The Express.
London, England, 1848-11-09 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 9, 1848.

lion in ceder to glee the sensaussre 01 Liverpool the
bete ! that might arise from combined action.
Before the Livetpool Mardian Gas Company
started, the two existing Liverpool companies charged
at the rate of twelve 'billings per 1,000 cubic feet for
gas. Remonstrances, threats of opposition, and ulti-
mately the formation of the Guardian Company had
the effect of reducing the charge to six shillings the
1,000 feet, which the existing companies declared in
evidence to be ruinously low. Not satisfied with this
redaction the Guardian Company proceeded to par-
liament in 1846, and, though they lost their bill, com-
pelled their opponents to a further reduction to 4s. Gd.
In 1847, the Guardian Company issued a fresh pro-
spectus offering gas at 3s. Bd. the 1.000 feet, and
proved clearly in evidence before the government
commissioners that a further reduction to 2s. 6d. could
be effected on a certain increase in consumption which
was anticipated speedily to follow the reduced prices.
And so satisfied were the public of the correctness of
the calculations on which the evidence was founded,
that a sufficiency of shares was rapidly bought up to
enable the company to proceed to parliament, where
obstacles arising !TOM some secret influences were
sufficiently strong to oblige them to withdraw their
bill on the terms already stated ; so that the Liverpool
consumers for the present continue to pay 4s. Od, per
1,000 feet for gar, equal to an illuminating power of
16 candles, instead of getting, as they expected—had
their bill been carried—gas of a similar quality at
something like half the price, after allowing the
shareholders seven and a half per cent. on the capital
invested in the undertaking.
While, according to the evidence before the govern-
ment commissionets at Liverpool, gas of an Maud-
eating power of sixteen candles can b 3 produced at
12s. 61. the 1100 feet, after paying 6 per cent. [del
capital invested in the manufacture, the consumers of
Loudon are paying 6s. for gas not quite equal to
twelve candles. Latteey some of the London com-
panies have endeavoured to meet the complaintsl
against the quality, by increasing the quantity in a
degree that has added 25 per cent. to the quarterly
bills of the consumers, from the over amount of gas
consumed without an increase in the number of
burners—an ingenious mode of giving additional
light to citizens' domiciles at the expense of their
pockets.
We cannot but think that the supply of light and
of water, as well as sewerage, paving, and other matters
intimately connected with public and municipal secu-
rity and comfort, ought to come under the inspection
and consideration of the sanitary authorities, be these
municipal, or be they central, or be they, u they
ought. a combination of both. It is quite monstrous
that Smithfield and its purlieus should bo able
to resist all the rational efforts made for
its removal, and that our city cemeteries
should be equally puissant to perpetuate their deadly
nuisance. An article in the Express of Saturday
last showed how fearfully mortality and disease, in
proportion to the populatioa, are increasing in
Lmdon, not only from year to year, but from
epoch toepoch. We need not look far for the causes.
It consists in the great cause, that all interes's are
better prote'ted in the country than the public in-
terests, aa.d that in municipal, as well as in political
life, the welfare of the many is invariably sacrificed
to the privileges and piss of the few.

Ir required no great powers of penetration to fore-
see the universal discontent which the postponement
of the repeal of the navigation laws would engender
in Canada. We have it now manifested in the
menacing and repeated murmurs with which every
oackor from Halifax comes freighted. and for which.
considering the magnitude of the issues which are
involved in the question, we can find no fault with
the people of the colonies. What they want is a
simple matter of justice, and the imperial government
should listen with all the more alacrity to their appeal,
seeing that what they claim as a matter of right is but
a supplement to the liberal commercial policy on
which it has embarked, and into which, to some
extent, it has dragged Canada along with it.
