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were afforded that those powers would be exercised under the constitutional control of the Legislature. Upon the whole it is apparent that the Government of the Colony can be no longer conducted on the present footing, and it is more than probable that should the present arrangements continue a very serious difficulty will be experienced in obtaining the supplies for the public service. " The present holders of the unofficial seats in the Executive Council would be actino- in neglect of their duty to His Excellency, to their constituents, and to themselves, did they continue to hold office under an arrangement of which the only result must be to embroil the Executive with the Legislature at a moment when the whole interests of the Colony are deeply concerned in conducting the Government with harmony. There appear to be but three courses open. First, that the present unofficial Members of the Executive Council should be replaced by others, should any such be found who will accept seats on the understanding that the present arrangements shall be preserved Secondly That the Government shall be restored to the old form and shall be carried on without any unofficial members in the Executive Council: and, Thirdly, that the present holders of Office should resign and the Government be reconstituted on the ordinary responsible basis. It is quite obvious that in the two first of these cases an immediate prorogation probably a dissolution of the General Assembly must follow; and the Government of the Colony must be carried on for many months longer without any legal appropriation of the Public Kevenues. The organization of the public departments, consistently with the requirements of the Now Constitution, a measure loudly called for by the present state of all public business must be delayed for an indefinite time : and a conflict fraught with danger to the peace and well being of the Colony will inevitably arise between the General and Provincial Governments : a conflict which cannot but end in the augmentation of the powers of the latter to such an extent as seriously to endanger the unity of the Colony as a whole. The Third course proposed will have an exactly opposite result. The present holders of offices have already signified their readiness to retire: it is understood as a sine qua non that proper pensions shall be provided for them on so doing. The principle is admitted that the tenure of these offices is to be changed so soon as the service of the country shall demand it. That is asserted by the Executive Government Bill now before the House. The only question left is one of time. And that consideration it is presumed is not one of such importance as to justify the risk of such grave consequences as delay may produce. Lnder these circumstances it is submitted that the wisest course, the course most consistent with the best interests of the country, would be that the present holders of offica should place their resignations at His Excellency's disposal, and that so soon as the Executive Government I3ill should have passed Plis Excellency should accept those resignations and should appoint to the Offices of Government under that Bill such persons having seats in the Houses o the Legislature as he may deem best able to conduct the affairs of Government in accordance with the wishes of the Legislative Bodies. !' James Edward Fitzgerald, ?~™ WELD ' Henry Sewell.