The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-08 00:00:00

thority which was strictly limited. However, it must be
confessed that the ignorance of Lord Durham, touching the
statute under which he was acting, was scarcely greater
than that of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, for that
Nobleman declared, in his place in Parliament, on the loth
of August last, that the Act for the Government of Ca-
nada was, as it stood, " evidently an absurdity." The Act
had been then about six months in existence, and we leave
the friends of his Lordship to decide whether he sent Lord
Durham to Canada to act under a statute of which he
(the Prime Minister) was ignorant, or sent him to govern
under the sanctions of a legislative authority which he
knew to be " evidently absurd." Upon his own
showing he must have done either the one or the
other. But was the statute under which Lord Durham
acted so doubtful in its interpretation—so ambiguously
worded, as to render it excusable that he should mistake
its meaning ? Did it seem to establish "an authority in
the strictest sense of the word despotic," though lawyers
could discern that it did no such thing ? Was the illegal
act committed by Lord Durham one into which he might
naturally have fallen from the probability of the statute, by
which he was to be guided, being misunderstood ? No such
thing. The error was gross and palpable. There was no
excuse for it, unless utter carelessness, combined with a
ready disposition to play the despot, can be deemed an ex-
cuse. Most justly did the Duke of Wellington, in his
place in Parliament, thus describe what Lord Durham had
done :
" A grossly illegal act had been committed—not a mere
technical error, or one having reference to a small or nice
point of law, but an illegal act of great magnitude, and relat-
ing to points of the most grave importance—an act so clearly
illegal that no man capable of reading an Act of Parliament,
or of understanding the first principles of justice, could doubt
of its illegality or its impropriety."
And yet this is the Act which Lord Durham considers
to have been justified by the authority with which Parlia-
ment had invested him—an authority which he has had the
audacity to describe in his very last outrage upon Govern-
ment as " in the strictest sense of the word despotic !"
Let it not be said that the Duke of Wellington's opinion is
not to be trusted because he was " a factious opponent" of
Lord Durham, and of the Administration that sent him
out. To say this is to be guilty of an insolent absurdity,
which none but the most extravagantly and virulently fac-
tious can harbour for a moment. The Duke's language all
along was to the effect that it was absolutely necessary to "set
right" the Government in Canada which had gone wrong.
He agreed with Lord Melbourne in the impolicy as well as
unpleasantness of frequent criticism in the House of Lords
upon the conduct of the Governor of Canada, but he
treated the illegal ordinance as an event with which the
House and the Government could not help interfering
unless they gave up all superintending care of the empire,
and assumed an utter indifference between right and wrong.
It is strange that the Ministerial writer does not, or will
not, see—though nothing can be more obvious—that if the
Legislature and Government had not interfered to " set
right" the Government in Canada, the interference would
have come from the other side, and have brought shame and
disgrace upon the Government. Is there any human being,
with intelligence enough to count te❑ upon his fingers,
who supposes that Lord Durham's illegal acts would not
have been resisted had he been allowed to go on in his
ignorant dreams of the possession of despotic authority ?
Is it not absolutely certain that he must have been
successfully resisted ? The Canadian malcontents, and
the men in this country who help them, are not either
such dull or such timorous men as to have allowed Lord
Durham to go on playing his " despotic " pranks upon no
better authority than his own ignorant supposition that he
was statutably and " strictly" a despot. That persons pro-
fessing " liberalism " should wish for the continued exercise
of despotic authority, so long as it was to be exercised by
one of their own party, is not at all surprising ; but it is
strange that even they should have the folly to imagine that
despotism would be submitted to by vigilant and energetic
people, who knew there was no law to give it sanction or
support. Lord Ellenborough truly said, in the House of
Lords, that the illegal ordinance ought not to be suffered,
since whatever popularity a particular measure might enjoy
at any particular moment in Canada, or in any country, it
must, if itself unlawful, ultimately produce resistance on
the part of the people.—Morning Post.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—An opera in three
acts, under the imposing title of Francis the First, was pro-
duced at this theatre on Tuesday. The author of the drama is
anonymous, and he will do well to preserve his incognito, for
his handiwork will do him no credit. The music is by Mr.
E. I. Loder. This is an addition to the numerous instances
which we are under the painful necessity of recording of good
music, on our stage, being crushed under the weight of dra-
matic dulness. There is a good deal of merit in Mr. Loder's
music ; but its merit consists more in ingenious and artist-like
construction than in striking and original melody. There is,
in truth, a want of freshness about it, and it would seem that
the composer's memory has been more active in producing it,
than his imagination. The best compositions have not, in
their words, the slightest connection with the situation in which
they are introduced, and (we are inclined to suspect) have
been composed without any reference to this opera. Among
these we may especially mention the pretty song, " My heart
reverts with fond emotion," sung by Miss Romer ; the ballad
in the third act sung by Mr. Phillips ; and a very beautiful
chorus of vine-dressers in the second act. The orchestra is
managed throughout with consummate skill, and the instru-
mental effects are frequently',charming ; and of the music ge-
nerally it may be said that, though insufficient to support a
bad drama, it would have added greatly to the attractions of
a good one. The piece was well performed. Phillips in such
a character as this Francis the First, was in a false position,
but he sang very beautifully. Miss Romer made every exer-
tion to do justice to her part. The claquers were in such
force, and so energetic in their plaudits, that it was impossi-
ble to say what was the opinion of the audience ; but our im-
pression is that this opera will not sustain many representa-

