give an opinion on the subject in a hasty manner. It would be wiser now to defer the whole matter to next session, than to express sentiments without due preparation on a matter of so much magnitude. During this session the Quadrennial Bill, rejected by the Legislative Council in the previous year, was passed and became the law of the land.* On the 26th of April Mr. Howe left Nova Scotia for Engand, and did not return until the 4th of November, having in company with Judge Haliburton (Sam Slick) travelled over a great deal of England, Ireland, and Scotland, France, Belgium, and Rhenish Prussia. His first impressions of the mother country are recorded in a series of papers, of which fifteen (sufficient to fill a small volume) were printed at the time, under the title of "The Nova Scotian in England." It is to be regretted that they were not continued. Mr. Howe has visited Europe three times since, and must have largely increased his stock of information and experience. Perhaps, when he has nothing else to do (if that halcyon season of rest should ever arrive), he may favor us with a volume of travels quite as readable and piquant as many others, which those who live in the world are compelled to read. For this measure, and for some others of acknowledged utility, the Province is largely indebted to Mr. Lawrence O'Connor Doyle. Mr. Doyle is a Nova Scotian by birth, of Irish parentage, and was educated at Stoneyhurst. He was a sound lawyer, a fine classical scholar, a genial and delightful companion. Too convivial to be industrious, and too much sought after in early life to be ever alone, his usefulness was to some extent marred by the very excess of his good qualities. Though different in their habits, a very sincere friendship existed between Mr. Doyle and Mr. Howe, and we have often heard the latter declare, that, after seeing many of the choice spirits of both continents, he thought his friend the wittiest man he had ever heard or read of. Mr. Doyle removed to New York in 1855. Ten thousand of his jokes are scattered about the Province. "Did you hear," said a friend one day, "that Street the tailor has been found in a well in Argyle street?" "Yes," was Doyle's answer; "but did you hear how they made the discovery? An old woman get a stitch in her side, after drinking her tea, and she swore there must be a tailor in the well." A member complained once that a woman had been appointed post-mistress in a country town, and foretold that if the appointment was sanctioned women would be appointed couriers next. Doyle could see no objection to the practice; "God and nature had intended the women to carry the males." The House had hardly recovered from the explosion that followed this repartee, when the wit observed that "There certainly was one objection that had not occurred to him, there might be a good many miscarriages." On the passage to England, the Tyrian (ten gun brig), was overtaken by the Sirius steamer, which had made a trial trip to America in defiance of the opinion of Doctor Lardner, and was on her return, within a few hundred miles of the coast of England. The captain of the Tyrian determined, when she ranged up alongside, to send his mails on board of her. Mr. Howe accompanied them, took a glass of champagne with the captain, and returned to the ten gun brig, which rolled about in a dead calm with flapping sails, while the Sirius steamed off and soon was out of sight. Such a practical illustration of the contrast between the two motive powers was not likely to be lost upon such men as those who were left behind.* They discussed the subject daily. On landing, Judge Haliburton and Mr. Howe went down to Bristol to confer with the owners of the Sirius and Great Western. In London they discussed the subject with other Colonists, and aided by Henry Bliss and William Crane, of New Brunswick, endeavored to combine all the North American interests in an effort to induce Her Majesty's government to offer such a bounty as would secure to these Provinces the advantages of ocean steam navigation. On the 24th of August the following letter, prepared by Mr. Howe, was handed to Lord Glenelg, and answered by Sir George Grey on the 14th of September. The contracts for the conveyance of the mails by steam were announced a few months after, and Mr. Cunard boldly seized the opportunity to win fame and fortune, which, by his enterprise he very richly deserves. All honor to the Nova Scotian who has carried forward this great work with such signal success. But those gentlemen ought not to be forgotten, who, at this early period, first turned the attention of British statesmen to a subject of so much importance. *The most enthusiastic of these was Major Robert Carmichael Smith, brother to Sir James Carmichael Smith, formerly Governor of Demerara. This gentleman, between whom and Mr. Howe a sincere friendship has ever since existed, has done much towards calling public attention to the importance of railroad communication with the East across the British American Provinces. The late Judge Fairbanks, and Dr. Walker, of St. John, were also passengers on board the Tyrian, and fellow laborers in the good work of promoting ocean steam navigation. London, August 24, 1838. MY LORD,-We, the undersigned, members of the Houses of Assembly of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, at present in London, most respectfully beg leave to solicit Your Lordship's attention to a subject of high importance to the inhabitants of those Provinces, to their more intimate connection with the mother country, and to their peace and security as dependencies of the crown. Since the undersigned left the Colonies, and after the close of the legislative sessions, the successful voyages made to and from England and New York have solved the problem of the practicability of steam navigation across the Atlantic, and rendered a revision of the system of packet communication between Great Britain and her North American Provinces extremely desirable, if not a measure of absolute necessity. Assuming that no reasonable doubt can any longer be entertained that the commercial and public correspondence of Europe and America may now, and to a vast extent will, be conveyed by steam, the question arises whether the line of packets between the mother country and the important Provinces of North America, should not be immediately put upon a more efficient footing? This question, for a variety of reasons, is beginning to press itself strongly