The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-02 00:00:00

CANADA.

The warlike feeling in Canada runs very high, as
may be seen from the following :
(From the Montreal Gazette, Dec. 9.)
We said a few days ago that the Grand Trunk
workmen at Point St. Charles were mooting the
idea of forming a military organisation, and that it
was probable that they would organise into an
artillery battalion, or several batteries of artillery.
We now learn that 380 of the men have agreed to
serve under whatever military organisation their
superiors may deem them fit to assume, and that
these gentlemen are awaiting the return of his
Excellency the Commander of the Forces from his
Western tour of observation to take his advice upon
this important point. We are further informed
that 100 of the company's workmen at Queen's
wharf, Toronto, have likewise volunteered their
services, subject to the same conditions, and that
the directors of the movement are daily awaiting
information from the company's workmen at Quebec
and vicinity, conveying the intelligence that they
also have volunteered their services in large num-
bers. It was stated a few days ago that the Vic-
toria Rifles had organised by requesting Mr. 0.
Smith, late of her Majesty's 39th Regiment, to
accept the captaincy of the corps, and Mr. J. G. K.
Houghton, late of her Majesty's 17th Regiment, to
act as lieutenant—both, by the way, Crimean offi-
cers. The idea of forming this company originated
among a few young men, principally of the Beaver
Lacrosse Club. Each individual founder recruited
among his friends, and in a few days they obtained
upwards of 100. A meeting was then called and
Messrs. Urquhart, Beers, Woods, Huddell, and
Stimson, with the officers commanding and the
secretary, Mr. Middlemiss, were appointed a com-
mittee to manage the company's affairs and decide
on a suitable uniform. This, we believe, is to be of
Canadian gray cloth, with red facings. A commu-
nication was then sent to the Deputy Adjutant-
General, tendering the services of the corps, but no
answer has yet been received, although a fortnight
has elapsed since its departure. A large number of
merchants have joined the company, and it promises
to be one of the first, if not the crack company, of
the city. The bank managers and clerks, also, it is
said, propose to form a rifle company, but no definite
steps have as yet been taken in the matter, Another
rumour is to the effect that the members of the Mon-
treal Hunt Club are entertaining the idea of form-
ing themselves into a body guard to the commander
of the forces. A contemporary stated on Saturday
that the Government had leased the Point St. Charles
machine shops, for the purpose of rifling the heavy
ordnance on St. Helen's Island and other arsenals.
We have made inquiry into the facts of this state-
ment, and learn that some officers merely inquired
of Mr. Shanly, the manager of the Grand Trunk
Railway, whether, in case of necessity, the com-
pany would be disposed to lease its works for that
purpose, and that he replied that there were other
works in the city equally well fitted for the rifling
of ordnance—Mr, Cantin's marine works, for in-
stance.

(From the Toronto Leader, Dec. 9.)

The military spirit of our people is evidently be-
coming aroused. On every hand measures for self-
defence are being adopted. The active Volunteer
force is receiving large accessions to its numbers ;
new companies are being formed everywhere and
old ones filled up ; the privates are most assiduous
in mastering the details of the drill, and the officers
are directing their attention to the study of military
tactics of a higher order. The sedentary force, too,
is awaking from its slumbers—the influence of the
Leader and other journals, whose patriotism has
not been set aside for the purpose of squinting to
Washington, is beginning to be felt throughout the
c )untry, and showing itself in meetings of officers
for drill and a greater desire among them to be-
come possessed of the qualities necessary to com-
mand. All these are cheering signs which prove
that the country is fully alive to the danger of be-
ing lulled into false ideas of security, and that its
spirit is fully equal to that which imbued the men
who, in 1812, turned out to repel the boastful in-
vader. In Toronto this spirit is manifested every-
where, and among all classes, showing itself in the
military musters which are held every day. Sa-
turday, for instance, was a busy day among our
embryo soldiery, and at night military matters
formed almost the sole theme of conversation in
public places.

(From the Niagara Correspondent of the Leade) • )
" The absorbing topic in Canada West, especially
along the frontier, is a consideration of our defences
and our means of repelling a sudden invasion in case
of war. I will not enter into details, but will state
in general terms that in view of the total want of
preparation, without a fort or battery, without a
single regiment of militia that is possessed of the
first rudiments of drill—without, in short, one
single means of defence to rely on in a sudden
emergency, a feeling of intense anxiety prevails
among all classes. We see the western portion of
he province,
with all its accumulated wealth, its
loyal
population,
its towns, villages, and happy
t
homes exposed to a possible irruption from the nu-
merous and vindictive foe, and liable to be overrun,
plundered, and devastated before oar means of de-
fence are organised. With the best material in the
world to defend a country, our actual capabilities,
for want of organisation, aro about the worst.
Should a war break out suddenly, nothing we have
at present could prevent Western Canada being in-

