governor-general to send for George Brown, when McGee and Tupper, with a disinterested generosity rare in politics, waived their claims, and Edward Kenny became the Irish representative and second minister from Nova Scotia. The first administration was thus constituted: JOHN A. MACDONALD, Prime Minister and Minister of Justice. GEORGE E. CARTIER, Minister of Militia and Defence. S. LEONARD TILLEY, Minister of Customs. ALEXANDER T. GALT, Minister of Finance. WILLIAM McDOUGALL, Minister of Public Works. WILLIAM P. HOWLAND, Minister of Inland Revenue. ADAMS G. ARCHIBALD, Secretary of State for the Provinces. A. J. FERGUSSON BLAIR, President of the Privy Council. {146} PETER MITCHELL, Minister of Marine and Fisheries. ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, Postmaster-General. JEAN C. CHAPAIS, Minister of Agriculture. HECTOR L. LANGEVIN, Secretary of State of Canada. EDWARD KENNY, Receiver-General. The two men who had stepped aside in order that a ministry might be formed under Macdonald were actuated partly by personal regard for their leader. It was not a small sacrifice. Macdonald wrote to McGee: The difficulties of adjusting the representation in the Cabinet from the several provinces were great and embarrassing. Your disinterested and patriotic conduct--and I speak of Tupper as well as yourself--had certainly the effect of removing those difficulties. Still, I think you should have first consulted me. However, the thing is done and can't be undone for the present; but I am very sure that at a very early day your valuable services will be sought for by the government. McGee was to have retired from political life and to have received the appointment of commissioner of patents at $3200 a year, a sinecure which would have enabled him to pursue his literary work. His assassination in the {147} early morning of April 7, 1868, on returning to his lodging after a late session of the House, is one of the most tragic episodes in the annals of Canada.