240 THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT [PART II
after they had been issued. Although the Legislature was
in session they did not obtain its approval for the alteration,
despite the fact that in the opinion of the Lieutenant-
Governor the modification should have been authorized by
an Act and should not have been carried out by an Order
in Council. Moreover, the Government declined to carry
out an instruction from the Lieutenant-Governor to issue a
Crown grant under s. 39 of the Minerals Act to a petitioner
named Dunlop. The Lieutenant-Governor accordingly on
February 27, 1900, addressed his Prime Minister, dismissing
him from office on the grounds enumerated. He then called
to office Mr. Joseph Martin. The Secretary of State for the
Dominion had telegraphed, just before he took action to
dismiss his Ministers, suggesting that as it was understood
that the Government party was being strengthened by the
defection of members from the ranks of the Opposition, it was
desirable to wait a time before calling upon his Ministers
either to dissolve or to retire after the defeat which
they had encountered in the Legislature on February 23.
Later the Secretary of State informed the Lieutenant-
Governor that in the opinion of the Privy Council of Canada
the Legislature should be dissolved at once or should be called
to meet so that an appeal might be made without delay to
the people. Though the Legislature was dissolved in
accordance with these instructions on April 10, it was found
impossible to hold an election before June 9, the writs
being returnable on June 30. The Privy Council called
upon the Lieutenant-Governor to explain his conduct with
regard to the selection of Mr. Martin, the delay before
dissolving the Legislature, and in completing the Executive
Council. The Lieutenant-Governor defended himself in a
long report from the various charges which had been brought
against his conduct. With regard to the criticism that the
House was left in session without any Ministry to carry on the
Government, he quoted the British precedent of 1783, when
an interregnum of thirty-seven days took place after the
resignation of the Shelburne Ministry, and the interregnum
of twenty-eight days after the assassination of Mr. Perceval
