ained since that time; so that the
fears of those who anticipated that the provinces by the sea would not
receive fair treatment in the distribution of high offices have proved
to be groundless. On the contrary, it can be said that the Maritime
Province members of the government appear always to have occupied a very
influential position.

The office of minister of customs, which Mr. Tilley received, was
thought by some of his friends to be less important than he deserved,
they being of the opinion that he should have been made minister of
finance. This office, however, went to Mr. Galt, who, owing to a
difference with the rest of the government, resigned four months later,
his place in the cabinet being taken by Sir John Rose, who held the
office of finance minister until October, 1869, Sir Francis Hincks then
receiving the appointment. It was not until the resignation of the
latter in February, 1873, that Mr. Tilley became minister of finance.
The office at first assigned to him, however, was one of great
importance, involving as it did the reorganization of the entire
establishment of the customs of Canada, and it gave ample scope for his
great ability as a business man.

The elections for the House of Commons in the new parliament of Canada
took place in August, when Tilley was chosen to represent the city of
St. John, and John H. Gray, the county. It had been expected, in view of
the fact that these men had been so largely instrumental in bringing
about confederation, that they would be allowed to walk over the course
unopposed. This was the case with Mr. Gray, whose candidature met with
no opposition; but Mr. Tilley was opposed by Mr. John Wilson, who
received a very small vote. This needless and futile opposition to the
candidature of a man who deserved so well from the province, was merely
one of the proofs of the existence of political rancour in the breasts
of those who had been defeated on the confederation question.

{FIRST CANADIAN PARLIAMENT}

The first parliament of united Canada met on November 6th, 1867, and the
address was moved by the Hon. Charles Fisher, who had been elected to
represent the county of York. The session was a very long one, lasting
until May 22nd of the following year; but there was an adjournment,
extending from December 21st to March 20th. This meeting of parliament
was especially memorable, inasmuch as it brought together, for the first
time, the representatives of all the provi