The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-31 00:00:00

BRITISLI NORTH AMERICAN ASSOCIA-
TION.

vate hospitality to make his residence in London at
all bearable, unless, indeed, he chose to subside into
the crowd, unnoticed and unknown. An association
of this kind would be of great advantage in supply-
ing to some extent the want he had indicated. It
would diffhse unprejudiced information respect-
ing British North America, which was much needed.
He had heard with amazement the remarks from
time to tinie made in the British House of COni-
mons—made, too, by persons whose position you
would have thought would have ledthem to acquaint
themselves better with the subject on which they
spoke. Only the other day, when he was pointing
out (to one who was deeply responsible, for the for-
tunes of the empire in the event of war) the danger
in which Canada was placed, and was endeavouring
to explain her assailable points and geographical
position, he was gravely asked whether Buffalo
was in the United States or in Canada; whether it
was possible to take Montreal in the winter; and
whether it would not be necessary to come round by
Buffalo—Buffalo being 600 miles off, and Montreal
having a direct railway communication with New
York, so that you could move troops almost as
readily from New York upon Montreal as you could
from London upon Edinburgh. He did not mention
those things by way of reproach, for probably, were
he to be questioned about the Australian coloniee,
refi" gan
?w544
association li e that ti w-gullested would liiyore
to disseminate sounder inforinatiOn, and it wonld, at
all events, he hoped, make the two countries ashamed
of being ignorant of one another. (Hear.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Capt, huvis, M.P., moved the appointment of a
working committee to carry out the resolution.
Mr. .R. N. FOWLER seconded the motion, and al-
luded to the noble way in which Canada had stood
by England during the late difficulty, and the desire
which every Englishman must feel, under the cir-
cumstances, to do everything in his power on every
occasion to assist the development of that important
part of the British empire. (Hear.)
Mr. D. SEYMOUR, M.P., said Governments liked
the formation of such associations in connexion with
our colonies, because then immature projects were
not so likely to be brought before them. He urged
that no time should be lost in forming the associa-
tion, so that it might be of use to Canadians visiting
this country during the Great Exhibition:
The CHAIRMAN said it was the intention of gen-
tlemen connected with the several local legislatures
to move the Assemblies to grant a small sum of
money annually in support of the association.
(Hear.)
The motion was then carried unanimously.
-Mr. CHILDERS, M.P., proposed a resolution that
the committee should put themselves into commu-
nication with the various parties so as to obtain
the widest possible support. He alluded to the
Australian ' Association, which had been founded
in this country some years ago on the sane prin-
ciples as those now put forward, and the association
was now admitted to have had a very beneficial in-
fluence.

A preliminary meeting of gentlemen interested
in British America was held at the London Tavern
yesterday, to consider the propriety of forming an
association under the above title. There was a
numerous and influential attendance. Mr. R. W.
Crawford, M.P., was in the chair, and among
those present were Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P., Mr.
Roebuck, M.P., Mr. Kinnaird, M.P., Mr. Childers,
M.P., Sir F. Head, Mr. P. M. Van Koughnet,
Commissioner of Crown Lands (from Canada), Mr.
Justice Haliburton, M.P., Sir James Fergusson,
M.P., Mr. Danby Seymour, M.P., Viscount In-
gestre, M.P., Mr. Paull, M.P., Captain Jervis,
M.P., Mr. R. N. Fowler, Mr. W. Leslie, M.P., Sir
J. Dalrymple Hay, Mr. Wyld, M.P., Mr. Pope
Hennessy, M.P., &c.

The CHAIRMAN said it was impossible for any
man mixing in public life not to feel great interest
in all questions affecting British North America.
Some public body was wanted'which should relee-
sent that portion of her Majesty's dominions, and
be looked upon as the exponent of colonial interests
and opinion in this country. The association now
contemplated would supply this want. Its objects
would be to direct the current 'of emigration to
rit-fi hloil, ta-diffiiiilacii-airoii ';.---tii the -mit-4-1i
American provinces, to promoticolotial imam and
correspondence, and enable British interests on each
side of the Atlantic to confer from time to time,
through an established medium, on all topics of
mutual interest. He was himself unconnected with
our American colonies, and would not presume,
therefore, to speak authoritatively as to their com-
mercial or general interests. But everybody must
be struck with the extreme importance of main-
taining close and cordial relations between the
colonies and the mother country, and nothing could
better promote this good understanding than the
establishment of an association which would fulfil
the objects ho had just indicated. (Hear.)
Sir J. FERGUSSON, M.P., proposed the following
resolution :

