The Sun.
London, England, 1838-02-15 00:00:00

THE NIAGARA FRONTIER.

LEGISLATURE OF NEW YORK.-IN SENATE, JAN. 10.

Mr. E. P. Livingston, from the Joint Committee on the Governor's
special Message relative to the attack by the British forces on tho
steam-boat Caroline, white lying at a port n our shore, made a rmoit,
in which the Committee state it as their opinion, as well as that of
the Executive, that no legislative action is necessary in the premises
at present ; that the General Government, to whom the cignizance of
the affair properly belongs, has taken it in hand ; and also that the
President has made a requisition on the Governor of this State for a
brigade of militia, to aid not only in protecting the frontier, if neces.
sary, but in enforcing our own neutrality; and that the Governor has
himself accompanied the Major-General of the United States' army
commanding this miWary district to the frontier, for the purpose of
assisting in and facilitating the execution of his duty.
Mr. Young remarked, that the Committca did not think it proper at
present to ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the
subject, inasmuch as something might occur calling for future action.
The report would of course be printed ; but he was about to suggest,
though it was, perhaps, unnecessary, that the present publication of it
might tend to allay excitement in this vicinity.

An important correspondence has been published between Mr. Fox
and Mr. Forsyth. The former, under date of November 28th, an.
nounces that Sir John Harvey was about to proceed from New Bruns-
wick to Lower Canada, crossing a part of the territory now in dispute
between the United States and England; but explaining that the move_
meet is in no way connected with any recent occurrences in the dis-
puted lines, but solely to reinforce the British military stations in Lower
Canada.
Mr. Forsyth, on the 2d of December, acknowledges the receipt of the
above ; and the same Gentleman, on the sth, writes to Governor Dun-
lap, transmitting the note of Mr. Fox to him, and remarking o❑ it,
that " although the necessity of explaining a circumstance so little
likely to be misapprehended by the Government or people of the United
States, or of individual States, is not apparent, the motive of that expla-

nation should be duly appreciated."
A letter from Mr. Fox to Mr. Forsyth, dated January 4, transmits
to Mr. Forsyth a dispatch received from Sir F. Head, describing
the invasion of Navy Island.
It appears from the statement contained in this dispatch, and I lament
to say that the same facts ate fully and notoriously confirmed by in_
formation which has reached me through various other channels, that a
part of the British territory of Upper Canada is at this moment actu-
ally invaded, the peace and safety of the inhabitants disturbed, and the
existence of the Provincial Government threatened by a formidable body
of armed men, proceeding from the United States, furnished with ar-
tillery and ammunition, and fully equipped for war. These piratical in-
vaders, who are now established at a point called " Navy Island,"
on the Canadian side of the river Niagara, consist, in part, of
outlaws who had fled from Upper Canada, after the suppres
sion of the late partial insurrection, in part also of American
citizens, and of men of other nations who have beet) recruited for the
present felonious attempt within the confines of the United States.
They are commanded by a native American of the name of Van Rens-
selaer. They continue openly and publicly to procure, from a number
of American towns near to the Canadian frontier, provisions, arms, am-
munition, and all other things necessary to sustain their criminal enter-
prise. Their strength and numbers, and means of violence, are daily
increasing, by recruits and contributions raised within the United States
in defiance of the known laws of the Republic; in defiance also of the
recorded wishes and feelings of all respectable classes of the American
people, an d to the scandal of public order and good neighbourhood be-
tween peaceful nations. The letter concludes with a solemn appeal to
the Supreme Government of the United States, to arrest these disorders,

Mr. Forsyth, under date of January 5, assures Mr. Fox that every
effort will be made to prevent the misguided citizens of the United
States from interfering with the affairs of Canada. He directs attention
to the steps already taken for that purpose, and adds--" I now repeat
to you formally, for the satisfaction of your Government, and to relieve
the anxieties of the authorities of Upper Canada, that all the constitu.
tional power vested in the Executive will be exerted to maintain the su-
premacy of those laws which were passed to fulfil the obligations of the
United States to all friendly nations who may be unfortunately enraged
in foreign or domestic war.

"'Assurances to that effect, to the authorities of Upper Canada, may
be given in the strongest terms; and the President does not doubt that
this object, so desirable in the present crisis to both Governments, will
be accomplished, if insurmountable obstacles are not thrown in the way
by the rashness of persons within the dominions of her Britannic Ma-
jesty, who, in their resentment or apprehensions, may think themselves
authorised to make aggressions upon the United States for injuries com-
mitted by individuals who are violators of our laws, and who escape pro-
secution and punishment, under a temporary excitement produced by
the events on the frontier, and by the menaces directed against our ow❑
people by seine of her Majesty's imprudent subjects."

COPY OF A LETTER FROM THE HON. JOHN ELMSLEY, Liatyr. R. N., TO
THE HON. COL. A. N. MACNAB.
Chippewa, Dec. 29, 1837, eight, a. tn.
Sir—l have the honour to inform you, that I have just returned from
the neighbourhood of Navy Island, to which point I proceeded at day-
break with my spy-glass to inspect the position of the rebel forces.
Soon after my arrival there I perceived our eight-oared gig just round-
ing the northern extremity of Navy Island. She had been all round
the island, and was fired at from all parts of it, with round shot, canister
and grape, and musketry.
On our coming abreast at Fort Schlosser, I distinctly saw two dis-
charges of heavy ordnance from a point on the main shore on the Ame-
rican side, not far from that fort.
As soon as our boat had passed the 6ring ceased.
I have deemed it no more than my duty to call your attention to this
fact, to the truth of which lam prepared to make affidavit whenever
called upon.—l have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
J. ELMSLEY, Lieut. Royal Navy.
The Hon. Colonel A. Macnab, &c.

Copy of a Letter from W. Lockwood, Esq., First Lieutenant of the St.
Catherine's Troop of Cavalry, to the Hon Colonel Macnab, &c.
- .

Sir—l have the honour to inform you that this morning, at eight
o'clock, about twenty men appeared on Grand Island (two miles below
Black Creek), constructing a bridge across a ravine, and when they saw
a party of men on the Canada shore watching their movements, they
fired a volley of musketry towards them; after having completed their
work, they left two men on the bridge, and retired towards the lower
part of the Island.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your most obcCient
servant, W. LOCKWOOD.

First Lieut. of the St. Catherine's Troop of Cavalry.
To the Hon. Colonel Macnab,.Cominander-in-Chief of the Forces of
Upper Canada.
Chippewa, Dec. 29, 1837.