CHAPTER XLVI.

GOVERNMENT OF UPPER CANADA 307-315

How governed and divided by Lord Dorchester before the Constitutional Act of 1791 307

The Constitutional Act of 1791, 31 George III., chapter 31, and construction of governments under it 307

General John Graves Simcoe the first Governor; character of his government; arrives at Kingston 8th July, 1792, where the members of the Executive Legislative Councils were sworn into office, and writs issued for the election of members of the House of Assembly 308

The seat of government first established at Newark, now Niagara, where a small frame house was built for the Governor, and in which also the first Session of the Legislature was held 308

Number of members of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly present at the opening of the Session; their character 309

Number and character of the population of the country, including the Mohawk Indians, headed by Joseph Brant 309

First Session of the first Parliament and its work 309

Remarkable speech of Governor Simcoe at the close of the Session, explanatory of our constitution of government 310

Change of the seat of government and reasons for it 311

Governor Simcoe's work and policy; removal to the West Indies, and abandonment of his wise policy 311

Parliament meets at Niagara until 1797; its legislation; Governor Simcoe's successor, the Hon. Peter Russell and General Hunter; population of Upper Canada in 1800 312

Legislation, progress, trade, custom-houses 313

Provision for one Grammar School Master in each of the eight districts 314

Emigration; legislation; experience of the country during sixteen years under the new constitution 314

State of the country in 1809 314

Anticipated hostilities between Great Britain and the United States; concluding remarks on this period of Canadian history 315