upon the minds, not only of the Colonists generally, but of all those who in this country are engaged in commercial relations with them, or are aware of the importance, in a political point of view, of drawing them into closer connection with the parent State. It is unnecessary to dwell on the character of the class of vessels hitherto employed in this service. The fearful destruction of life and property, the serious interruption of correspondence, consequent on the loss of so many of the ten gun brigs, furnish decisive evidence on this point, while the general impression abroad that such of them as still remain are neither safe nor suitable sea boats, ought at once to determine the Government, even if no further change were rendered necessary by the new circumstances which have arisen, to replace them by a very superior description of vessels. But to the undersigned it seems extremely desirable, at this period, to go much further, for the following among other reasons which might be urged. Whether Great Britain shall or shall not preserve the attachment of, and continue her connection with, the North American Colonies, is not, as it is sometimes made to appear by individuals in this country, a mere pecuniary question. Even if it were, it would not be difficult to show that the advantages derived from that connection are reciprocally shared by the people of both countries; but assuming that from the rivalry of no other nation have the population of these Islands so much to fear as from that of the United States, that from the energy of character, the general diffusion of education, and the application of industry to commercial and manufacturing pursuits, which that country has inherited from this with its habits and language, and which, applied to a field of boundless extent and resources, must attach importance to every thing calculated to increase or diminish the relative commercial and political influence of either nation - the continuance of the connection already referred to assumes an aspect of intense interest, and swells into a magnitude which may well attract towards the topic now sought to be pressed upon Your Lordship's attention, the serious consideration of the minisisters of the crown. If Great Britain is to maintain her footing upon the North American Continent- if she is to hold the command of the extensive sea coast from Maine to Labrador, skirting millions of square miles of fertile lands, intersected by navigable rivers, indented by the best harbors in the world, containing now a million and a half of people and capable of supporting many millions, of whose aid in war and consumption in peace she is secure she must, at any hazard of even increased expenditure for a time, establish such a line of rapid communication by steam, as will ensure the speedy transmission of public dispatches, commercial correspondence and general information, through channels exclusively British, and inferior to none in security and expedition. If this is not done, the British population on both sides of the Atlantic are left to receive, through foreign channels, intelligence of much that occurs in the mother country and the Colonies, with at least ten days, in most cases, for erroneous impressions to circulate before they can be corrected. Much evil has already arisen from the conveyance of intelligence by third parties, not always friendly or impartial; and, from the feverish excitement along the frontier, the indefatigable exertions of evil agents, and the irritation not yet allayed in the Canadas, since the suppression of the late rebellions, it is of the highest importance that a line of communication should be established, through which not only official correspondence but sound information can be conveyed. The pride, as well as the interests of the British people, would seem to require means of communication with each other, second to none which are enjoyed by other States. The undersigned do not think it necessary, in this paper, to trouble your Lordship with many details. They conceive, however, that not only do the United States possess no peculiar advantages to entitle them to be the carriers of British and Colonial passengers and corres pondence, but that the route through Halifax has advantages that must give to this government, if steamships are employed, the command of a line that cannot be excelled by any that either has been or can be established by the United States. That port is 550 miles nearer to England than New York, so that the sea voyage, other things being equal, would, on an average, occupy two and a half days less to the former than to the latter; the inland route from Halifax to Quebec, when certain improvements now in progress are completed, can be accomplished in less than six days so that, if the facilities in the States should so far increase as to admit of the passage of intelligence in three and a half days between New York and the capital of Lower Canada, the American would have no advantage in expedition over the British line, while the latter would be even more certain, from there being little if any water carriage. It has been suggested that Bermuda should be the terminus of the long voyage, with branches from thence to the Provinces; but the very superior advantages which Halifax possesses, as the central point to which would be drawn passengers from the adjoining Colonies, its abundant and cheap supplies of fuel and food, and its rapidly extending commercial relations, would seem to point to that port as the one from which such branch lines as may be necessary should radiate. The undersigned, though they have no authority to represent upon this question the public bodies to which they belong, are so deeply impressed with the importance of the subject, so confidently assured that this communication expresses the feelings and sentiments, not only of their immediate constituents, but of very large and influential classes, both in the mother country and the Colonies, that they trust your Lordship will pardon the liberty they have taken, and afford to a measure which cannot fail to strengthen and increase the prosperity of the Empire, the powerful aid of your countenance and support. We have the honor to be Your Lordship's JOSEPH HOWE. The Right Hon. Lord Glenelg. (COPY.) STEAM COMMUNICATION. Downing Street, September 14, 1838. GENTLEMEN,I am directed by Lord Glenelg to acknowledge your letter of the 23d ultimo, calling his Lordship's attention to the necessity |