The Sun.
London, England, 1838-02-01 00:00:00

ADELPIII.

Last night a petite tale of enchantment was brought
forward at this theatre, for the purpose of introducing, in the
phraseology of the theatre, an extraordinary " Metempsycho-
nian performer," Signor Hervio Nano. The " tale of enchant-
ment" was called The Gnome Fly, and the plot and incidents
of this certainly original drama are as follow :—Sidi (Mr.
Lyon) an orphan peasant, is the rightful heir to the Throne
of Tartary. In his infancy he has been exposed in a desart,
in order to secure the succession to the throne to his cousin
Shamuckda (Mr. Saville). Sidi is rescued from death by
Almain, King of the Gnomes (Signor Hervio Nano), who,
under the metempsychosis of an enormous fly, stings the horse
of the person who is to expose the child, which, in consequence,
escapes, and becomes, in due time, enamoured of the Princess
Fatima ( Miss Taylor), daughter of the Great Mogul, Solomon
Ben Solomon (Mr. Cullenford). As a matter of course,
" true love never does run smooth," and Ben Solomon is re-
solved to marry his daughter to Shamuckda and not to Sidi,
The suit of the latter is backed by the superna' ural power
of Almain, that of the former by Meerjeham, Queen of the
Penis (Miss Shaw). An enormous baboon haying escaped

LONDON :
THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 1, 1838.

CAPTURE OF NAVY ISLAND.

By the arrival of the St. James packet yesterday at
Portsmouth from New York, we have received files of
American Journals to the 7th of January inclusive,
containing a mass of very important news from the
banks of the Niagara. The intelligence so furnished
will be found in another part of The Sun ; but
copious as are out extracts, we have been obliged to
omit till to-morrow the publication of several docu-
►nents tending to throw a light upon the state of public
feeling, on the subject of the war in Canada, in the
States of New York and Vermont. The destruction
of the steamer Caroline, by the British, has produced
strong manifestations of hatred and disgust in Buffalo ;
but, if we may rely upon the accuracy of the following
account of this unfortunate affair, furnished by our
Portsmouth Correspondent, we cannot see how such
a catastrophe could be avoided. Nothing, we think,
can be clearer than these two facts—first, that the
steamer Caroline was engaged in carrying stores and
recruits to the rebels ; and in the next place, that the
British authorities did not direct the attack so suc-
cessfully made upon her :
PORTIMOUTII, JAN. 31.

The St. James, New York Packet arrived here this after-
noon. She left New York on the 6th inst., and brings infor-
mation that some Canadian boats in their paasage from
Sir Francis Head's quarters to attack a steamer which
had been employed by the Navy Island rebels in land-
ing guns and ammunition from the United States in the
Island throe times in one day, had been tired on front the
American shore; a return of fire was the natural consequence ;
and it appears that 22 American citizens lost their lives—at
least all who are missing and dead are called Americans. One
steamer was, however, captured; and in taking her away to
Chippewa, in tow by the boats, it appears she was found too
unwieldy for the boats, which were in danger of being car
ried over the Falls of Niagara, and therefore she was
cut adrift almost over the Falls. It is not clear that any
living beings were on board at that awful moment. I
send you late papers, up to the 6th, which, I believe,
contain a correspondence on the subject, and another cor-
respondence of a more serious nature, our Ambassador,
Mr. Fox, having accused the American President of a want
of power to enforce his Proclamation of non-intervention ;
and stating that if all supplies of munitions of war be not
immediately stopped, he shall quit, and come to England.
The militia of Buffalo county and the neighbouring county
are ordered to assemble to enforce neutrality ; but we shall
be too wise to quarrel with the Americans about Canada.
The New York Weekly Herald of Saturday, the
Gth January, has a letter from Albany of the 3d, an-
nouncing the capture of Navy Island by the British.
The following is an extract :--
" ATTACK ON NAVY ISLAND—CAPTURED BY
THE BRITISH.

" ALBANY, JAN. 3.

" Dear Sir,—As you may suppose, all sorts of rumours are
rife and current here ; but there is one lately reached us by a
gentleman direct from Buffalo, to which considerable credence
is given. It is neither more nor less than that an attack
has been made on Navy Island on New Year's day,
by the British regular troops and Loyalist volunteers,
headed by Colonel *Nab, and that under cover of a severe
cannonading from the Chippewa side, they finally effected a
landing. Some severe fighting is said to have taken place,
which resulted in the Loyalists obtaining possession, and re-
maining masters of the island. It is further stated, that they
came down the stream hugging the shore of Grand Island
close, and so effected a landing on that part of Na►y Island
immediately covered by the east end of Grand Island Such
is the rumour—which I send to you for what it is worth.

The same Correspondent states that Colonel M'N.s.n's
denial of having in any way sanctioned the destruc-
tion of the Caroline, was universally credited, and
that great blame was thrown upon the frontier au-
thorities for not taking more active measures for
preventing a violation of the United States' neu-
trality. We do not anticipate a rupture between
Great Britain and the United States ; but were the
relations between the two Governments of a less
friendly nature, such would inevitably be the result of
the Revolt in Canada—now, we trust, happily ex-
tinguished.

