NEW oovnmnaxr. 111

Among the passengers were Mr. Martin I. ’Wilkins, of Pictou, Mr. Lydiartl, Mr. Pinco, Dr. McKenzie, and others. After having been subjected to a series of heavy seas, the upper deck, abat't the funnel, separated from the main body of the vessel, and providentially constituted an admirable raft, by which a number of the passengers were saved, among whom were hiessrs. \Vilkins, Lydiard, and I’ineo, who landed on the north side of Merigomish Island, after eight hours of exposure to the storm and cold. Dr. DIeKeuzie,—an excellent young man,—0ther two males, and four females perished.

In opening the assembly of 1854, the governor referred in terms of congratulation to the prosperous state of the revenue. On the thirty-first of January, 1850, the balance of debt against the colony was twenty-eight thousand pounds. In four years it was reduced to three thousand pounds. The revenue had increased from twenty-two thousand pounds, in 1850, to thirty-five thousand in 1853, notwithstanding a reduction in the duty on tea, and two thousand eight hundred pounds assessment imposed for educational purposes.

The new house having declared its want of confidence in the government, a new one was formed, of which the leaders were the Honorables J. M. Holl and Edward Palmer; but there was a majority opposed to it in the upper branch, which, to some extent, frustrated the satis- factory working of the machine. The house was prorogued in May ; and, in opposition to the unanimous opinion of his council, the governor dissolved the assembly,-—the reason g, that the act- passed for the extension of the franchise had received the royal assent, and that for the interest of the country it was necessary to have a house based on the new law. An

assigned for this course of procedure beiu