ecover from government.
Fifteen thousand pounds were granted for the equipment of the militia,
and L1,000 additional for military hospital. Towards the support of the
war L25,000 were granted. L400 were granted for the improvement of the
communication between Upper and Lower Canada. A duty of two and a half
per cent, for the further support of the war was placed upon all
imported merchandize, with the exception of provisions, and two and a
half per cent additional on imports by merchants or others not having
been six months resident. A motion was made by one of the most
independent members of the Assembly, for a committee of the whole, to
enquire whether or not it was necessary to adopt an address to the King
concerning the impropriety of the judges being members of the
Legislative Council. But the motion was not pressed. This gentleman,
though very desirous of as much liberty as it was possible to obtain
for himself, was not particularly disposed to give an undue share to
others. He took umbrage at an article communicated to the _Mercury_,
ably written, and perhaps, at the time, strikingly true, relative to
the conduct which Mr. Stuart had been and was pursuing, since he had
been stript of his official situation by the late Governor. It was
hinted that the discontented legislator was actuated in his opposition
to the government by no unfriendly feeling to the United States. It was
asked if he were not determined to be somebody. He was a man not unlike
him who fired the temple of Ephesus. He was sowing seeds of
embarrassment and delay, and picking out flaws, with the microscope of
a lawyer, in the proceedings of the government. And he was prostituting
his talents and perverting his energies. The House resolved that the
letter of "Juniolus Canadensis," was a libel, and perhaps it was, but
if so, Mr. Stuart had the Courts of Law open to him, and therefore the
interference of the House was as silly as it was tyrannical. Mr. Cary,
the publisher of the _Mercury_, evaded the Sergeant-at-Arms, and
laughed at the silliness of the collective wisdom afterwards. The House
was prorogued on the 15th of February. The war had not so far produced
any injurious effect on the commerce of the country The revenue was
L61,193 currency, and the expenditure, which included the extraordinary
amount of L55,000 granted towards the support of the militia, was only
L98,777. The arrivals at Quebec numbered 399 vessels of 86,437 tons,
and in 1812, tw