So long as the Canadians had more or lets a mono-
poly of the British market, this monopoly could be
urged as a compensation for any injury which they
might suffer from the restrictions which surrounded
the navigation of the St. Lawrence. Thtee rebtric-
tions always operated adversely to the culling trade
of Canada, a trade mond to none in the colony in
'Point of importance • but the preference given to the
1 Canadian over the American exporter in the English
market, was supposed to leave the balance of advan-
times in favour of the colonist. Now, however, that no
mach preference exists—now that the Canadian exporter
' finds the American farmer on a footing of equality
with him in a market which was formerly almost en-
tirely his own—now, in short, ihat the consideration
for which he submitted to certain di.abilities is
withdrawn, what more reasonable than that he should
imuel the extinction of the disabilities? This is
seemeary in order to carry out our own policy, of
the partial and incomplete character of which
the present position of Canada is an unhappy
(exemplification. We found Canada enjoying a pie-
'Renee in our markets over the U,.ited States—we
ed to put the two on a footing of equality, and
Celeift off with giving the United States a prefer-
ence over Canada.
This was certainly. not our intention, but it is
smother of the many instances which we have had to
nosed of the incongruous results of our patchwork
legislation. For the navigation laws,in their connexion
with the St. Lawrence, operate u a heavy tax upon
Canadian produce imported into England. The Ca-
talan farmer would not be worse off than be is at pre-
sent.if we repealed the navigation laws and taxed his
prance to the extent to which they enhance its price in
roar markets. In the case supposed, who could say that
he would be on a footing of equality with the American ?
And yet the real came is only the supposed one in dis-
guise; at any rate, in their consequences they would
be alike. This is a clear case for interference on the
part of the protectionists, who seem to have taken
the welfare of the colonies into their special keeping.
Their object is to put the colonist in our maikets on a
superior footing to that of the foreigner. The first
step towards this, in the case of the Canadian,
is to put him on a footing of ecinality
with his competitor • and, as that cannot
now be done by legislating agaiy et the competitor,
the only way to effect it is by legislating in favour of
the Canadian. In other words, as there is now no
hope of taxing American corn, their first step towards
doing justice to Canada should be to remove restric-
tions which operate as a virtual tax upon Canadian

produce.
But it is not alone in the preference which we tht
give the foreigner over the fellow-subject, that the
Canadian finds just cause of complaint. As already
hinted, in addition to operating as a tax upon its
exports, the navigation laws injuriously affect an in-
ternal trade, which is of vital interest to the province,
and it is chiefly to their effect upon the carrying trade
of the colony that we now wish to invite the attention of
our readers. The Canadians,as we shall show, are play-
ing for a stake, the magnitude and importance of
which, when appreciated, will more than account for
the satiety and uneasiness which they may exhibit in
'arigtoit.
and by far the better potion of Canada
le. to aintents and purposes, an inland country. In
the St. Lawrence, however, it possesses a great
saws' highway to the ocean. But the navigation
of this noble stream is obstructed by obstacles, sem
Fof which are of an insurmountable chamber.
For fully half the year its channel is blocked up 1
the frosts of winter, a difficulty which no probable
amelioration of temperature will ever suffice to re- 1
MOM The ether impediments to its navigation are
of a different character, and have, one after another,
been either removed or avoided by the enterprise of
Lrlizeines.
the Between Montreal and Kingston, com-
shoat 100 miles of its course, it is frequently
teleardprelolittpendeovosen ratpoids,thesom:a of
adventurous
" Matsu& boat." The first rapid encountered on
amending the river is that of Lachine, immediately
above Moatresl. This obstruction, which is one of
the most serious of all, is avoided by the Lachine
Canal, which proceeds, for nine mike, from the city
to Lake St. Louis. The next rapid is about thirty
miles further up, at the point where Lake St. Louis is
Loaned by the confluence of the Ottawa and the St.
Lawrence. It is designated the " Cascades " and is
cgtogether with another, a little further up,
as the "Cedars; and still another, a few
miles further up, by the Beanharnois Canal,
smiting Lake St. Louis with Lake St. Francis.
