deliberation, determined that the union of British North America was
desirable, and the House having agreed to request His Excellency the
lieutenant-governor to appoint delegates for the purpose of considering
the plan of union upon such terms as will secure the just rights of New
Brunswick, and having confidence that the action of His Excellency under
the advice of his constitutional advisers will be directed to the
attainment of that end, sound policy and a due regard to the interests
of this province require that the responsibility of such action should
be left unfettered by an expression of opinion other than what has
already been given by the people and their representatives."

This ended the battle for confederation in New Brunswick, for what
remained to be done was merely the arrangement of the details of the
union by the delegates who had received full powers for that purpose.
The session of the legislature, which must be considered one of the most
important ever held in New Brunswick, came to a close on Monday, July
7th. At a meeting of the government held immediately after the
prorogation, the Hon. Messrs. Tilley, Wilmot, Fisher, Mitchell, Johnson
and Chandler were appointed to go to England as delegates for the
purpose of meeting delegates from Canada and Nova Scotia, and framing
the bill which was to be passed by the imperial parliament for the
consummation of confederation. It was understood that there would be no
delay on the part of the delegates from Canada, but Sir John A.
Macdonald and the other Canadian delegates were unable to leave at the
time appointed, and did not meet the Maritime Provinces delegation in
England until many months after the latter had arrived there. This
unfortunate circumstance produced much comment at the time, because it
looked as if the government of Canada was treating the delegates of New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia with discourtesy. Instead of the business
being completed promptly, as was expected, and the bill passed by the
parliament during the autumn season, the whole matter was thrown over
until the following year, and the New Brunswick delegates, most of whom
were prominent members of the government, had to remain in England for
about ten months at great expense and inconvenience.

{THE DELEGATES IN ENGLAND}

The delegates from the three provinces, Canada, Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick, met at the Westminster Palace Hotel, London, in December,
1866, the Hon. John A. Ma