The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-01 00:00:00

liTirfnlDAY

BRITISH NORTH AMERICA.
TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR JOHN PAKINGTON,
BART., SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIEII
Sir,—One of those periodical political revolutiees of
this country—which, whilst they demonstrate clearly the
elasticity and power, for experiment or progress, testify
also, at the same time, to the great strength of our
glorious Constitution, proving alike the beauty and har-
mony of all its working machinery—has placed uin
a position the most ambitious might envy, the most
devoted over of his, country be proud to hold.
You are one of a Cabinet, the advent of whose chief
to office is not the appearance upon the stage of a po-
litical adventurer, eager either for emolument or
patronage, nor of one seizing upon power to carry out
recklessly those measures even which he in his heart
believes to be the best for the welfare and happiness of
Britain's sons ; nor has he sought or taken power for
party purposes. He asks to have the worth of his policy
inquired into. If he is right in his idea, he wishes to
carry conviction to the country generally, so as to have
the full sanction of the nation before he makes any
serious move. If he is wrong, he wishes to know that
his opinion has been moat decidedly condemned, not
merely by political opponents, who have, either in or
out of office, lived for six long years upon an "experi-
ment," but by the intelligent and by the talented, in
short, by the great mass of his fellow-countrymen,
before he attempts to lead or to direct their energies for
future operations. He has come forward, in short,
to serve her Majesty and the empire; solemnly has
he elected to be tried before God and his country, and
such a serious appeal will be listened to with respect,
but strongly tested by his Lordship's conduct.
After this brief preface, Sir, you, who have been se-
lected by Lord Derby to be at the head of our great
colonial empire, at a moment too when we are just
awakening to its vast importance, will not, I think, be
astonished if I consider it unnecessary to offer any
apology for thus abruptly calling your early attention to
what has been considered by many eminent men, and
what in my humble opinion it really is—the very key-
stone to our political and commercial existence.
If history had not even taught us how nations rise
and fall, a very little examination into the position and
: great empire would show any one
the brink of the precipice
upon which we stand—the
rock upon n
h si
oar vessel may be destroyed. We are,
chiorweuemvert,atowcoepcorhf this
proud to own our danger, if not too busy
to observe it ; we think, too, perhaps, like some foolish
captain of a noble but ill-fated steamer, that England
can approach all danger, and recover herself unharmed;
that we can back her, ease her, stop her, take a turn
ahead or astern, just as we please. Our prosperity,
since we lost that noble territory, now the United
States, has made us bold in folly, and we thus venture
on and on, until we shall all be astonished some day to
find our vessel split, our crew dispersed. Foreigners,
even Germans,
can see our danger, and point out our
weakness.
England," " The whole of
says M. Ficquelmont,
"seem to imagine in North America a power against
which it can no longer struggle," and he adds, that to
attempt now to stop
the Unites' States in her career of
power, prosperty, and universal dominion between Eu-
rope end Asia " would be the greatest case of being too
late in the field that would ever have been recorded in
history." This latter paragraph shows our danger as
much as the former one shows our folly. Far be it
from us to attempt to stop either the prosperity or the
to keep pace with
power of the United States; but let us exert ourselves
her, and universal dominion between
Europe and Asia we can never allow her to obtain.
I
With the permission of the editor of The Sun, who
has always entertained a high value of our colonial em-
pire, I will make this attempt, Sir, thus to call your imme-
diate attention to our North American territories.
Long, too long, indeed, have
we neglected that noble
field for British enterprise and British capital; too long
have we trifled with loyal hearts and warm feelings to
old England; too long have we neglected our own inte-
rests in the secondary consideration given to our noble
colonial empire. To be a colonist has almost become a
term of reproach or of contempt. Only a colonist! in-
deed, and yet we have men in them as fit to grace our
senate as any lord or commoner in the kingdom—men as
fit to fill our bench, be it of bishops or of judges, as
any men who ever wore the apron or the ermine; men
as fit to form our military or naval heroes as any of
those whose best blood flows beneath our scarlet coats;
men fit for every situation in life, qual,fied for every
duty. But enough, there they are—colonists—and as
such fit for power or for place in England. Such things,
however, cannot any longer be. The whirligig of time
brings in its revenges, and if we do not find scope and
occupation for the talent and the enterprise of our colo-
nial brethren, particularly of North America, they
will be assuredly forced some day to find an outlet
for themselves; and if we do not direct, aid, and assist
the loyal British feeling that yet exists, wofully shall we
rue the day, when indeed it will be too late; for should
our North American provinces once be induced to join
the United States, England's maritime power, in the
Pacific certainly, in the Atlantic probably, is gone, never
to return. The whole continent of North America
under one authority, a protective policy against all our
manufactures and encouragement to their own, and
England's princely merchants will soon become merely
poor shopkeepers, and her industrious, hard-working
people complete beggars. This is no imaginary picture,
but a stern reality—at least I think so—and have said
enough, I hope, Sir, to show that I am in earnest. I
may be wrong, as may the Protectionist or the Free-
trader, but I claim squally with them sincerity and the
right to be beard. It we lose our North American con-
tinent, our noble ports on the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans it will matter little then, in my opinion, who may
rule England, for she will inevitably sink into a third
rate or tourth-rate power; she may struggle on for a time,
but it will be on an ebbing wave, or down a troubled
scream—her prestige gone—and ultimately to last for
ever—her stnteameu laughed at, her flag despised.
But, Sir, Ido not dwell upon such things because I
husk them probable or possible, but because I believe
the moment has arrived when we may give an impetus
and an energy to the industry of this great empire, by
the immediate development of her long-hidgen resources.
We may extend her commerce, employ her capital, and
increase her revenue to an extent not easily to be cal.,
enlisted; Ind I appeal to you, Sir, to seize with courage
the nobie opportunity now offering to immortalise your
name by a new colonial p. licy none have yet had the
good sense to appreciate nor the boldness to bring for-
ward.

