Mr. Edmund Burke said:-I should, Sir, have proposed some amendments to the bill last night, if my ideas had not been thought ridiculous, by the conduct of the committee, in proceeding with a most material part of the bill at twelve o'clock, when the natural constitutions of gentlemen were perfectly exhausted. When this bill was brought down to us, the general voice of almost every one who supported it was, that it was a very imperfect measure as it stood, and that, agreeably to the universal practice, it would be open to any amendment. Unfortunately, I was utterly unacquainted with the bill. I took it up with a determination to come here, not only with my mind unprejudiced, but with a determination to avoid everything that had any shadow of passion in it; and I appeal to the candour, the direct justice, of parliament, whether the clause fixing a boundary to such an extent of territory, or the clauses settling the laws and religion of such a province, could be well debated, upon the numberless momentous questions that arose, in less time that we have given to them. The privilege allowed in committees of the House of speaking more than once, is a privilege founded upon An argument upon the principle of a measure may be dispatched in the House at one speaking, as well as a thousand; but in the committee, where matters of detail are gone into, it is necessary to speak more than once. The noble lord, therefore, has no right to say that we have in. terposed any delay. The first part of the bill took us up two days-in my opinion, a very short time to spend upon such a subject. Fixing the geography was the work of one day; fixing the religion of another. These and other delays, if they can be called delays, were absolutely necessary. The committee ought to take care that no delays but necessary ones should be allowed in this business-but the necessary delay arising from a detail. Now, Sir, if an entertainment should be given ten miles from London, and we were to adjourn over this day and thereby make the busi

reason.

MEDAL ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT UPON THE INVASION OF CANADA.
PORTRAITS-WASHINGTON AND FRANKLIN.

STAMP FOR USE UNDER THE STAMP ACT OF 1765 REPEALED 1766, WITH ITS LOCATION TICKET ON BACK.

REFUSED ADOPTION BY THE COLONIES AND WHICH LED TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

ness of the nation give way to such entertainment, what would be the opinion of the people? I do not censure the House for entering into the innocent gaities of this life, provided they give time enough for the discharge of more important duties. If any youth, in the gallantry of his spirit, calls gentlemen to such an entertainment, I would not say, do not enjoy it; but go and enjoy it if you have taken care, at the same time, to provide for the prosperity of your country. But while I say this, I ask that the same indulgence which is given to those who engage in scenes of joy and dissipation should be given to those who have need of rest to support their bodies to enable them to come here to discharge their duty, I for one complain that I am precluded from doing my duty. I complain on the part of the people of England, who have sent here five hundred and fifty-eight men to represent their interests that they and I are cruelly, wickedly and unjustly treated. I complain of it and demand justice; that is, I demand a reparation of the wrong which has been done us. I have spoken strong words. Last night I spoke feebly; but now my voice is raised my accusation is steady and resolute. I had several material amendments to propose to the clauses. I had an equitable clause with regard to revocation, etc. (He mentioned other alterations). I wished to have provided a remedy for the objection that causes were tried by persons not fit to be treated. My opinion is that the people of Canada, with regard to the civil law, have not expressed their dislike of the trial by jury. These are some of the matters that I would have stated; but it would have been impossible to have debated them at that hour of the night. Having said this in defence of a conduct which may have been a little unjustifiable, I will add that this headlong mode of proceeding will not tend to make this law go down with the people of England. They will certainly dislike it. America will dislike it. As I was not permitted to make these amendments before, I conclude I shall not be heard to-day.

Mr. Cavendish was sorry the honourable gentleman did not make the amendments he intended.

Lord North-These amendments may still be made by being thrown into the form of a clause. The honourable gentleman is not precluded from making, even in the committee, any alteration he proposes; but as to the propositions themselves which he threw out, as far as I understand them, I shall certainly be against admitting them. We are not, at the present time, competent to enter into a detail of the necessity of those provisions for the constitution of Canada. All that the parliament of Great Britain can do is to lay down general rules; to say, you shall proceed according to Canadian customs, or according to the English law. Every alteration which the circumstances of the country can admit of every variation which the interest of the old subjects may require-all these circumstances will be more properly considered upon the other side of the water where they may be regulated by special ordinances. It would not be in vain, and more likely to occasion confusion, for the parliament of Great Britain to attempt to enter into the particular laws by detail; to say, this law you shall have, or you shall not have. The best way is to give them the Canadian customs and to let them be altered. What is of infinite advantage, they will thus have the law that they understand. The laws and customs of Canada are the basis of the law that they understand. If any ordinances are made varying that law they will be promulgated, and they will undorstand them. For these reasons, I shall certainly oppose any proposition for entering into a detail connected with the English criminal or the Canadian civil law; because I think that detail, these alterations, and those amendments which are necessary can only be entered into and settled with propriety by lawyers upon the spot. As to the proceedings of last night, I shall remain satisfied in the consciousness of the rectitude of my conduct; it is a very sufficient regard, and it is the only regard I shall be likely