at first called the L'Equille, and shortly after (as early as 1609) it was called la rivière des dauphins. I feel obliged to P. S. Hamilton, esq., and Dr. J. B. Gilpin, who both called my attention to this error.

(3.)

THE FIRE AT MIRAMICHI.

(Extracts from a pamphlet published at Halifax in 1825.)

On the afternoon of Friday, the 7th of October, 1825, about half-past 3 o'clock, P. M., a broad and dense column of smoke was seen to rise in a vertical direction, at a considerable distance in a direction N. W. of Newcastle. The atmosphere was partially obscured by it, but the wind, which was moderate though shifting,