tions.
MEETING OF THE THEATRICAL PROFESSION.
—Yesterday afternoon, in accordance with public advertise-
ment, the first general meeting of the members of the thea-
trical profession took place in the saloon of the Haymarket
Theatre (Mr. B. Webster, the proprietor, having in the most
handsome manner previously tendered the loan of the same to
the Committee), for the purpose of taking into consideration
the propriety of establishing a Theatrical Benevolent Union,
having for its object the relief of aged and decayed actors and
actresses. From the very great interest which the subject at
present excites in the theatrical world, the saloon was crowded
almost to suffocation by the members of the Covent Garden
and Drury Lane companies, and the corps dramatique of the
Haymarket, Adelphi, English Opera, Olympic, Strand,
Surrey, Sadlers Wells, City of London, Pavilion, and other
Minor Theatres. Mr. James Sheridan Knowles was unani-
mously called on to preside. On his taking the chair he was
most warmly applauded. After having briefly opened the
business of the meeting, the address of the Committee, set-
ting forth the objects of the Association, was read by the secre-
tary. After which resolutions were discussed, and details
settled, and a Committee appointed of representatives of the
different theatres. Mr. Serle then proposed, " That the
heartfelt thanks of this meeting be accorded to James Sheri
dan Knowles, Esq., for the very cordial interest he has evinced
in the well-being of the profession at large, and for the ala-
crity with which he has come forward to promote the benevo-
lent objects of the Association." The motion was immediately
seconded, and carried amidst loud cheering, and the meeting
dispersed after Mr. Knowles had warmly returned thanks for
their cordial compliment.

FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE IN LIVERPOOL.— ,
Between the hours of one and two yesterday ( Sunday) morn-
ing the inhabitants of King-street were alarmed by the watch-
man's cry of " Fire !" and on the arrival of Mr. Rose, the su-
perintendent
of the fire police, who was quickly
that
nth
fireespot,
accompanied by his brigade, it was ascertained the
hadAbr
Abram br o,ke tobacconist,out in a cellar.,s,e which
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y f
ot
rhteu
ns
ahtoepl y 0.1 fs
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nro. ccMorriss
at night. Shortly after the engine had begun to
at
play,Leher way,
Rose was informed that a poor old man (named
itp u
rips
nbs believed) I
oi efv ed)
guardingwa s
ot the e
wa dhji oc ihn, i nf gear premises,igthta ef for
renthse
unless
aroused the poor old fellow would be smothered b
y the
smoke which enveloped the house, he broke open the
and, accompanied by a fireman named Murphy, proceeded
the fumes they
door,
and,
stairs in search of him. So overpowering were
encountered, that Murphy, after a short combat with them,hieh
was compelled to come out ; immediately after doing w
he fell down in a state of stupor. Mr. Rose, however, shortly
afterwards discovered the object of their search, who, appa-
rently to screen himself from the suffocating effects of the
insidious enemy which was coiling around him, was rolled up
in the blankets of his bed quite insensible, from which state,
alas Ihe never recovered. By three o'clock the active exer-
tions of the fire brigade had completely subdued the devouring
clement ; and, although Mr. Abram's loss must be heavy, yet
we are happy to say the fire was strictly confined to his own
premises.—Liverpool Paper.
A fire took place on Tuesday morning in the Old
Kent-road, which in a very short time consumed property
to the extent of 2,0001. or 3,0001. It commenced on the
premises of Mr. T. Grimes, boot and shoe maker, No. 6,
Northampton-place, which was totally consumed. Several
houses adjoining are also greatly damaged.
COMMISSION OF LUNACY.—On Tuesday morning,
at one o'clock, a Commission of Lunacy was opened at the
Gray's Inn Coffee-house, Holborn, before Commissioners Phil-
limore, Winslow, and Martin West, to inquire into the state
of mind of Miss Louisa Ridge, at present an inmate of Brook
House, Upper Clapton, whose family reside in the neighbour.
' hood of Yarmouth. The Chief Commissioner then summed
up, and the Jury withdrew to consider their verdict. After
about half an hour's absence they returned, when Sir James
Williams read, " That Louisa Ridge is a lunatic, without
lucid intervals ; and the Jury, with one dissentient, are of opi-
nion that she has been so since the Ist of October, 1835, and
incapable of managing herself or her property."
On Tuesday morning, between six and seven o'clock,
as a van, heavily laden with vegetables, was proceeding over
Waterloo-bridge, an old man attempted to
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have passed over his body. the back of 1."2 head, Had he
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