At the head of this latter lake is Cornwall, the first
border town of Canada West, a short distance above
which is the great rapid, named by the habitant, the
..Longue Sault" rapid. To avoid this, the St. Law-
rence canal has been constructed between Cornwall

and Dickenson's-ferry, a distance of 11 alba Above
Dickensoa'a-ferry there are sseseal minor= but
nous sufficiently stroll to offer any very ob-
structien to the navigation of the river from that
point
to up to Kingston. F%satn this town, which is at its
foot, the head of Lake Ontario, the navigation
is unimpeded, but between that lake and Lake Erie
it meets with its last formidable interruption in the
Falls of Niagara. To overcome this the Welland
Canal has been constructed, extending. from St.
Catherine's, on Lake ()uteri°, to a point on the
Canada side of Lake Erie, some distance above the
American town of Buffalo. Once on Lake Erie, the
course is clear and open for more than a thousand
miles to the Far West.
Now the canals, which we have here mentioned
lin such rapid succession, although short, are works
I of great magnitude, inasmuch as they are all ship
canals. To construct them, one after another, has
consumed much time and treasure, the province
pledging its credit to the extent of a million and a
half sterling, as late as 1841, for their final com-
pletion. So great an expense would not have been
incurred by so young a country, unless come very
important object had been in view. Let us now see
what that object in reality was.
A slight acquaintance w;th the geography of this
portion of America will convince any one of the im-
portant part which the great lakes are yet destined
to play, both in the internal commerce and the ex-
port trade of the continent. Extending one after
another in a devious cour.e, and in magnificent dimes-
'ion, they form not so much the media of separation
as the links of connexion between vast and fertile re-
gions, in comparison with which most European king-
doms sink in point of extent into insignificance. Their
northern shores form the boundary of Canada West,
which province thus possesses a freshwater-lake coast
of nearly fifteen hundred miles! On their southern
side no less than seven states of the Union are either
bounded by, or abut upon, them, the Ame-
rican lake coast, including the two shores
of Lake Michigan, entirely within American
territory, being upwards of 2,000 miles in
length? Now the whole of this vast region skirting
the lakes on their southern side is a grain-growing
tract, producing wheat, Indian corn, barley, rye,
oats, potatoes, turnips, live stock, and fruit in abun-
dance. At its western extremity it is also found to
be rich and varied in its mineral resources. The por-
tion of Owed' resting upon the lakes is fertile to a de-
gree, producing everything here enumerated in as
great abundance as they are produced in on the other
side, until the northern shore of Lake Huron is
reached, along which, as well as along
Lake Superior, the country is less adapted
for agricultural purposes. It is also to be borne in
mind that, from its nature,pusition, and resources, the
whole of this fertile region on both sides of the lakes
must remain chiefly agricultural and miniug, as re-
gards its interests and pursuits, depending for its
supplies of mmufectured articles upon ether sources,
whither it will send, in exchange for them, its surplus
productions. In this mutual exchange are the con-
stituent elements of a great trade, and it is in effect-
ing it that the carrying trade will be brought into
requisition.
It was net, therefore, with a view to facilitating
the carrying trade of Canada alone that the
works already alluded to were either under-
iteken er completed. The Canadians had a far higher
game in view when, for this purpose, they saddled
themselves with a burdensome and inconvenient debt.
The carrying trade of the whole north-west was that
which they aimed at securing—that not only of
Canada, but of all the industrious communities on the '
southern side of the lakes. What that trade is yet
likely to be, and the rapidity with which it is certain
to increase, may be bettor appreciated when we re-
collect that, in addition to Canada on the one side,
the States of the Union, which border the lakes on
the other, are Wisconsln Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New York.
It was to secure the carrying trade of this magnifi-
cent region, by making the St. Lawrence its most
emeticable highway to the °pear. that all the natural
impediments to the navigation of that river, which it
was in their power to remove, have been removed, at
great labour and no little cost, by the Canadians.
