18 CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY OF THE PROVINCES,

agent, Mr Adam Lymburner, a merchant of Quebec, was
heard at the bar of the House of Commons.
The Act was passed, and is known as the Constitutional
Act of 1791%

The Con- The Act divided Quebec into two provinces, Upper Canada
oT, 1 1d Lower Canada. In each province the legislature was to
consist of the Governor, a Legislative Council and a Legislative
Assembly.
The The Governor had power to give or withhold the royal
Governor. ont to bills, or to reserve them for consideration by the
Crown. He could summon, prorogue, or dissolve the legislature,
 but was required to convene the legislature at least
once a year.
TheLegis- The Legislative Council in Upper Canada consisted of
le not less than 7, and in Lower Canada of not less than 15
members, chosen by the King for life, the Speaker being
appointed by the Governor-General.
The Legislative Assembly was in counties elected by 40s.
Freeholders, and in towns by owners of houses of £5 yearly
value and by resident inhabitants paying £10 yearly rent. The
number and limits of electoral districts were fixed by the
Governor-General. Lower Canada had 50 members, Upper
~anada 16 members, assigned to their respective legislatures.
Non- The new Constitution did not prove a success. Serious
gn differences arose between the Legislative Council and the
ving Legislative Assembly in regard to the control of the revenue
and supplies, differences which were aggravated by the confict
 that still went on between the French and English races.
The state of Canada was brought before the House of
Commons, but the House rejected the proposal to make any
radical changes. The discontent resulted in the rebellion
of 1887—8, and an Act was passed suspending the Constitution
 of Lower Canada? and under its provisions a special
1 81 Geo, HI. (i) ¢. 31, 2 1&2 Vie (ije. 9