. “M“..WM" .1... w“...-

an...“

for Nov. 21, 1826 where it is reported that as the church “is now roofed in and weather boarded, the committee earnestly requests all those who have subscribed towards its erection to pay their subscriptions . . . in order that they may be able to proceed with the building; otherwise the

work must remain in its present unfinished state.” The church was opened for worship in 1828.

Stewart is sometimes taxed with religious bigotry for his failure to vote in favour of the removal of the civil disabilities of Roman Catholics when a bill to that effect was brought before the House in April of 1827. When the members were found to be equally divided on the issue, it is true that John Stewart, as speaker, did cast his vote in the negative. However, in his defence, it must be remarked that Roman Catholics in England did not at this time enjoy the right to vote, and the Royal In- structions forbade colonial governors from assenting to any law which would place the inhabitants of a colony on a more privileged footing than the people of England. There was therefore, it could be argued, little point in voting for a bill which was doomed to be disallowed in any event.

According to his obituary, John Stewart relinguished the position of Speaker after the House was dissolved in 1830. From that time on he took little part in public affairs but “lived retired at his beautiful resi— dence of Mount Stewart.” Fortunately, a description of this idyllic retreat has come down to us, written by John MacGregor, the former High Sheriff:

“The scenery at and near the head of this river (the Hillsborough) is rich and pretty. Mount Stewart, the property and present residence of John Stewart, Esq., late paymaster to the troops at Newfoundland, and Speaker of the present House of Assembly, is a most charming spot; and the prospect from the house, which stands on a rising ground, about half a mile from the river, is truly beautiful. Downwards, the view commands several windings of the Hillsborough, and part of Pisquid River: the edges of each are fringed with marshgrass, and fertile farms range along the banks, while trees of majestic birch, beech, and maple grow luxuriantly on the south side, and spruce—fir, larch, beech, and poplar on the north, fill up the background. Upwards, the meandering river, on which one may now and then see passengers crossing in a log canoe, or an Indian, with his family, paddling along in a bark one, together with a View of the large Catholic Chapel at St. Andrew’s, the seat of the Catholic Bishop, and the surrounding farms and woods, form another agreeable landscape.”

Very little is known of the actual appearance and layout of Mount Stewart House. The bulk of its contents was auctioned off in 1836, and only a few heavy pieces of the original Stewart furniture remained after that date. These were itemized on May 26, 1845 at the time the premises were leased to the Hon. William Swabey. The front and back parlours contained a large and a smaller Franklin stove respectively, While another stove with a deep pan was located in the bedroom over the kitchen. A wooden fire place screen was to be found in the bedroom over the main parlour. The kitchen contained a cast iron oven with grates, two iron cranes with hooks, a cast iron rack and a large dresser. These same articles were delivered over to George Scott when he took possession in March, 1854. The one reference to the fate of the other furnishings ap- pears in the Guardian for April 24, 1931 which records that a table used at the wedding of Marion Coffin and Roland Jay at Cherry Hill was of solid mahogany and formerly the property of John Stewart of Mount Stewart. The house itself was destroyed by fire during the latter part

.21..