was in Nova Scotia, and he resisted these brilliant offers, returning here where he practised at the Bar in Halifax until he was elevated to the Supreme Court Bench. As he was only thirty-nine years of age when he was promoted in 1834 he must have risen rapidly to the front, and commanded a large share in the business of the Courts. That he was so successful at such a comparatively early age is the best proof we can have of his preeminent ability in his profession and the confidence reposed in him by the public, and the government of the day.

Like many other able lawyers of that day he sought political honors, and entered the House of Assembly in 1830 as Member for Hants County. His political career was comparatively brief, extending over four Sessions from 1830 to 1834. From the outset he appears to have taken an active and useful part in the debates of the Assembly, although he was not a frequent speaker. One of the measures to which he specially gave his attention was the granting of a Charter to the Bank of Nova Scotia. At that time there was only one Bank carrying on business in the Province. It was in the hands of a small number of wealthy people in Halifax known as the Halifax Banking Company, and some of the proprietors were members of the old Council. It would seem from the debates, and public meetings that this Bank used its financial power oppressively or at least not at all in the interests of the general public. To meet this state of affairs it was proposed to establish another Bank, for which a large stock list had been subscribed. As might have been anticipated the monopolists of the Halifax Banking Company threw every obstacle in the way. After a warm contest in the Assembly it passed that house, and was sent up to the Council for concurrence. Bliss, assisted chiefly by Alexander Stewart, contended vigorously for its passage in the lower House,

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