The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-28 00:00:00

LATEST NEWS FROM AMERICA.

(From the New York Papers received to the 10th instant
THE CANADA&

(From the ilfornini Courier of Dec. 3.)
MONTREAL, MONDAY, DEC. 3.—Reports were in cir-
culation yesterday that the brigands and pirates had made
fresh incursions into Upper Canada, and had got severely
beaten at Malden by the British forces. It was also re
ported, on the authority of a letter from Toronto, that the
American steam-boat United States had been taken posses-
sion of, and sent some where for a cargo similar to that
landed at Prescott ; and that the British steam-boat Co-
burg had been despatched in pursuit of her, with orders to
sink her.
Another letter mentions that two steam-boats and eleven
schooners, full of armed men, were seen on the American
shore opposite Amhertsburgh ; and a letter from London
states that the 32d Regiment, stationed at that place, were
under orders to proceed to Amherstburgh.
About 200 rebel prisoners were removed on Saturday
from the common gaol, which had become too crowded, to
a store at Pointe-a-Calliere, which has been fitted up as a
place of confinement. It is calculated that between GOO
and 700 persons are at this moment incarcerated in con-
sequence of their connexion with the recent rebellion.
This is an inconvenient y large number, and sound policy,
as well as justice, calls for a more summary mode of trial
being adopted than the one which at present " drags its
slow length along." We are assured that there are many
in confinement who are innocent of the crimes laid to
their charge, and against whom no evidence of a criminat-

in g kind can be adduced. This is not improbable, consi-
dering the excitement of the times ; and there is, in all
conscience, a sufficient number of guilty in the power of
the Government to be made examples of, without the least
necessity existing of one hair of the heads of the truly guilt-
less being injured. The sooner, then, the cases of the latter
are investigated the better, and it would be desirable to
have a commission of inquiry, composed of intelligent and
honest men, for this purpose.
It must be allowed on all sides that the conduct of the
Government last year, in keeping political prisoners in gaol
for [line months without trying one of them, and thendis-
missino- them under the galling mockery of an amnesty, was
most 71i5graceful to any powerful Government. It was
more in keeping with the trickery of an imbecile despotism
than becoming a generous and free people. The Cana-
dians universally complained of the proceeding, and natu-
rally attributed it to fear. Let there be room for no such
complaint in the present case ; let no man have it in his
power to say he had no trial ; but let justice be speedily
and effectually dealt out to one and all—no shuffling and
scorned amnesty a second time.
Punishment loses much of its moral effect when ill-timed.
It should follow closely and irresistibly on the footsteps of
the crime, to exercise the most salutary influence. It has
more or less of wanton cruelty in it to sacrifice life at an
improper season, when the effect, by way of warning or ex-
ample, would be very much less than if the crime and the
punishment were exhibited in close juxta-position. In ad-
vocatin7, then, as we do, speedy justice to all the guilty, it
is not from any bloodthirsty disposition, but in order that
every life which may be offered up to the violated laws of
the country may tell with the greatest possible effect upon
those who are inclined to follow criminal courses.
(From the Quebec Mercury.)
Her Majesty's steam frigate Medea, Captain Nott,
R.N., encountered great. difficulty on her passage from
Shediac, owing to the unprecedented severity of the weather
for the season, and the crowded state of the vessel from the
number of troops on board. She, however, stuck to the
Sophia, which was also full of troops, and, though obliged
twice to cast her off from stress of weather, Captain Nott
again fell in with her, and at last by dint of perseverance
and skill succeeded in bringing both vessels in safety into
port.

The matter of the Habeas Corpus still remains in the
same state as at our last publication ; and, as we under.
stand, copies of the proceedings in the case arc yet to be
forwarded to head-quarters, it will probably be Sunday, or
at the earliest Saturday, before the decision of the Govern-
ment and the steps to he pursued in these cases will be
known here.

The only thing of an exciting sort, such as we have been
looking out for for some days back, that appears in the last
received Upper Canada Papers, is the following postscript
in the Western Herald. It is a hearsay :
" MONDAY EVENING, FIVE O'CLOCK.—We have just
learned, from indisputable authority, that 1,500 pirates,
commanded by Polish officers, are at this moment at Puttin
Bay Island, some distance below Amherstburg. Their
professed intention is to attack some point on this frontier
on the 21st, but nobody knows their real intentions. We
understand that General Brady, with a military force, has
gone to disperse them, on board the steamboat Illinois.
" Five hundred armed men were last week seen in the
town of Ypsilanti, and it is confidently believed that large
numbers, in the interior of Michigan, are waiting to pounce
upon us. We sincerely trust that every man and boy
capable of bearing arms will now step boldly forward in de-
fence of his country. Branded with lasting infamy be that
man who will, in the hour of impending danger, shrink from
doing his duty."

