CHAP. XXIV. STATISTICS OF LOWER CANADA. THE statistics of Lower Canada, according to the census taken during the year 1831, under the provincial act, are more accurate and full than those of any other colony. The following is abstracted from the returns published by the provincial parliament: The statistical abstract from the returns made in 1765 to the Board of Trade, given in the Historical Sketch of Canada in this work, will exhibit the condition of Canada 67 years ago, in contradistinction to its state at the present time; and by adopting the most correct returns and calculations, the natural increase of Canadians of French race will appear as fol lows: In 1763, according to General Murray's report, the whole Canadian population in the province of Quebec (including Detroit), was 68,575 In 1803, forty years afterwards, the population of this race nearly quadrupled, as the returns for the In 1831, the number, per census, (which is con sidered under-rated), and deducting the Irish Catholics, is 400,124 In 1833, January 30., the population of 417,881 as voyageurs, and others not stationary 16,280 Total The latter computation is considered, in Canada, under the number, which is there stated to be somewhat over 434,161 550,000 The revenue of Lower Canada, rising from imports, King's domains, tolls on the Lachine canal, &c. for the year ending Dec. 1831, after paying the proportion of 37,400l., for duties on goods forwarded to Upper Canada, amounts to 149,4681. This revenue was expended in paying the civil lists, pensions, internal communications, public schools, light-houses, public buildings, encouragement of agriculture, improving the harbour of Montreal and the navigation of the St. Lawrence, and provision depôts at Anticosti, light-house at Montpeles and at Green Island; a sum in aid of building a light-house on St. Paul's Island, marine hospital, emigrants' hospital, other hospitals, support of indigent sick, purchasing a dredging steam-vessel, exploring the interior, &c. &c. Details of the present revenue and its expenditure, amount of salaries, &c. will, to avoid repetition, be found in the general summary. See Book IX. The trade of Upper and Lower Canada being in the customs' returns made up together, excepting the trade between Upper Canada and the United States, details, to avoid repetition, will be found at the end of Book VIII., and recapitulation in the general summary, Book IX. The supply bill, agreed to and passed by the House of Assembly for the year 1833, has been rejected by the Council. In what manner the affairs of the province are to be conducted this year, in consequence, it is impossible to tell. It becomes, in fact, more evident, by every act which the Assembly passes, and which the Legislative Council negatives, that until his Majesty's Government establishes, upon constitutional principles, a decided plan for regulating the passing of money bills, the present Legislative Council and the House of Assembly never will harmonize. The formation of legislative councils is not generally understood: they have nothing to do in America with the representation of the province; and it is generally stated, nor can it be refuted, that the majority of those composing the legislative councils, are not, by education or habit, fit persons for being the lawgivers of a great province, nor have they generally much interest in the prosperity of the country. Governors are removable at pleasure, and they have, with few exceptions, often been misled by the executive or legislative councillors; but the latter hold their places for life. By examining the formation of all the executive legislative councils of British America (Nova Scotia excepted), at the present time, and their position as political men in respect to the Legislative Assemblies, we are forced to conclude that the former will involve the public affairs of the colonies in a state of embarrassment for which there remains no remedy but a general reorganization of the executive and legislative councils of every colony in British America. |