Let me entreat of you, Sir, to turn your serious
attention to the vast field of wealth contained in
our North American provinces. Let a grand
effort be mane for the development of their rich
resources, and for a move beyond 'Free-traders, and
do away with that huge wall of
monopoly. the flu&.
son's Bay Company, which to the disgrace of the Whigs
they have left behind them, a territory between the
Canadas and New Caledonia, into which no man can
enter, with which no man can trade, unless by leave of
the Hudson's Bay Company. A new state will speedily
spring up there, and the whole belt of that territory,
from Lake Superior to the Pacific, about five degrees in
breadth, will be teeming with emigrants, and oovered with
British manufactures; and we shall have an easy rouse
from Halifax to Vaucouver's Island, which would " coun-
terbalance," says the editor of the New Monthly Ma9a-
z2ne, all present, and possibly
many prospective, disad-
vantages of the sea-board power of America in the
Pacific.

The language held by Mr. Squires, the American, in
his remarks on the commercial and political aspects of
the interoceanic canal of Nicaragua ought to be enough
to arouse the indignation, and the spirit of the most
apathetic Minister, and would afford sufficient excuse to
this country for any, the most active and energetic, mea-
sures he might think necessary to take.
Let me entreat of you also, Sir, to go a step
beyond
Parliamentary reform, and let all our colonies in, which
responsible government has been introduced and is
working well be at once represented in the Imperial
Parliament; at all events, let the colonists have the offer,
and let colonial property be a qualification inlEngland,
—and do not let a colonist any
longer suppose that he is
not considered as an Englishman, Where responsible
Government has been successfully established, it would
always be one who represented the then majority of
colonial legislature who would represent it at home; for
if their Ministry resign, he of course would lose hie seat,
as it should always be one of the Cabinet who should be
sent home to represent the colony.
At this moment, as you are well aware, Sir, one of
the first and present leaders of Canada, Mr. 'links, is
now in England, as a delegate, on the subject of the
Great Trunk Railway. Last year there was one from Nova Scotia, Mr. Howe, who is expected again
mediately, as well as Mr. Chandler, from New Bruns-
wick. This, depend upon it, will be the last attempt
made—the last appeal to Britain. It would be melan-
choly, indeed, to go into all the details of the treatment
of the North American colonies on the subject of their
railways ; year after year
has rolled on, yet nothing
done ; change after change may come at the Colonial-
office, still a deaf ear appears to be turned towards
it—governor after governor appears, yet no advance is
made, or help given; indeed, worse than none; and these
magnificent colonies, hemmed on one side by the United
States, on the other by the
Hudson's Bay Company and checked by the obstinacy
or stupidity of English rulers in the development of her
resources—remain a blot on our commercial and indus-
trialmen of the north—who impenetrable country of the
escutcheon. An insulted and degraded people, the
to themselves from the Atlantic and P ifi
_ ac__c--are now
scarcely acknowledged, neither in name nor in fact.
Can they consider themselves Englishmen? Yow, Sir,
have a noble field before you—you have the men either
might form a mighty kingdom
now in the country, or who soon will be, to give ycu the
best advice; take a bold, comprehensive view of the
exertions and your
whole question—so may God direct and prosper your
plans.—l have the honour to remain,
Sir, your moat obedient humble servant.
AN ENGLISHMAN.