(From the New York Whig.)

From the Montreal Papers of Wedne;lay last, we learn
that more trouble is apprehended, should the Government
inflict a sore punishment on the prisoners. The Montreal
Courier contains the following paragraph :
A substantial and intelligent resident in the district that
was lately the scene of the rebel operations, writes—" The
Canadians arc far from being settled—they are cheering for
Papineau, and say the British Government dare not punish
the prisoners ; so it is expected there will be another out-
break soon.
This, as well as a thousand other proofs that could be
adduced, dictate to Government what course it must now
adopt effectually to crush the spirit of rebellion.
It is rumoured in Montreal that some of the political
prisoners have been released.
Three volunteer brigades have been organised in the
city by Sir John Colborne, consisting of infantry, cavalry,
artillery, and rifles. His Excellency has laid before the
Special Council a Bill to dispense with trial by jury, for
the present, at least. It is also stated that he has sent a
steamer to Quebec to take the prisoners to Montreal to be
tried.

THE UNITED STA TES.
RIOTS AT HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.
MOST DISGRACEFUL.

(From the United States Gazette.)
The letter which we publish this morning from Harris-
burg will be read with deep pain and mortification by every
Pennsylvanian.
In addition to what is stated in the letter, we understand
that the scene of violence in the Senate Chamber was most
shocking. In the midst of the uproar and confusion, it is
said that the Speaker of the Senate called Mr. Rogers to
the Chair, and left the Chamber.
We are told that a gentleman who very much resembled
Mr. Burrowes, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, was
seized by some of the ruffians, and dragged to a light, when
they exclaimed, " This is not Burrowes, but we will find
the rascal, and fix him yet!"

We subjoin the following extract of a letter written by
one who is no partisan, dated Harrisburg, Dec. 4. After
referring to the proceedings in the representative hall, he
says ;
When the senate met at three o'clock this afternoon, the
lobby was packed instanter, Penrose took the chair, and a
good deal of parliamentary tactics were used on both sides
to get up all the returns ; and great skill in Sutherland's
manual evinced. Mr. Penrose was re-elected Speaker,
made a passable speech, and the " tug of war" began by an
attempt to swear Hanna and his colleague. The senate had
postponed the Huntingdon question, and decided that, as
the returns on their face was irregular, neither claimant
should sit until investigation took place. It was then
moved to postpone the county question in the same way,
but after many violent efforts by the Van Buren men, it was
voted down by a dead majority, and Penrose made some
rather strained decisions on questions of order, and a very
turbulent feeling began to display itself in the lobbies. Shouts
of " hear, hear," groans, cries of " go on," ke., began to be
very numerous, and clapping and shouting not a little. The
row continued until confusion more confounded took place.
Matters began to wear a serious personal aspect ; "give us our
rights or we will take them" was often repeated; till,by way
of a lullaby for the mob, some senator proposed that
Brown, the Van Buren senator elect from the county, be
allowed to address the senate. It was carried, for, in
in fact, they did not dare to refuse, and Brown began.
In this crisis Penrose called Rogers to the chair and
bolted. Burrowes and Stevens stood in front of Brown,
who began, and such a piece of speaking I have seldom
heard. He called Burrowes a menial, and Stevens a
villain ; said it was contamination to sit with the senate,
and that its walls were fouler than a gaol ! at all of which
the mob did glorify exceedingly, and made symptoms of
nabbing and lynching Stevens, Burrowes, &c., whereupon
these gents hoisted a window in a Committee-room, and
crept out and made off. By this time the uproar was tre-
mendous, order ceased to reign, and the senate adjourned
instanter. M'Caban, from the county, mounted a desk,
and harangued away tremendously. Brown followed from
the Speaker's chair, and, after a deal of coaxing, got
the mob to leave ! for firing the capitol was spoken of.
Leave they did, with three cheers for Brown, and ditto
groans for Stevens. To-night the excitement is very
strong ; the Van Buren men have a meeting at the Court
House at least 1,000 strong, and the Whigs a caucus, and
I fear to-morrow may make sad work, perhaps bloodshed.

HARRISItURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, WEDNESDAY, 10 A.M.
—The mob is still in the ascendant. I concluded my
former letter at the close of the morning Session. By the