The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-07-09 00:00:00

SCOTCH AND IRISH IN CANADA.

The following details has77eached us of a riot which
took place among the Irish and Scotch emigrants in Upptr
Canada :

" Qui:nye, MAT 21.
"I am convinced that many rumours will be afloat respectiug a
most unpleasant, and, I might say, unfortunate affair, which has
recently taken place in this district. I say unfortunate, because a
life or two has been lost ; and, if report be true, two more arc miss-
ing, who are supposed to have go cie over the rapids in the Missis-
sippi, in endeavouring to make their escape in a canoe. A great
many most violent 'insults and batteries had some time previously
been committed by some of the Irish emigrants who lately came'
out with Mr. Robinson. This Gentleman was engsged by the
English Governtnent, at its expense, to convey some emigrants
front Ireland to form a settlement in Upper Canada, under its
auspices. On the 23d, after the muster of a wing of one of the
militia regiments was over, a serious (panel took place between
these pwrik and the Scotch, and an attack was made on thalami,'
of a Mr. Melnik of Murphy's Falls; the windows were broiler to
pieces with sticks and large stones, and several people severely'
hurt ; a shot was tired from some one within, and being loaded
with slugs, wounded no less than three of Mr Robinson's people;'.
unfortunately cue who had nothing to t'o in the &May. As I
was not with that part of the corps, I will not pretend to say how
the quarrel commenced, or who were the aggremors ; the re_
Nrts are various. On the :Monday following a large body of
otes settlers assembled, to the number of one hundred or one I
hundred and fitly, many of them with anus, and the others with
shikke, marching with colours and music, and having arrived at
the scene of the former riot, they cimmienced their attack on Mr.
Mortis's house, who, after making the necessiry repairs, had fled
to Perth, broke open the window, entered the house, and destroyed
almost every thing they could lay their hands on. These circum-
stances having been reported to the Sheriffs. a fleeting of the Ma-
teases was convoyed by his request, nod it appeared that a law.
banditti were going about, destroying the propert v„ and threat-
ening the Pfe of every honest and industrious man ; that mart' in-
divisivals bad already been beaten in a most barharous manner,
which called for immediate steps to put an cud to such disgraceful
proceedings. In consequence of vilirch an armed party was sent
off under the Deputy 'Mail,' (the Sheriff himself being unable,
" from extreme illness, to got, accompanied by Colonel 31arshall,
D. Thorn, and W. Graham, who were sent for the purpose of
taking depositions, and of issuing warrants against such as were
found implicated ; it being known that many, if not all, were sb-
solutely afraid to come to Perth to obtain redress, in dread I
of the threatened vengeance of these people. On the psrty's arrival I
at the depot below, it was divided into two divisions to prevent the
escape et any of the other party. (In the approach to a house of
one of ours, a shot or Pleats were fired from within, and one of the
men outside was slightly wounded ; another of our party was fired at
on entering the house, and slightly wounded on the cheek. On going
in it wu found that one man was killed inside, and two or three
wounded ; report says one of the latter is since dead. We have
about ten or eleven of them now in gaol ; and we have to hope that
the very severe cheek they have met with will prevent the recurrence
of scenes of so serious a nature. These are the particulars, as tar
as I have been mad* acquainted with them ; but, no .doubt, fur.
the, investigation will be made in this affair, a report of which will
be sent off to his Excellency the Lieutetuint-tiovemor."

Box-Tar a.—lt is, perhaps, not generally known, that
the box-tree is a strong poison. Several box borders being
clipped in a garden near Lincoln, the ryfuse was thrown
upon a manure hank, on which several strong pigs were
rooting. four of which died from eating the nexious leaves,
notwithstanding castor oil and other antidotta were admi-
nistered.

At this period of the year. when the youth of both
sexes pass a few weeks apart from their academic studies,
those amusements in particular should be selected for their
entertainment which convey useful informstion. Among
the most popular of these, the Exhibition of Ancient and
Modern Mexico perhaps deserves the highest mention : the
Ancient displays, in all its deformity, the preposterous moths
of heathen worship, anal lays open, in the moss pleasing
manner, the details of the more eventful periods in the his-
tory of that interesting country, anal presents the rarest
nwiuments of antiquity in the 6nc arts. Modern Mexico
exhibits a superb collection of birds, quadrupeds, fishes,
reptiles. fruits, vegetables, minerals, tilesils, Ite., with a
splendid panoramic view of the city, illustrating in a strik-
ing manner the productions of a tropical climate, and con-
veying more instruction in the geography and sionista his-
tory of South Monica than can be acquired by the reading,
of volumes.