" That this meeting, having carefully considered the
growing importance of British North America, the extent
of the British interests involved, and the desirability, for
imperial reasons, of drawing closer the relations between the
mother country and the provinces, is of opinion that a
British North American Association should be formed,
having the following principal objects in view—viz., the
dissemination of official information regarding the material
resources of the British North American provinces in respect
to the employment of capital and labour, the collection and
placing in available form for the use of the members the
general statistics of the provinces, not only as concerning
the development of their commerce, but also as regards the
progress of the arts and sciences, and of their social and
political condition ; and that the following gentlemen shall
be the first members of the association, which shall be
called the British North American Association."

Although among well-informed persons it was
pretty well understood that the political institu-
tions of British North America were greatly supe-
rior to those of the United States, yet the tide of
emigration from Great Britain set in much more
strongly to the latter country. During the past
twelve months, however, the evident instability of
property and of institutions in the United States
had altered this state of things, and he believed
that in the year which had just closed the number
of emigrants into Canada was more than double the
usual average. (Hear, hear.) Still there had evi-
dently been in the minds of the emigrant classes
great misapprehension of the advantages presented
by the United States as contrasted with those of
the British provinces. It was important that these
misapprehensions should be cleared away, and in no
way could the prosperity of our North American
provinces be better promoted than by affording such
information to emigrants as would encourage them
to settle there, and thus supply the present great
want of labour. (Hear, hear.) So, too, the com-
mercial relations between the two countries would
be strengthened by a better knowledge here of the
resources of the colony. Believing that the exist-
ence of a great and friendly nation across the At-
lantic, closely allied to us as Canada was, would
confer immense benefits upon the mother country,
he looked upon it as a fortunate circumstance
springing from an unfortunate complication, that
the Government and people of this country had
recognised the paramount duty of sustaining these
provinces against any possible aggression. (Hear.)
Mr. KINNAIRD, in seconding the resolution, re-
marked upon the good feeling, the courage, and
the patriotism which the people of Canada had
shown in the recent crisis. (Cheers.) By their
conduct it was plain that they considered them-
selves as one with us ; and that being so, no Eng-
lishman would withhold from them any help which
migbt be necessary in repelling aggression, or in
co-operating with them for the general good of our
united empire. (Hear.) The Canadians had indeed
behaved admirably throughout this difficulty, and
Englishmen would not be ungrateful. One of the
first objects to which the new association should
apply itself would be to improve the communication
between the mother country and the colony.
Mr. HARTRIDGE supported the motion, and

Sir J. D. HAY, in seconding the resolution, said
that having served for a considerable time as a
naval officer in those seas, he could bear witness to
the great advantages which would accrue if the
internal communications in Canada were more com-
plete. Not only did the two Canadas afford a vast
field for emigration, containing as they now did a
most loyal and happy people, bat Nova Scotia with
its rising goldfields, New Brunswick with its vast
trade in timber, Newfoundland and Prince Edward's
Island,4iire equally fields for British enterprise
and industry. He urged the completion of the rail-
way system of Canada, which might be easily
effected, and would then render the military de-
fence of the colony a work of much less difficulty.
Mr. HALIBURTON, M.P,, proved a vote of thanks
to the chairman, and in doing so said that the Colo-
nial-office might be an office for the government of
the colonies, but, as Mr. Van Koughnet had ex-
plained, it was not easy for the colonists who visited
England to get the entree to places of authority in
Downing-street. It was necessary, therefore, that
there should be an association which would have
it in its power to forward colonial objects and give
strength to individual applications. Some gentle-
men from the North American provinces were now
in this country, one object which they had in view
being to obtain the completion of the railway be-
tween Halifax and Quebec. A more important ob-
ject either for this country or for those provinces
he could not conceive. Canada had by extraordi-
nary effort created an immense line of railway,
stretching from the upper lakes to some distance
below Quebec, and it was understood at the time
that the Government would co-operate to carry it
on to Halifax. If such a line existed the saving to
this country in sending troops to Canada at an
emergency would be almost incredible. No per-
sons would be more astounded than the colonists
themselves at the large amount of money spent
upon the government of the British colonies. Where
the money went to they did notknow. But by com-
pletin g this railway a large saving would, at all
events, be effected in the transport of troops, for
in 14 days any regiment sent from Great Britain
might arrive at Quebec. As a proof of the want of
information which existed, the newspapers were
just now reporting that a great disturbance had
broken out in Nova Scotia, at a place called Car-
bonnear, and that troops had been sent to Halifax
to suppress it—the fact being that Carbonnear hap-
pened not to be in Nova Scotia at all. But the
want of communication to which he had alluded
operated in the colonies as well as in the mother
country, and Nova Scotia and New Brunswick knew
less of Canada than of England. A native of Hali-
fax found it more difficult to get to Quebec than to
go
help
greatly n
t back.o
remove associationthese
difficulties, like
and
this
would
they must remember the British colonies on the
Pacific as well as on the Atlantic
a
side. Vancouver's
Island alone would absorb the surplus population of
England for many years to come, yet the ignorance
A n
respecting it was so great that a witness before a
Parliamentary committee, some time since, declared
that the frost there sometimes penetrated 40ft.
deep.