age of 80
DEATH OF SIR JOHN SHELLEY, BART.—This
venerable Baronet died on the 28th ult., at Lonsdale House,
Fulham, at the advanced
was son of the first Baronet by his years. The deceased
first wife, daughter of
John Newnham, Esq ,of Maresfield Park, Sussex. He mar-
ried the only daughter and heiress of Thomas Winckley,
Esq,, of Brockholes, county of Lancaster. He succeeded his
father in 1783. The deceased was a magistrate, asd deputy-
lieutenant of Sussex, and was a claimant of the ancient
barony of Sudeley, which has been in abeyance siece
,1803. The deceased held property in the counties of Sussex
and Lancaster. He is succeeded by his son, John Villiers,
born in 1808, and now a candidate for Westminister.
THE SHIPWRIGHTS' STRINE.--The strike of the
shipwrights belonging
to the yards at Hylton-on-the-Wear
terminated on Saturday, having lasted 20 weeks, The
masters and men
have come to a compromise —the men to
withdraw their obnoxious rule prohibiting more than one
borer being employed in a yard; the masters promising that
in this department they will give the preference to aged
shipwrights. As the men might have been in full employ-
ment during the whole of the period mentioned, a fearful
amount of money has been wasted, they having to concede
the principal point ill dispute at lad.

VRNTwn, APIIT

THE 'UNiI'E D STATES.

Tee oceeunts flow New York by the Aaierica
increasing activity and cantidence. The fresh arrivals
Of geld from Csiiiornia, together with moderate impor-
tations ot European goods and the temporary euspeosien
of specie remittances, were producing a powerful in-
fluence on the market. unchecked by counteracting circum-
stances of any kind. Uuder these circumstances, if, in add
lion to the large amennt of United Series' stocks lately
purchased on this side, there had also bey n an incautious
disposition to take all the railway and other bonds that
have been offered, there would have been considerable
danger of inflation. At present, however, there is no reason
to apprehend any such result. In addition to the accounts
from California, the papers contain renewed particulars of
gold to be obtained elsewhere. In New Mexico a person,
who has had two years' experience in California, is said
to have formed a party of 38 to proceed to some deposits
which he alleges he has discovered on a branch of the
river Gila, about 350 miles from Santa Fi. Accounts
from Oregon also revive the rumours as to the existence
of rich quartz on Queen Charlotte's Island. The speci-
mens shown were brought by one of the crew of the Una,
a vessel lately wrecked there. Another statement has ap-
peared that a mine ot auriferous quartz has been found
in Virginia, about 80 miles west of Richmond. " The
vein," it is said, " is exceedingly rich in threads, thickly
sprinkled with the metal, while the rock itself., in which
none is visible, contains eleven dollars to the ton."
['he tract comprises about 1,300 acrss, but it is a sus-
picious circumstance that the parties proposing to work
it were endeavouring to raise capital in New York
instead of in their own State. It appears that the
engineers sent out by the Nouveau Monde Company
bad arrived at San Francisco on the 11th of February.
They were twenty-four in number, but one of them
died of fever shortly after leaving Panama. Three
others had also been attacked, but were now re-
covering. The superintendent_.. reports that he was
about to proceed at once to the mines. The de-
mand at New York for passage to San Francisco
was unabated. The vessels by both routes were full
up to the end of May, and through tickets, via
Nicaragua, were sought at 100 dolls. premium. It was
announced that a portion of the Panama Railway would
open on the 15th March. There had been one or two
small failures at New York, and another of larger amount
at Savannah. The merchants' Exchange in Wall-street
was to be sold on the 16th March. It was built after
the great fire, but the returns have not been sufficient
to pay the interest on its - bonds, and -the'- mort-
gagees had at length resolved to foreclose. An applica-
tion for postponement, with the hope that the requisite
sum of 850,000 dollars, or the greater part of it, might be
raised by loan in London, had been made and refused.
At Philadelphia an adjourned meeting of thestockholdere
of the United States' Bank had been appointed for the
17th March. A report from a committee on the best mode
for speedily closing all its affairs would then be sub-
mitted. The struggle in Congress on the question of an
increased subsiey to the Collins line of Liverpool
steamers was still unfinished. Among the public grants
awarded by the ,House of Representatives was one of
100,000 dollars to Dr. Morton for his discovery of the
anaesthetic properties of ether. A Bill authorising an
organization for the construction of a crystal, palace
had been passed by the Legislature of New York.—

HEALTHOF LONDON DURING THE WEEK,

(From the Registrar-General's Report.)
The mortality has been great in the London districts
during the whole of March. In the first week of the
month the deaths registered were 1,128, in the two fol-
lowing they rose to 1,232 and 1,2011, and in the last
week, as shown by the present return, they were 1,219.
It must be observed, however, that the small increase
which now appears over the preceding week arises from
more than an average number of coroners' cases. Ex
eluding from the returns deaths from poison, irjury, and
other external causes, of which inquest cases principally
consist, the numbers in the last three weeks stand thus:
—1,160, 1,183, and 1,161.
In the ten corresponding weeks of 1842-51 the aver-
age number of deaths was 1,126, which, if raised in a
certain proportio❑ according to increase of population,
is 1,239. The deaths registered last week differ, there-
fore, little from the calculated amount; but this as a
comparative test of the actual mortality is disturbed at
the end of the quarter, when cases on which inquests
have been held, and many of which occurred at previous
dates, are entered in more than a fair proportion in the
register books.

