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{HIS SPEECHES}

It is unfortunate that, owing to the absence of verbatim reports, it is
impossible to reproduce any of Tilley's speeches during the
confederation campaign. No speaker that New Brunswick has ever produced
has been more generally acceptable than was Tilley. His speeches were
pointed, and so clear that they could not be misunderstood. He
possessed, to a very large extent, that magnetism which enabled him to
retain the attention and to awaken the sympathy of his audience. At all
the meetings which he addressed, there were many who regarded themselves
always as his friends and supporters and who formed a phalanx around
him, giving him a confidence and political strength which few statesmen
have ever enjoyed to a like extent. Although his addresses frequently
provoked the bitter animosity of his enemies, he had always enough
friends to counteract their influence; and during the many contests
which he had to fight for his seat in the city of St. John, he was
always able to rely on the loyalty of those who were his early
associates and who remained his supporters until the end of his career.
It is quite safe to assert that confederation could not have been
carried had it not been for the personal efforts of Mr. Tilley. As the
leader of the government which had consented to the Quebec scheme, he
was properly looked upon as the chief promoter of confederation in New
Brunswick, and his name will go down to future generations identified
with that large and necessary measure of colonial statesmanship.

{THE LEGISLATURE MEETS}

Although the vote of the electors had been taken on the question, much
remained to be done before confederation could become an accomplished
fact. The last elections, which were those of Kings and Charlotte, were
held on June 12th, but more than a year was to elapse before the union
was effected, and the result which the election was intended to bring
about realized. The first thing to be done was to call the legislature
together and complete the business of the province, which had been
interrupted by the dissolution. The legislature met on June 21st, and
the Hon. John H. Gray, who had been an active advocate of confederation,
and who was one of the members for the county of St. John, was made
Speaker. In the speech from the throne the following reference was made
to the question of confederation:--

"Her Majesty's government have already expressed their strong and
deliberate o