gaged the attention of the House was the propriety of defraying the
expenses of members of the House residing at a distance from Quebec.
The House was disposed to defray such expenses, but nevertheless, the
further consideration of the matter was postponed by a majority of two.
The expediency of having a Provincial Agent or Ambassador, resident in
London, to look after the interests of the province at the metropolis
of the empire was discussed, and it was resolved in the affirmative.
The Alien Act was passed, and that for the better preservation of His
Majesty's government continued for another year, together with several
other acts, and on the 16th of April, the parliament was prorogued.

Serious apprehensions of a war between England and the United States
now began to be entertained. American commercial interests were
grievously affected by the war in Europe, and a kind of spurious
activity, in the hostile preparations which would surely follow a
declaration of war against England, on which country in peace the
merchants of New York, Boston, and the other seaports of the United
States principally depend, seemed to be the only incentive for such a
war. But while the filibusters of "the greatest nation in creation,"
were looking for any cause of war, a good cause, in American eyes,
arose. The American ships of war were mostly manned by British seamen.
Men were greatly in demand for British war vessels, and it was
conceived that the right to impress a British sailor anywhere on land
or water belonged to His Majesty's naval officers. It having reached
the ears of Admiral Berkeley, the Naval Commander in Chief, on the
Halifax Station, that the American frigate "Chesapeake," was partly
manned by British seamen, the Admiral, unthinkingly ordered Captain
Humphreys, of the "Leopard," to recover them. The men on board of the
"Chesapeake" were indeed known to be deserters from H.M.S. "Melampus."
William Ware, Daniel Martin, John Strachan and John Little, British
seamen, within a month after their desertion, had offered themselves as
able seamen at Norfolk, in Virginia. Their services were accepted, and
the "Chesapeake," on board of which they were sent, prepared for sea.
Being made aware of the enlistment of these men, the British Consul at
Norfolk, formally demanded their surrender by the Captain of the
"Chesapeake." Their surrender was refused. Application for them was
then made to the American Secretary of the navy. But he did