We have received the Upper Can ada Gazette Ex-
traordinary, of the 28th December. That day, at
Excellency the Lieutenant-
eleven o'clock, his
Governor proceeded in state from the Government-
house to the Chamber of the Legislative Council,
when his Excellency was pleased to address the two
Houses in a speech of which the following is the
substance :

He first states that he has deemed it necessary to convene
the Legislature of Upper Canada a few days earlier than has
been customary, for the purpose of communicating with them
on the present state of the Province ; but before he
draws their attention to this important subject, he can-
not refrain from condoling with them on the loss of
his late Gracious Majesty William the Fourth, and
thnt the Throne of the British Empire is now adorned by
her Majesty Queen Victoria. He states that, notwithstand-
ing the prosperity and happiness of the province, it is with
pain he informs them that he was suddenly called upon to
suppress a rebellion, which must have appeared to the province
at large of so extraordinary a character, that it was proper he
should revert to its origin and progress. He would remind
them that shortly after he arrived in this province, with in-
structions from his late Majesty to correct whatever grievances
might exist, it unavoidably became necessary that he should

He did

constitutionally appeal to the sense of the people.
so ; and they unequivocally supported him.
A few individuals, disappointed at the result, did not
scruple to declare that the people of Upper Canada had been
mistaken in their verdict, which was obtained by improper
means.

This serious subject of discussion he deemed it ad-
visable to bring plainly before the public, and it was
submitted to the consideration of his late Majesty, and
the Imperial Government, the House of Commons and
the House of Assembly of Upper Canafia, and by all these
tribunals the question was decided against those who with
groundless slander had assailed their Government. Finding
that against cool argument they could not advance any thing,
they desperately determined to appeal to physical strength,
the avowed object of which was to force her Majesty's subjects
from their allegiance, and to subvert the British Constitution
under the pretext of reform.

As soon as the conspiracy became known to him, he deter-
mined, for the public good, that he would not allow it to work
its own cure.

Besides parting with the troops, he further resolved to place
in the hands of the civil portion of the community all the
muskets (about 4,000) which the Government had in store.
Without either soldiers or weapons to enforce the cause,
he allowed the leader of the intended insurrection a full oppor-
tunity to make his intended experiment—he freely allowed him
to write what he chose, and do what he chose ; I even allowed
him, unopposed, to assemble with loaded fire arms ; he allowed
him to make deliberate preparations for revolt, for (he adds) I
freely confess that I did underrate the degree of audacity and
cruelty which these armed insulters of the law were prepared,
as events have proved, to exhibit.

The ultimate object of the conspiracy was veiled under a
mysterious secrecy which I had no desire to penetrate. I was
actually in bed and asleep when 1 was awakened by a messen-
ger, who abruptly informed me that a numerous body of armed
rebels had been!congregated by their leader, and of the murder
of a veteran officer of distinction.

The long looked for crisis had evidently arrived. I called
upon the militia of Upper Canada to defend their Government.
and then confidently wait the result, they instantly obeyed the

Upwards of ten thousand men immediately marched towards
the Capital in a Canadian winter, with no clothes but those
they stood in, without food and without arms.
As soon as the people had organised themselves, I saw it
would be necessary to make an attack, and I dispatched to
therntwo of their own party to tell:them that before any colli-
sion should take place, 1 parentally called upon them, as their
Governor, to avoid the effusion of human blood.
The answer I received from the rebel leader was, that he
would only consent that his demands should be settled by a
national convention, end that he he would wait till two o'clock
for my answer. Having now, to my best ability, performed
this religious, as well as moral duty, I issued a proclamation,
calling upon those who had been seduced to join in the unna-
tural rebellion to return to their duty.
I allowed the brave militia of Upper Canada to advance,
and the result of the trial by battle, was the public verdict I
had always anticipated.
The rebels dispersed in all directions; those of their leaders
who were not taken prisoners, absconded to the United States,
and before sunset, the whole conspiracy exploded.
To the militia nobly commanded by Colonel Mac Nab,
Speaker of the House of Assembly, upwards of 300 misguided
men laid down their arms, craving pardon for their guilt ;
indeed, so complete was their defeat, that general orders were
immediately issued by me, announcing that there was no fur-
ther occasion for the resort of militia to La Toronto.
The triumph has been that of reason over force, and good
law over anarchy.
Tranquillity had returned to the laud, and angry passions
had subsided.

In conclusion, Sir Francis Head says :
That, firmly anticipating from the American people a noble
veneration of their government and institutions, and holding
it but just to allow them a reasonable time to do so, he has
communicated with the Governor of Now York, and the Bri-
tish Minister at Washington ; and while awaiting their replies,
has reinforced the militia by a strong corps of observation on
the frontier, and made arrangements for a levy en masse of the
militia, should their services be required.