their character. As tenement after tenement was
enveloped in the fast spreading flames the panic
became awful. Thousands of poor bewildered
families were driven suddenly from their homes,
destitute even of their scanty effects. Towards
midnight the fire had assumed proportions of an
appalling magnitude. The regiments at the race-
course came down at double quick to the burning
wards, and co-operated most earnestly in the
labours of the firemen. From the precincts of
Market, east of Bay and State streets, the confla-
gration had now reached Meeting and Queen streets.
The terror of families, in many cases without their
protectors, owing to the military exigencies of the
times, was very great. Contiguous to the fire, and
even much further up into the city, the work of
packing up valuables and getting ready to desert;
their homesteads became general, and it is impos-
sible to give any thing like a full account of the
results of what will hereafter be known as the great
fire of 1861. The fire began in Russell Old's sash
and blind factory, at the foot of Hazel-street, and
there are reports that it occurred in three places at
the same time. Crossing to the other side of
Hazel-street, it has burnt Cameron and Co.'s im-
mense machine shops, and, under the impulse
acquired at that point and the stiff breeze from the
north-east, without a sufficient supply of water, it
has become totally unmanageable, and rages with-
out the hope of being able to arrest it, except at
certain points.
11 o'clock.—The outbuildings in the rear of
Institute-hall have been set on fire by the sparks or
flakes of fire. The attention of the firemen has
been directed thither, and they are straining every
nerve to save Meeting-street. The frame buildings
on. Queen-street are smoking, and will presently
blaze forth.

12 o'clock.—Meeting-strect, from Market to Queen
streets, is one mass of flame. The Circular Church
and Institute-hall are burning, The Mills-house is
thought to be in imminent danger, while the fire
seems stretching around the Charleston Hotel.
Thero has been a general desertion of both hotels
by the guests, under the impression that they can-
not be saved.

1 o'clock.—The track of the conflagration begins
to be clearly defined. Leaving Church-street, on
which no. • block excepting that next to Market-
street has been burnt, the fire is steadily pursuing
its southward course towards the corner of Arch-
dale and Queen-streets. About half an hour ago a
drizzling rain began falling, which may, perhaps
damp the tops of wooden houses exposed to damage
from the sparks. The people now understand how
far the fire has extended. Furniture is being re-
moved from buildings as far up as Massie-street.
2 o'clock.—At this hour the fire is still raging
with violence, and has scarcely been abated. A
splendid effort was made by the fire companies to
save the house of Mr. L. W. Spratt, on East Bay,
which was successful, and with it were saved the
fine line of buildings on Hazel-street, the fate of
which depended on that result. Passing to the
south-westward, the fire has swept the entire track
to the rear of the Charleston Hotel, and to the end
of the Hayne-street range. There are no buildings
north of Market-street. None of the Hayne-street
stores are still standing, except, perhaps, those of
Henry Gerdes and the Misses Pinckney. Crossing
Market-street, the fire has extended down East
Bay to Cumberland-street, and thence across to
the Mills-house, taking in its way the Circular
Church, Institute-hall, the Charleston Hotel, and
all the buildings upon King-street, from Clifford-
street to within a few doors of Broad-street. Cross-
ing King-street the flames are approaching the rear
of the Cathedral. the Unitarian, and the English
Lutheran churches. Whether it will cross the area
covered by these churches or pass the Mills-house
down Meeting-street is still uncertain. The Fire
Department is making incredible exertions, and the
men are apparently nearly exhausted, but are
springing to each occasion with renewed vigour,
and such exhibitions of courage and endurance have
rarely been witnessed.

3 o'clock—The steeple of the Circular Church has
just toppled and fallen with a heavy crash. Gen.
Ripley, who is moving to and fro superintending
the movements of the troops with characteristic
energy, has ordered, several hours ago, that several
buildings in the track of the conflagration be blown
up. The execution of this order, delayed at first,
has at length been accomplished. Ever and anon
during the past hour, the explosions have rent the
air in the lower part of the city. The fire has done
its work in thorough style. Its path is now burnt
out, and nothing now remains to mark where it has
passed but smouldering piles of cinders and gaunt
and smoking walls and chimneys. The Charleston
Hotel is safe, and Hayne-street also. The wind has
swept the danger off further to the south, although
the fire rages on three bides of the Mills house.
That fine structure has not caught. The Theatre,
Lloyd's coach factory (opposite the Fxpress-office),
the Old Executive building, and all the houses
between that point and Queen-street have been
burnt. The fire seems to be making advances
towards the gaol. Companies of the Reserves have
been ordered out to repress any possible disturbance
amo
hangts abhepartied
prisoners confined in that building. The
wind
4 o'Clock.—A change in the course of the Wind
'rho seems o
n the
has bent somewhat the course of the fire towards
Broad-street. The Lutheran and Unitarian Churches
are now considered safe.
The
Cathedralbuildingsnow
to be in exceeding danger
west side of Friend-street, near the corner of Qum-