Mr. WYLD, M.P., said that nearly ten years since
an ineffectual attempt was made to form such an
association. He congratulated the meeting on the
probability that one would now be successfully esta-
bished, and observed that through its instrumen-
tality information of the most valuable kind would
be afforded to Parliament and the press and the
people of England. Had such a society existed he
believed that the railway between Halifax and
Quebec would have been completed before now.
This line would have greatly facilitated the recent
transport of troops, if it had been constructed, and
the military defence of the colony would be infi-
nitely easier.
Mr. P. M. VAN KW:TIT:INET thanked the meeting
for the compliment which they had paid to the
Canadians, and said he was surprised that the re-
sourees_of Canada had not attracted more attention,
and that the American railways and American land
schemes had swallowed up British capital, while
the great advantages Canada as a field for invest-
ment had been comparatively overlooked. (Hear.)
When his fellow-colonists visited England also, they
laboured under one disadvantage as compared with
the Americans, owing to the difficulty which they
experienced in getting access to official persons and
places. The Americans, through their Ministers
and Consuls, not only on the seaboard but in
the interior, penetrated wherever they had a
mind to go. But the Canadians had no one to
appeal to, and in consequence he had more than
once heard that a British North American, in
order to obtain access to certain people and
places, had put himself under the protection of the
American Minister and called himself a Yankee.
He did not mean to say that he had been reduced
to such a necessity, because he came over here duly
accredited to the British Government. But this he
would say—that during his stay in London, Ameri-
cans, who, at the time were notoriously writing
against the British Government and hounding their
own country on to Canada, had enjoyed better
means of official communication and easier official
access than had been given to him as a representa-
tive of Canada. The want of this ready access might
arise from no neglect on the part of official persons.
It was simply owing to the fact that colonies were
not familiar with those channels of communication
which were open to people of other nations through
their Ambassadors or Ministers, whose introduc-
tions and representations could not be disregarded
without an affront. From the want of a recognised
envoy or of some direct means of communicating
with the Government, and of influencing opinion
here, a Canadian, when he arrived in London, felt
like a cat in a strange garret. (Laughter.) For
himself, he had met with many friends who had
made his visit pleasant and his business easy. But
often the Canadian did not know where to go to,
and having no consul or agent to introduce him he
was forced to trespass on private friends and on Vri"

REPEAL OF THE HOP DUTIES.-
TUBLIC ME_EING 42'
,F-11?.2VH,1111.