Yet this is the trade which they allege is imperilled
by the continuance of the navigation laws. Colette
these laws are speedily repealed they foresee that all
their labour and all their expenditure will have been I
thrown away, and that the prize at which they aimed
will be securely grasped by a rival, who
will not consent to share it with them. Is it
any wonder that, with such hopes menaced with
frustration, and such prospects darkened by eland,
they should feel anxious and restless as to the tame? I
How far they are right in their forebodings, salsa'
they. are speedily released from the trammels of the'
navigation laws, or correct in their conviction that,
with these laws speedily repealed they can realise
their expectations, are subjects well worthy of consi-

Tile Emperor of AUSTRIA'S first elopement from
Vienna, leaving his faithful councillors in utter igno-
rance of his whereabouts, deprives the equally
precipitate retreat of Mr. ROBERT CHAMBERS from
his trusty canvassers of the merit of originality.
Yet even at second-band the practical joke is a good
one—for uneconerned spectators. Mr. CHAMBERS'S
canvass looked as prosperous as heart could wish ;
his troops were staunch, and their officers confident
of success; all were eager for the fray, when on the
battle's eve came a letter from their general, telling
them he would take no part in the fight. Mr. CHAM-
BERS assigns as his reasons for running away, that he
was brought too late into the field, to have any
but a narrow chance of emcee's, and that he has
been assured the contest would engeader much bitter
feeling. The conveners of committees in his` terest,
on receiving this unexpected missive, pass resolu-
tion to the effect that "from the result of the can-
vass which had already been made in the different
wards, they felt quite confident of Mr. Caimans's
success," and then dissolve themselves.
It is impossible for any man who knows ROBERT
CHAMBERS to be long or seriously angry with him.
Nevertheless, we suspect his canvassers are this mo-
ment anything but kindly disposed towards him. As
to the late period at which he was brought into the
field, he knew of it when be accepted the nomination;
and u to the bitter feeling likely to be tmgendered by
the contest, to withdraw on such a pretext is to set a
precedent for abandoning all municipal and other peb- I
lic honours to the shrews, vixens, and other ill-condi-
tioned among mankind. His late supporters are not I
unlikely to tell him, u Othello told Curio, that "they
mach esteem him," and to add, in like manner,
" Never more be officer of mine." The Scotch are a
musical nation ; doubtless more than one of Mr.
Cuameuts's "conveners" hummed when his letter
was read the well-known lines from " Johnnie Cope,"
" Said Lord Mark Her, ye are ea blot*
To bring the news o' your sin defeat."
In so far as Edinburgh and its municipality are
concerned, this evaporation of a provost designatus
concerns no metal but the modern Athenians. But
the columns of the Edinburgh newspapers contain
some indications of the character of the opposition
which frightened Mr. CHAMBERS'S visions of ambition
out of him, that invest it with a wider interest.
One of the supporters of Mr. JOHNSTON (Mr.
Cautunes's rival in the contest for the chief ma-
gistracy), when nominating a councillor at a
ward meeting, said, " He was inclined to support
him (his nominee) in connexion with Mr. JOHNSTON,
the one belonging to the established the other
to the free, church, because he thought them both men
warmly attached to the interests of truth, as maintain-
ed in those different churches." Simple men know
only of one kind of truth; but the orator from
whom we quote has • peculiar kind of
truth—truth as maintained by two Scotch
skerehea The established church of Scotland, and
the maim from it who call themselves free—the
ingressive, as Lord MELOUND has shown, of the
lion's share of the government grants for promoting
education In Scotland—have combined to oust from
the chief magistracy of Edinburgh one of the most
distinguished promoters of unsectarian education in
Scotland. Mr. JOHNSTON comes forward to claim
the civic chair of Edinburgh beta een the bond church
and the free, as RICHARD 111. came forward to claim
the throne of England, " between two grave di-
vines?' The Scotsman unequivocally declares that
it is the odium theologicum that stirred up the opposi-
tion to Mr. CHAMBERS.
and' A cry was got up," says
our contemporary, " joined in by certain of our
very loudest liberals and voluntaries, that Mr. CHAM-
BERS should be excluded from the proustahip, on the
ground that they were not satisfied that all his theolo-
gical opinions coincided with theirs—drawing their
insinuations from the supposed tendency of a book