The effect of the coldness of the season is still very
apparent in the mortality produced by diseases of the
respiratory organs. This class, which comprises bronchi-
tis, pneumonia, asthma, and a few less fatal maladies, num-
bers this week 243, while the average is only 193, or with
a correction for increase of population, 212. In the re-
turn for the week preceding the number was 269; there
has, therefore, been a reduction in the interval,
but it will be noticed that while pneumonia and asthma
have decreased from 83 and 29 to 72 and 22, bronchitis
continues quite as fatal, the numbers being 126 and 128.
Consumption (in the tubercular class) is also fatal at
present, 151 lives having been destroyed by this disease
in the previous week, and 160 in the last, which is more
than in any corresponding week, with one exception.
There were 3 from laryngitis, 5 from laryngismus
stridultes.

seventeen children and six persons of 15 years and
upwards died of small-pox; in three cases, at the ages of
14, 19, and 29 years, vaccination is reported to have
been previously performed. Thirty-eight children died
of hooping-cough, which is less than the average, and
eight of croup. From scarlatina thirty-one deaths oc-
curred, and from typhus, remittent fever, &c., forty-seven.
The unusual number of nine persons, eight of whom
were children under 1 year, are recorded as the victims
of syphilis,

STATE OF THE WEATHER DURING THE PAST WEEK.
SUNDAY.—One-fourth part of the sky was generally
covered with cloud during the morning and afternoon, at
night the sky was clear; cirri and fleecy clouds. Electricity
—Positive, and tension moderate generally throughout the
day.

-MONDAY.—The sky was clear till lh. r.m., three-fourths
were generally covered with thin stratus till sh. P.M., and the
whole was clear afterwards. Electricity—Positive, and ten-
sion strong throughout the day.
TUESDAY.—The sky was fur the most part one-half covered
with stratus. Thick haze prevailed during the morning.
Electricity—Positive, and tension moderate throughout the
day.

WEDNZSDAY.—The sky was free from cloud until noon,
and overcast during the remainder of the day; cirrostratus.
Thick haze prevailed during the earlier portion of the
morning. Electricity—Positive, and tension moderate at
noon.

THURSDAY.—The sky, with slight exceptions, was free
from cloud till 11h. A.m., and generally covered during the
remainder of the day; cumuli, cirrocumuli, and cirrostrati.
Electricity—Positive, and tension moderate during the
morning and afternoon.
FLUDAY.—The sky for the most part was covered with
cloud throughout the day; cumuli, cumulostrati, and cirro-
strati. Electricity—Positive, and tension weak during the
afternoon.

SATURDAY.—The sky was covered with cloud throughout
the day; eumuiostratus and cirrostratus. Electricity—
Nothing was shown throughout the day.
The mean reading of a thermometer placed on the main-
mast, and read each day at 9h. A.M. was 45.3° ; and the mean
reading at 9b. P.M. was 411° ; the mean readings at the
Royal Observatory for the same times were 46.08 and 40.8 Q
respectively.
The reading of the barometer increased from 29.99 in.
at the beginning of the week to 30.03 in. by 9h. A rd. on
the 22d ; decreased to 29'74 in. by noon on the 24th ; in-
creased to 2940 in, by 9h. A.x. on the `2sth; and decreased
to 29.49 in. by the end of the week.

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS.
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN
THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, MUCH 27, 1252.
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ...*204
Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... 47
Tubercular Diseases ... ••• ••• 224
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 118
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 53
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration ••• ••• .•• ••• ••• ••• 243
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion... ••• ••• -•• •••
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. •• , •••
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &a. ...
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c.
Malformations... ••• ••• ••• •••
Premature Birth ••• ••• ,•• •••
Atrophy ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
Old Age ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
sudden ••• ••. ••• ••• ••• •••
Violence. Privation, Cold, and Intemperance
C-tuses not specified ...

... 80

... 28
... 30
... 55

•,:• 62

DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES 1,219
Population Deaths in corro- Deaths
Enumerated, sponding week in the
1851. of 1851. Week
West Districts... 376,427 . . 202 ... 191
North Districts.. 490,396 .. 289 ... 221
Central Districts 393,256 ... 231 ... 204
East Districts ... 485,522 ... 299 ... 273
South Districts.. 616,635 ... 397 ... 330
Totals.... 2,362,236 1,418

Males
Females

... 1,219
... 615
... 604