STATE OF PERU.

The following summary of the political events in P, ru,
down to the Ist of March, is compiled from letters received
at Buenos Ayres from Peru and Chili :

Iterwoi Armes, Arnie. 23.
Nothine can well he fancied more intricate and perplexing titan
the present state of affairs in Peru. Every month fee the last half
year hat presented the struggle under a new aspect to us ; and ae
many difficulties have progreteivelv sorting op to bntl; of the con-
tending parties the Royalists aril' the Patriots—Mee it is almost
Impossible to make up ones mind as to which of them has most
dimeiventages to contend with, and obstruct their way to the ulti.
mate objects they hare respectively in view. The affairs of the
Patriots were perhaps at their lowest just before Bolivar's arrival
at Lima. Twit parties, among themselves, were etniggling for the
supremacy, and the finances of the eeumry were wretchedly low.
Lichen succeeded in destsoving the Ex-President Rica A nuero'a
party. and in restoring something like unanimity to the council, el
the Lineman,. He received reinforcanents from Colombia, and
contrived to else some money, with shit+ he animist* to open
the campaign against La Anna and Canter*. the leaden of the
Royalist,. To these men. Viva A while vet in mina modest
the Authorities of Lima, had m e overtures for an arrangemcrt
by which they might come into command, as the heads oc
an Independent Goren:le:nit ; seal it would seem these Chiefs
were 'Mk disinciined to throw off' their allegiance to Speir.,
and maintain their pewee in Peru ; neither, it appears, was
averseto IA Serra and Camerae being pieced at the head of affairs.
provided they declared the absolute Independence of the counter el
says, on the 24th of January. •• there is see
reason to hope, a negotiation may take place. &iem asks fe:
j nothing but a declaration of Ineepender re, and is willing to tit 1..
draw his troops. if required." But before such a negotiation coo:!:
be carried iron effect. Camerae appears to have got tntellignice of a
squadron aiming to assist him from Spitin, and there the nmiter
dropped. Great distress continued to be felt by the einvemater.r.
(of which Torre Tee's. was the heard)
l at Lima, n consequence of
the shattered state of public resources : hot at the same time &diver
' continued to collect his forret at Pineville, his head quarters. and
our last accounts left him there with about 11,000 men, well di..
ciplined, and ready to march against Canter*.
Dot a scandalous, transaction in the mean while, charged the mate
deities at Lima itself ; a black regiment, consisting of nee V.ou
sand two hundred men, Buenos Ayrean troops in the Perin 'in
service, had long been neglected in that pay, and the officers. it is
!said, appropriated to themselves the monies intended for the
mintiest This regiment was marched into Callao to garrison the
Once, and on the 3d of February the men and tos.corntraissioted
j officers rose ro-atarse, secured their officers, and the Governor of
the Casale, and thus got complete posers's-in of the fort. The
mutineers were headed by a rjeant of their own corm. aid their
first demand of the Government of Lima was for 100.0110 dollars in
I money, and vessels to convey them to Buenos A ern. Tide
was refused ; a negociation was attempted bit failed ; Rod
the insurgents having liberated about ten Spanish hffieees,
Colonel e'ase.Riego took the command, and the Spanish nag RTC
hoisted at the forts on the llth of February. All vouch were me.
I hibited from tearing the port, and ope or two that escaped during
I the night were fired at Incessant) y until without reach of the
batteries. In the utean time British goods were allowed to be fr..
harked from (!sllno, on paving a small duty to Casa-Riego, thou
I considerable pillage trop place, and British vetoes remained ...te"..r
the protection of his Mei! sty's ship Fly in the harbour. The Rey.
alist General Rodil, being at Yea, no great &mance from binm.
I f.aes-Riego sent hint a despatch informing him of what had tak:e
j place. From Lima, Bolivar was also merle acquainted with it ;
but the probable occupation of Lim: by the Roealtsts was rot con-
sidered of sufficient moment by him to induce him to deer the
plan of his campaign, and he therethre declined rein, down to the
capital. On the other hand, 801 l hat bong been joined he Genera
Monet, with 2.olttt men from Jaime, he marched on Callao and
Lite*, and took possession of both on the 27th of February, and
