172 msrom‘ or PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

governors of the several provinces. 011 the proceedings of“ the assembly, his grace remarked that if a union, either partial or complete, should hereafter be proposed, with the concurrence of all the provinces to be united he was sure that the matter would be weighed in England by the public, by parliament, and by He1 )Ia‘iesty s g0ve111111ent 11 1th 110- other feeling than an anxiety to discern and to promote any course which might be most conducive to the prosperity, the strength, and the harmony of all the British communities in North America.

The desire of the home government to see a union of the North Ameri 'an Provinces consummated, having been thus indicated, a discussion of the question took place in the legislature of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Isl-111d, in the sessions of 18611, which resulted in the appointment, by these p10v1nt er, of delegates, to meet in Chailottetown. In the assembly of Prince Edward Island there was considerable opposition to the idea of a legislative union, but the following resolution was passed bv a 111ajority: “ That His E xcell ency the Lieutenant Gov- -

011101 be autl1o1ised to appoint deleg Ltes not; to exceed five

——to center \\ 1th delegates who may be appointed by the. government of Nova Stotia and New B11111swick, for the purpose of discussing the expediency of a union of the three Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island under one government and lerrislatul'e, the repo1t of the said delegates to be laid befo1c the legislatme ot the colony betme any action shall be taken 111 1ega1d to the proposed question.”

In the year 1863 the two parties in the Canadian parlia- ment were so equally balanced, that it was found i111possihle to conduct the business of the country with any degree of efficiency. The leading men of both parties accordingly