tions to promote its agriculture and trade, to open roads through the country, and his anxious attention to the administration of justice, and the establishment of seminaries of education, merit the highest praise. But, while in England in 1831, having advanced opinions, in his able pamphlet on the value of the North American Colonies, at variance with those of the government on the timber question, he considered it proper to tender his resignation, which, under such circumstances, was, as might be supposed, accepted. The province is, however, so far fortunate, as to have a governor, in the person of his successor, Sir Archibald Campbell, whose previous character justifies the expectations formed of his administration, which has hitherto been wise and highly satisfactory. The constitution of New Brunswick is similar to that of Nova Scotia. The Council consists of twelve members, and the Legislative Assembly, which meets in winter, of twenty-six representatives.* The courts are, the Courts of Chancery, of which the governor is chancellor. In the Supreme Court, which represents in its practice the King's Bench, one chief justice and three assistant justices preside. All important civil causes are decided, and all capital crimes tried, in this court. The salary of the chief justice is 750l. and that of the assistant justices 500l. each. The terms are in February, May, July, and October. There is also an inferior court, or Court of Common Pleas, held in each of the counties, in which two or more justices preside. In this court petty crimes are tried, and civil causes of small amount are deter * A Legislative Council, similar to that of Upper Canada, has lately (1833) been constituted. May it be attended with happier results. CONSTITUTION, LAWS, AND PUBLIC BURDENS. 11 mined. It exercises also within the county extensive powers in the appointment of parish and police officers, auditing parish accounts, regulating the licences of public houses, and fixing such small parish assessments or county rates as may appear necessary. Debts under five pounds are recovered before magistrates, who take cognisance also of breaches of the peace, as in England. The provincial laws are much the same as those of Nova Scotia, differing only in some instances, to accord with local circumstances. crown. The public burdens are so very similar to those of Nova Scotia, already described, and so trifling, that an account of them is unnecessary. The statute labour and militia laws also correspond. The revenue is raised by trifling imposts: and a casual revenue to the king arises from the rents of wild meadows, timber licences, and sales of lands belonging to the It is also contemplated to enforce the payment of quitrents, on lands granted previously to the late regulations for selling the crown lands, and conveying titles, without any reservation, in feu and common soccage, as lately agreed for by the New Brunswick Company. The amount of the revenue, raised by imposts and legislative enactments, averages about 43,000l. The casual revenue is stated to be about 14,000l.; and the legislature, during the sitting of the last session, complain that half of this amount is absorbed by the commissioner and his deputies, and that the legislature has no control whatever over it. The casual revenue will, or should, greatly increase, and a general spirit of opposition to the expenditure of any revenue without legislative approbation prevails in this province, as well as in all the British American colonies. The opposition to the collection of the quitrents in the legislative assembly (February, 1833) is general, and the measure will be attended with great difficulty. It appears that the attorney-general does not think he has sufficient authority, without an act of the provincial legislature, to enable him to collect those rents. There is no doubt but that his majesty has a right to those rents; viz. On 1,254,503 acres granted under 52,954 acres granted at d. ster- £ S. 1,524 10 0 2,539 13 5 122 11 6 d. £4,186 15 0 But the annual collection of the above sum, especially from being due in very small sums from the inhabitants, would cause endless discontent, and expensive law proceedings, as in the notorious instance in 1824 of Prince Edward Island. It appears that, even without law proceedings, the actual expense of collecting the quitrents would not leave one third of the whole to the crown. It is even doubtful if the annual collection be practical; and, if their payment be urged, the grievance can only be removed by a commutation to be satisfactorily appropriated by the Legislature for the purposes of opening and improving roads, erecting public buildings, encouraging agriculture and the fisheries, supporting seminaries of education, and general improvements. CHAP. II. DIVISIONS OF THE PROVINCE. - DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY AND RIVER OF ST. JOHN. PRAIRIE. SUBURBS OF PORTLAND AND CARLETON. - SOCIETY, ETC. THE representative constitution of the province, and the administration of justice, required that it should, like Nova Scotia, be divided into counties : these are - St. John's, Westmoreland, Charlotte, Sunbury, Queen's, and York counties, through which last the River St. John winds, and the county of Northumberland*, which fronts on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay de Chaleur, and which is watered by the Miramichi, and other rivers. The principal settlements are along the River St. John and its lakes, on the north banks of the St. Croix, on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the River Miramichi, and on the shores of the Bay de Chaleur. The corporate town or city of St. John is situated in 45° 20′ N. latitude, 66° 3′ W. longitude, on the southern declivity of a peninsula, and on the northern side of the entrance from the Bay of Fundy to the River St. John. 1 * In consequence of the great extent of the county of Northumberland, and the inconvenience to the inhabitants of attending distant courts of law, and also to increase the representation of the province, Sir Howard Douglas very judiciously divided it into three counties, by the names of Northumberland, Kent, and Gloucester. On approaching St. John from the Bay of Fundy, the aspect of the country on each side is bold and rugged. Meogenes Island and several coves open to the left; a bold headland on the right, between which and Partridge Island, on which there is a lighthouse, is the proper entrance to the harbour. The town, with part of Carleton on the opposite side, opens to view several miles distant; which, with the wooded mountainous background, and general picturesque scenery, enlivened by shipping, wharfs, stores, houses of various sizes and colours, spires of churches, forts, and the beautiful range of new barracks, form altogether a very splendid picture. The rise of the tide is from twenty-five to thirty feet. When the sea flows so as to cover the shores, the appearance of the harbour of St. John, viewed from Carleton, and all the surrounding objects which fill up the landscape, is beautiful and magnificent; but at low water the aspect of the front of the town, which exhibits muddy shores, high wharfs, and timber booms covered with slime, is exceedingly disagreeable. One of the most interesting and extensive prospects of scenery is, however, from the heights on which are the ruins of Fort Howe, over that part or division of the town named Portland. The view from this station is really magnificent: the harbour, prairies, mountains, woods, a bird's-eye view of the town and shipping, a broad prospect of the Bay of Fundy, with Nova Scotia high and darkly blue in the distance, are its prominent features. Fort Howe is now in ruins: its position is very commanding. On the Carleton side, situated also on a commanding height, there is another fortification, and some guns are also planted on Partridge Island. |