our accounts left on the following day. Previously to :Ifs. Adtri.
ral (liaise, of the Patriot frigate La !Mucha, who was blockading
Callao, made a gallant attack on the Venganza and snout' . r Tema
of war in therms, and in the hands of the insurgents, and he sue.
moiled in entirely destroying both. expeoed to meet with
a friendly reception from the Spanish Chiefs, mad had roes idea the r
would in any way molest the Itritisb residents or their property.
General i'anteric was expected at Lima.
From Chili they wrote on the 311th of March, thus:—" Thie
event is not considered as likely to operate much in favour of the
Royalist cause ultimately, for, to retain possession of the notice,
they t.:ust weaken their main force ; and the fate of the country
will not be decided by who has possession of' Lima, hot by a gene.
ral eng‘gement. Many speculations are afloat as to Them this may
take place, and sanguine expectation!! are entertained as to the re-
sult. front the very respectable force Rohrer has now at his di..
penal, and from his talents as a leader. tin the 21st or 22ti of
February Congress was diseol Ye& Torre Tagle eeriest, and Boli-
var named Itictitor. Bolivar has been proclaimed !Nestor; Torre
Tagle appears as if he meant to emestn, notwithstanding the ap.
preach of the Spaniards ; at any rate. his family mien net. Berm-
doaga, Secretary of Finance, n confined to his bail to-day, mid a
good many of the Congress are also remaining. This 'prates like
a defection from the cause. Captain Martin, of the Fly. in answer
to a note from Admiral Guise, Intimating a blockade of the coast
of Peru, refuses to sanction the nominal blockade of any port• as
he can consider none in such a state which has not a vessel of wee
at its entrance for that purpose ; and despatch from the Spanish
General Rodil, to the Commander of the Spanish Weston °tithe
coast, orders him to respect all American and English nieechant
vessels, such being the will of the Viceroy IA Serra."
Such are the details of due last advice, from Lima, and so far
they are more favourable to the Royalists than to the Patriots.
But on the other hand, we have late accounts overland from Umer
Peru, which entirely change the face of the Royalist affaits.
' internal dieieions which formerly raged among the Pitt:era, new
appear to he in full play among their enemies. IA Soma, "en-
teric, and Valdez, the great Spanish lenient. arc all staunch Coe.
stitutianal,sts. (Manna, the Commander of the Spanish :oars in
Potosi, and who has the entire sway of Upper l'erie i, a higeeet
adherent of Ferdinand the Absolute. The three former depot: d
of their own authority, the late Viceroy Pozoelo as a son A, to et
they have not the slightest reason to hope for favour frees the
Gowen:rand of Spain, as now coostimted. Olar.eta, heerior in
force to the Constitutional Chiefs, acted with them till he ree,ivel
accounts of the final discomfiture cf the emostitutionthet, ii S;
I and then throwing otf the mask. he proclaimed the King, en,t
Catholic religion, denounced the others as rebel*. accuotri the !I
. of having kept back the King's Commission, nominatieg h!et
to the Viceroyalty, and pmnoseil to crush thene eltotelll...r. et d
restore the land to Ferdinand. This bravado is cm:mit:et to
a proclamation issued by Olaneta. at Potosi, and reeethltshoti
here; and private accounts state, that he is risking ceerthir.e
to oppose La Scene and ()interne, in consequence e: wl ch he had
upwards of 3,1M0 mei. in arms, and all the country rave:in-Lie ear
him. It is further averred, that Valdez, the Revoletioeist, uas it
Oruro, preparing te march against Manna, and that our NA, al.
counts must bring us the detail of some tjmcral action. Though
there is no doubt of the fact of this division among the Sermisii
Cann:antlers. it is to be observed, that we cannot entirely icy oa
;the details which we receive from the interiomas wept them threueti
' the parties interested. The two ships of war (Asia d c4;04.
going ruurd the Horn, from Spain, will. of cetesc, he on the Eire%
aide in this dispute, and tend accordingly farther near I. t
Sem& and Canterac, in their operations. On the she;'. It is nou
improbable that the ancient re,:,,irne being restored in i.p mii. 2:3! th •
Constituti.:nal Leader, in Peru so cotorwomised, eye •t .:u
no hope of pardon from Ferdinand. that they may ; re-mita:crt
into the measure of acknowledging the Indepct.dence of P. ru. ;sae
tieularly when we me they Gal make such good terms for •nemaii,
by so doing.