The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-12 00:00:00

summit of one:of the gigantic Water Towers—an
altitude attainable by an ascent of ten floors, up a
spiral staircase of four hundred steps--six counties
are brought within the field of vision, the eye
turning at pleasure here to the Nore Light, or to
Harwich Lighthouse, there to Epsom Downs or
Windsor Castle, yonder to the metropolis of three
millions, yonder, in the exactly opposite direction,
to the solitary landmark of the Kocckholt beeches
far away among the Kentish corn-fields and hop.
gardens.

Viewing the Palace from within, and that, too,
from the highest coign of 'vantage that can
anywhere be there attained to that simple end—
the loftiest gallery in the Centre Transept—the gal-
lery upon a level with which Blondin, in his time,
went through more perilous feats than any samphire
picker that ever lived—that loftiest gallery of the
Centre Transept affords the most curious
peep of all into the interior of our Palace of
Glass. The most curious, beyond any doubt, but
not by any means the most magnificent. That is
al ne obtainable from the top gallery at either ex-
tremity of the Nave—presenting to view at a single
glance the whole of that exquisitely beautiful vista
of fountains—

" Shaking their loosened silver in the sun I"
of clambering verdure and unnumbered flowers, of
statuary glimpsing hither and thither among the
abounding vegetation, of everything
calculated to
charm the eye in form and in colour,
down the whole of that wonderful perspec-
tive in which art and nature seem for
once mingled harmoniously together ! A perspective
arched over and walled on either hand
by the delicate tracery of the iron frame-
work of an edifice crystalline with those
25 acres of glass already referred to among the mar-
vellous items particularized in the foregoing
statistics. Vibrating as the air was on
Saturday when we gazed along the won-
derful perspective of that glorious nave from
the topmost of its southern galleries; vibrating as
the air within the Palace was with the sounds of
the grand organ rolling to us from the Centre
Transept, from the back of the Handel Orchestra,
vision and hearing seemed to be, if not satiated, at
least fully and simultaneously filled with an ex-
quisite sense of satisfaction.

Canada—Arrival of the North American.

LIVERPOOL, Saturday.

The Canadian screw steamer, North American,
Captain Kerr, which sailed from Quebec on the 27th
ult., arrived at a late hour last evening.

The Quebec 11fornIng Chronicle publishes an edi-
torial on the proposed Federation of the British
North American provinces. It says—" The Even-
ing Globe of St. John, N. 8., conceives that those
English newspapers which have discussed the Fe-
deration movement in Canada assume that its suc-
cess must result in separation from the mother coup.
try. We really on perceive how our New Bruns-
wick contemporary has fallen into this error. The
most we have yet seen in the English journals has
been a sketching of the prospective destiny towards
which they believe Confederation is a preliminary
step. There is nothing either novel or alarming in
this. No one for a moment supposes that the Canadas
will for ever remain a dependency ; but it is not,
therefore, a consequence that the abruption of our
British connection is at hand. Indeed, judging from
the policy of the Imperial government, and from the
doctrine of that school of politicians which it has
affinities with,it appears far more probable that se-
paration will be forced upon us than that we should
hastily seek it. And, supposing. for the sake of
argument, that the home government, adopting the
converse of its policy towards the old American
provinces, should give us notice to quit, would it
❑ot be well that we should be somewhat provided
to assume our new position; Would it not be well
that the infant had found its legs before the leading
stringewere withdrawn ? This necessary self-reliance
would ba found in the conscious strecgth, which a
Confederation of the whole North American provinces
would afford. The position would be greatly improved
under either aspect, and immensely so when that
event shall arrive which every one acknowledges
is only a question of time. Oar confrere says that
one of the first steps of the confederate colonies
would be to secure for themselves the right to make
commercial treaties with other countries.' It is
probable that the attempt would be made, tut it is
much more certain that it would be disallowed.

" Our contemporary thinks that when the right
to make commercial treaties is secured, the other
privileges or rights that pertain to sovereignty will
follow. Yes, we believe so too; but we well know
that this particular order will not obtain. If ever
we get the first it will be after the latter is con-
ceded to us, and when we shall not have occasion
to seek it. The Evenang Globe assumes the Eog-
lish view of a Confederation, and asks whether we
are sufficiently advanced to walk alone, whether
we can do without the tutelage of England,
whether we are willing to do without it, whether a
closer connection with Canada will compensate for
untying the bonds that unite us to Eogland. Who,
for example, thinks of separation from England in
connection with Confederation P Not Canada or Ca-
oßdians, certainly. There would be as few amongst
es here as there would be in Naw Brunswick to
answer in the affirmative; there would, we can as-
sure our friend, be as few persons in Canada who
would be willing to give up our British connection
for one with his province as would be found there
to make a similar sacrifice towards Canada. The
proposition is absurd, but because absurd and wholly
imaginary not the less dangerous. It; is one of those
extraneous issues calculated to do much harm with-
out the possibility of
i rendering the slightest ser-
vice, the one being n no wise dependent on the
other. There is, however, a much graver
question for the lower provinces as well as the
upper, than that put by the Globe, and which
when the Federation matter is fairly presented to
the provinces,' should form a part of the whole.
The question of absorption by the American Repub-
lic—whether that be accomplished by annexation
or by usurpation. To defeat the Confederation of
the provinces is to endanger their British connection
by American intervention, in a very far greater de-
gree
than any tendency supposed to exist in their
projected union. It is impossible to gainsay the
fact that the separate colonies are more assailable in
their isolated condition than they would be if welded
together in Confederation. It ought not, moreover,
y
to be forgotten that the retention of the lower pro-
vinces would be impsosible if Canada were Ameri-
can; and no greater service could be rendered the
United States in an deeig
ns upon these provinces,
than by rejecting the overtures which the Cana-
dians are now making for a general Confederacy.
In such a union we believe to exist the integrity
of the empire, and the best future of British North
America, Ina Confederation of the provinces we
obtained strength, a nationality, and the elements
of a brilliant career. Isolated, our sectionalism
will make us an easy prey to the cupidity of our
neighbours."