8.—2.

XIII

porting. It was prudence, not folly, to look our difficulties fully in the face: it would have been folly, and not prudence, to doubt that we could overcome them. The Government and this House had full confidence not only in the abounding vitality and vast resources of the colony, but (which was no less important) in the willingness of the colonists to make the necessary sacrifices ; and that confidence has been amply justified by the facts I have just had the honor to lay before the Committee. And as prudence and economy, and a cautious and well-considered advance in public works as funds became available, was our rule then and has been sinco, so it should be now and in the future. I have full confidence, Sir, that, following that rule faithfully, we shall not only maintain, but, as the resources of the country become developed, we shall steadily increase, the present satisfactory condition of our finance.

in—B. 2.