Mr. A. J. B. BERESFORD HOPE observed—The
Central Hop Duty Repeal Association had held
numerous meetings in the several hop-growing dis-
tricts, and there was a strong and general feeling in
favour of its objects. In years past the great battle
of free trade and protection had been fought. Pro-
tection was got rid of, free trade principles were
established, and they, as agriculturists, were per-
fectly satisfied with the change, but desired to
share in its benefits. Since last year the prospects
of getting rid of this odious impost had very much
brightened. The Press had for the first time seri-
ously discussed the question, and several daily jour-
nals, without respect to party politics, had acknow-
ledged that the hop duties were unjust, could not
be relied upon as a means of revenue, and therefore
ought to be abolished. He had great hopes for the
future, as they were certain of the support of nume-
rous members of the House of Commons who had
heretofore been indifferent to their claims.
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Mr. BEACH, M.P., moved the second resolution,
to the effect that a deputation of gentlemen from
the various hop-growing districts, accompanied by
members of Parliament, be appointed to wait upon
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the purpose of
requesting him so to arrange his next budget as to
provide for the total repeal of the hop duties ; and
that memorials in favour of this object be forwarded
from each of the hop-growing parishes. The motion
submitted in the House of Commons last year,
" That the hop duties could not be relied on as a
permanent source of revenue," was well supported ;
and when Mr. Dodson renewed his motion during
the next sesson he would revive a large accession of
strength. Before that motion was renewed, it
would, however, be highly desirable to wait upon
tke Chancellor of the Exchequer, who might, per.
haps, be induced to frame his budget so as to remit
the tax. If not, they must be prepared to renew
the fight next session.
Mr. ELSTONE seconded the resolution.
Mr. DODSON, M,P., observed he was prepared to
was
source
not e
eo f only use every exertion to procure the repeal of this im-
post,
which
as revenue to the Chancellor'
useless
of the Exchequer.
The motion was then unanimously adopted.
Mr. KNIGHT proposed a resolution of thanks to
those members of Parliament who had supported
the claims of the hop planters, which was seconded
by Mr. DYER, and adopted.
Lord HOLNIESDALE, M,P., in responding, adduced
various arguments against the hop duties, and urged
the necessity of continued agitation until they were
repealed.

Mr. LESLIE, M.P., congratulated the meeting on
the success which had attended this first step in
drawing closer the bonds between the North Ame-
rican colonists and the mother country,
The vote of thanks having been agreed to MM. con.
The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging it, invited Mr.
Roebuck to address the meeting.
Mr. ROEBUCK said he had come to listen and not
to talk, his object being to know what the meeting
proposed doing, and how it was that at length Eng-
lishmen had become alive to the importance of a
question which he had been endeavouring to press
upon them for the last 20 years. As there was no-
thing like an illustration to point an argument, he
would mention one matter of very great importance,
not only to the colonies but to England. Up to the
year 1833 or 1834 there existed in the colonies a
system of government which he, in common with a
great number of the colonists, thought a bad one.
As an agent of the Assembly of Lower Canada
he presented petitions to Parliament, requesting
Parliament to do certain things. He recollected THE SPECIAL SUNDAY EVENING SERVICES IN
that for doing so he was called mad, or some. WESTMINSTER ABBEY.—In view of the large expected la-
thing worse. The colony was said to be dis- flux of visitors to London during the present season, the
loyal, and he was regarded as anything but an Eng.
special Sunday evening services in Westminster Abbey
commence on the
Tishman. Nevertheless he lived to see every one of first Sunday in April, and occupy a later
A portion of the year.
these claims granted to the colonists. (Hear.)
when Lord Derby was in Sufferings[ADEn TAilslEevmiEaNterditl
few years ago, w
very
) with himself, pressedhloelloway's Ointment and Pills.—
vegetable kingdom furnishes
,certain gentlemen
the balsams from which these invaluable remedies are pre-
pared. Holloway's Ointment soothes, cools, and heals all
upon the then Government the importance of com- external ailments • while his Pills strengthen the stomach,
pleting the railway from Quebec to Halifax. To purify the blood, and invigorate the nerves. By attention
that request Lord Derby paid every possible atten- to the directions folded round Holloway's medicines, no
tion, and he entertained a sanguine hope that the harm can possibly result from the use of them. Where' ve
impurity, inflammation, or ulceration, is present, Iloilo_
work would be accomplishedway's remedies .
But, unfortunately, invariably prove the safest, surest,there was such a thin . spirit.T A 7")
gas party Lc .worbv
most speedy antidote, and sh?uld always, be at and
hand. The
ceased to be Prime Minister ,The pre-
bre especially adapted for children a lames. Th y
of Rngland, and with arising from tho blotches,and
similar die-
fall ceased their hopes of. figurements so often . . .blood, hemming con_
vent the glandular swellings,
way. Therecompleting the rail- ta i ted and impurities being allow-.
.in . . „, nal . . _ %: b.! t
19 remain in the
was however- a Nemesis political system to its AlurY

A. vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the
Proceedings.

:EINSFAPER
Fic*
,z 4 -
afroirs :to well a, in other reattOi 4.tr
party that obstructed the completion' )2,9 ra
had felt the necessity of it, Far be it frtiitili ,at S"
the present time, to fay a word iu dc-,:egation of
Lord Palmerston's Government, for he believed that
England and the world owed to thr.: Premier's con-
summate knowledge; and policy the great re-
sults of the last two months. (Hear, hear.) But while
bestowing this praise he could-not forget the faults
which had been cornmitted. It had becit pointed
out to the present Administration titg the very
thing might happen which in fact had happened—
namely, that we might want immediate communi-
cation with Canada at a time when the navigation
of the St. Lawrence waa impossible ; and the im-
portance of completing the railway from Quebec to
Halifax was pressed upon the Government. It was
impossible, however; to persuade them that any
such necessity ex'stql. Events had proved that the
railway was highly necessary, and if they had had
the assistance of such an association as this he
thought they might have conquered even party
spirit in this matter. He therefore supported the
present movement, and hoped not only that the
colonies would know more of us, but that Eng-
land would know more of her colonies. Above all,
he hoped that those persons whose business it was
to govern the colonies would learn something about
them. (Hear, and a laugh.)
The proceedings then terminated.

Yesterday afternoon, at three o'clock, a nume-
rously-attended public meeting of the landowners
and hop-planters of West Surrey and North Hants
was held at the Assembly-room of the Goat's Head
Hotej.rox*.m, to consider the means necessary to - •
of
procure a:total and immediate repeal the
duties. The chair was occupied by Mr. "G; hop
Booth, M.P. for North Hants, and on the platform
were Lord Holmesdale, M.P., Mr. Dodson, M.P.,
Mr. G. Cubitti M.P., Mr. W. W. Beach, M.P.; Mr.
J. I. Briscoe, M.P. ; Messrs. Seawell, Elstene,
Hale, Knight, Snelling, Hoare, and other influen-
tial residents of the district.

r~ e

The CHAIRMAN commenced the proceedings by
referring at some length to the past history of the
hop duties, and expressed his opinion that the total
repeal of both the Customs and the Excise duties
would be the only plan to afford relief to the plan-
ters, and he believed that the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer would not require much pressure to yield
this point,
Mr. BRISCOE, M.P., moved the first resolution :
" That in the opinion of this meeting the hop duties
are becoming year by year more intolerable and
oppressive to the planters and all interested in the
cultivation of hops, and ought to be entirely abo-
lished." The more he became acquainted with the
subject, the more he was convinced of the absolute
impolicy and injustice of the hop duties. It was a
tax levied on the raw material—on the production
of the article, and was not paid by the consumer.
The cultivation of hops was confined to a few coun-
ties. Were the plant universal throughout England
no Chancellor of the Exchequer would be able to
withstand the outcry which would be raised against
the oppression of the tax. They were now under
the regime of free trade ; and having accepted
free trade principles, they only asked to partici-
pate in its benefits, and therefore they wished for a
repeal of the Excise as well as the Customs duties ;
for at present the foreign grower was protected at
the expense of the British planters. If this tax was
not in existence, he did not believe that any Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer would think of proposing it
as a source of income at the present moment, and he
felt certain that if they persevered in their exertions
it could not long be retained on the statute-book.
Mr. G. CUBITT, M.P., in seconding the motion,
observed—The alteration recently made by the
Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to the
hop duties had been beneficial in one respect, inas-
much as it had brought about entire unity of opinion
amongst the planters of the various hop-producing
counties in England, who were now unanimous in
desiring perfect free trade, by abolishing all duties,
and placing the hOme grower and the foreigner on
the same footing. Last year a good case was made
out in the House of Commons in the discussion upon
Mr. Dodson's motion, which was defeated for finan-
cial reasons; but their prospects had now much im-
proved. They had an additional number of sup-
porters in the house, and, as the alteration of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer had made matters
worse for the home grower, they had a right to de-
mand, during the ensuing session, that he should
remove the evils which he had himself created.
They accepted the doctrine of free trade, and there-
fore objected to the actual protection which Mr.
Gladstone had conferred upon the foreign hop
grower.

~.~.