The awful and heart-rending disclosures made by
Lord BROUGHAM in the House of Lords, on the pre-
sent state of the Slave Trade, cannot fail to make the
deepest impression throughout the country. The
thraldom, the cruelties, and oppreszion, from which
we have emancipated the slaves in the British West
India Islands--nay, the cruelties inflicted on the un-
fortunate Africans before the time of WILBERFORCE,
were nothing compared with those to which they are
now subjected. " That accursed traffic," said his
Lordship, " which was considered to have been put
down by the indignant outcry of the whole rational
mind in Europe, is now flourishing more and more,
and flourishing to such an extent that it is tearing out
the very bowels of the African Continent." So that
after more than thirty years labour in the cause of hu-
manity—after the unspeakable sacrifices of human life
in settlements formed by this country on the African
coast—and after a grant of money to relieve the dis-
tressed, unequalled in the history of the world, the
friend of the Negro slave is oppressed with the con-
viction that all has been in vain, and that the horrors
of the Slave Trade, instead of diminishing, are spread-
ing in extent, and assuming a more appalling aspect.
It would, in fact, be better to return to the old system
adopted by this country, when we allowed the impor-
tation of slaves, under certain restrictions and regula-
tions for the slave ships, than persevere in a plan
which only increases the evil. We can see only one
great remedy, but the prospect of its completion is un-
fortunately distant. A union among the principal
States of the world for the abolition of the Slave
Trade, even if that could be accomplished, might
abate, but would not put an end to the horrible traffic.
If Portugal and Brazil, who have the pre-eminent
disgrace of being the greatest slave-trading nations,
were to enter into treaties with England and France
for its abolition, the flags of some petty States would
be found to protect the slave ships ; and such are the
profits derived from it, that, in all probability, the
trade would still be carried on, and the sufferings of
the Negroes would, as hitherto, increase in proportion
to the difficulty of exporting them. If they can be
exported from Africa now at a premium of only 8 per
cent. for the risk on the Slaving Trade, while Eng-
land, France, the United States, and indeed all the
principal countries in the world are opposed to it, we
have but a melancholy prospect of success, even if Por-
tugal and Brazil would join them. This country has
adopted the only rational plan by emancipating every
slave in the British possessions ; and till other nations
follow her example there will be no effectual remedy.
That will happen in time, and time and perseverance
in a good cause alone can effect it. Let not the
friends of humanity despair. The subject is taken up
by one in every respect the best qualified to do it jus-
tice. His perseverance is indefatigable--few have
surpassed him in energy and grasp of mind—his name
is known, and carries influence with it in every civilized
nation ; and, after having been one of the great instru-
ments in effecting moral changes in his own country,
he may be the destined instrument in the hand. of Pro-
vidence to effect the greatest moral change that has
yet taken place among nations.

The Paris Journals of Tuesday, with Brussels and
German Papers, of the latest dates, have been re-
ceived, but they contain no news of any interest,
FRENCH FUNDS -PARIS, JAN. 30.
FiveFourapeerr Cceeini Its., 1091111.. 9
450. 600 cc.. 86 c
Three per Cents. WE tic. 60c. 6:.c.Bank Actions, 2:w_or.
Rente de Naples, 951. 70c. 60.
Roman Five per Cents., 191%.
Spanish Actives, Si, 197 i.
Spanish Passives, 4.
Belgian Loan, 103%.
Belgian Bank, 1,50nf.
Portuguese Loan, Three per Cents. 13%.
Dutch Two and a half per Cents., 53-14.
Haytian Lean, 385 f. 30f.
EXCIIIANON nN toisuou.
Ohe month, Paper, af. 47yic.; money, 251'.47%c
Three months, paper, -f. -c. ; money, 95f. 94%e.
LAST PRICES.
}lye per Cents. 1091. B:ic.
Three per Cents., 7iff. 65c.
Bank Actions, 2,620 f.
Romans, 101%.
Belgian Loan, 103%.
Belgian Bank, 1,500 f.
Haytian Loan, 390 f.
Spanish Actives, 10%.
Spanish Passives, 4%.
Dutch Two and a Half per Cents., 53%.
BELGIAN k UNDS-11111136F.Lii, JAS. 30.
Actual Debt, Y 2 per Cent.
Rothschild's Loan, 5 per Cent. lOl%
Loan of Thirty Millions 93%
Loan of ('ity, 1832, 4 per Cent 9B
Society of Commerce, 4 per Cent 136%
Bank of Belgium, 5 per Cent 115%
National Society
-Brussels Papers, Jan. 30.
AUSTRIAN FUNDS.-VIENNA, Jaist. 21.
Five Per Cents. Metalliques
Four per Cents.
Three per Cents.
Rank Shares l39!3jg
-A:lzemetne Zeitung, Jan. 117.

EATII OF THE BISHOP OB SODOR AND
MAN.—This Prelate died on the 26th ult., in the 87th year
of his age.