The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-08 00:00:00

COURT CIRCULAR.

His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse-
back yesterday, attended by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon.
Alexauder Gordon.

The Royal dinner party yesterdsy at Buckingham
Palace included her Excellency Madame Van de Weyer,
their Excellencies the Chevalier and Madame Bunsen,
the Countess of Dunmore, the Right lion. and Mrs. Fox
Maulo, and the Right Hon. Sidney Herbert.
The band of the Coldstream Guards was in attendance
during dinner in the Palace, and performed the following
pieces:—

Grand Selection from Figaro Mozart.
Caledonian Quadrilles
Fantasia from Masanicilo
Kriegs March der Priester Mendelssohn.
Coldstream Guards Polka
Pas Redouble

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited her
Majesty the Queen Dowager 3 es:erday nt Marlborough
House.

THE KING OF ITANOVER.—Dispatches from Hanover
were received in town on Sunday, announcing that his
Majesty the King of Hanover had recovered from his
recent indisposition.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester visited
her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent yesterday at
CIRr, nee House, St. James's.

The &rl of Burlington had an interview with Sir
George Grey yesterday. Air. John Fielding had also
an iuturview yesterday with the Right ion. Baronet, at
the home-office.

TUE GAS QUE3TION.—The controversy as to the
reduction of the price of gas in the metropolis, which
has hitherto been confined to the city of London
proper, is now likely to extend itself to the whole
of the gas consuming districts of London. The
citizens have long demanded that the two companies,
which share between them the monopoly within the
walls, should reduce their price from 6s. per 1,000
cubic feet to 45., a demand which they strenuously re-
sisted, and this gave rise to the City Gas Consumers' Cora-
pony, which effers to supply the whole City at the maxi-
mum price of 4s. In order to stave off, if possible, this
threatened opposition, the old companies have tardily and
reluctantly offered to reduce the price within the
City boundary to five shillings, and here for the present
they appear resolved to stop, However this reduction
might have satisfied the citizens some time back, it now
fads short of their expectations, whilst, as a natural con-
sequence, it is originating demands in other quarters
which will speedily press heavily on the attention of these
campanies. The City Company and the Chartered Com-
pany both supply gas beyond the City boundary, the
former in the vicinity of Hatton-garden, Saffren-hill, St.
John's, Clerkenwell, &c.; and the latter in the parishes
of James's, Clerkenwell, St. Luke's, and in the
Finsbury deitrict. Some of the more active indi-
viduals in these districts arc already agitating the ques-
tion—why they should not also receive from these com-
panies the benefit of a similar reduction, as the difference
between them and their neighb:Jers is a mere
conventional line. Tho same demand will also pro-
bably exti nil to the districts supplied by the Chartered
Company, from Park-lane on the west to the City
boundary cn the east, and from Oxford-street
and Ilolborn on the north to the Thames and
Vauxhall-bridge on the south. The various other metro-
plum companies who have supported the two City
companies in the uniform priA ot Gs. will also feel more
or less the defection of the latter from the uniformity
compact. Be that as it may, it is impossible cot to foresee
that the concession of cheaper gas must ere long be ex-
tended by the existing companies considerably beyond
the limits to which it is at present proposed to confine it.
ST. GEORGE'S HOSPITAL.—The prizes in the me-
dical school of St. George's hospital for the past ses-
sion were di.tributed yesterday in the presence of a
numerous body of spectators by the Dean of West-
minster, who, in avvardieg the honours, made some very
interesting observations upon the importance of the
different departments of study in which they had been
won. The ptize list is as follows:—Senior Scholarship
—Mr. Alfred Howse. Junior Scholarship—Mr. 11. V.
Carter. Surgical Clinical Reports—Prize, Mr. J. Rouse.
Anatomy. Senior Class—Prize, Mr. T. K. Hornridge ;
additional prize, Mr. H. Folkard. Junior Class—Prize,
Mr. J. Ewens; additional prizes, Mr. 0. S. Evans, and
Mr. W. B. Stephens ; certificate, Mr. 11. V. Carter.
Bo:any—Prize, Mr. Lichfield. Chemistry—Prize,
Mr. U. V. Carter; certificates, Mr. J. Eweus and Mr.
W. B. Stephens. Materia Medica—Prize, Mr. J. Ewens;
additional prize, Mr. W. B. Stephens ; certificates, Mr.
J. S. Dodd and Mr. W. Lichfield. Medical Jurispru-
dence—Prize, Mr. J. Rouse; certificate, Mr. J. Parker.
Midwifery—Prize, Mr. H. Dixon ; certificates, Mr. J.
Earle and Mr. J. Parker. Practice of Physic—Prize,
Mr. J. Parker. Surgery—Prize, Mr. C. J. MOITiS.
OFFICIAL RETIREMENTS.—It is said to be in
oicon-
templation to make retirement compulsory ota n
of civil
servants above sixty years of age, the practice
g
icnot
nerest. There is no doubt the aversion that age has to
al-
lowing
sde
rp,edrs ohighly
h du ledt
rui thoi
ec en
taaflt etro ttre pe eerrivoi de
oo
andf hfe
publicbein
all change, and the chilling reception it gives even to
improvements suggested by junior officers, often pre-
vents the country from realising much good, to say no-
thing of the loss the country sustains in allowing men,
wholly unfit for their duties, to what is called "hold on"
until they have acquired a right to retire on full allow-
ance.—Devonport 1 clegraph.
ETON.—A vacancy in the appointment of an as-
sistant-master having been occasioned by the resignation
of Mr. H. Birch, I\l.A.l(who has had the high and dis-
tinguished honour conferred upon him of being ap-
pointed tutor to his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales), it has been filled up by the appointment of the
Rev. R. Joynes, formerly a King's scholar of Eton, the
gentleman who obtained the Newcastle scholarship in
1843. Mr. Birch has now entered upon his responsible
duties as a tutor to the heir apparent, which, we under-
stand, were to commence the week after Easter. Mr.
Birch will reside with Royal establishment, and will of
course travel with his Royal and illustrious pupil from
place to place, as her Majesty may feel disposed to
change her residence.—Aylesbury News.
FATAL COALPITACCIDENT.—On Saturday a
serious accident occurred at a coal mine, the property of
the Duke of Beaufort, situate at Fishponds, near Bristol.ut
The colliery had been out of work for some years, but
had latterly been taken by a person named Monk, who
r u n-rmeont:kededthveeiporeo. peor toy
sinattuhredhayTwohfiledissocmove eringsome
men
%
en-
gaged in the work,
affec•ed by the foul air that
that his life
m
is
a man nambeedveTryurenbeorrtla.sdsieod
died; and
another men was so seriously taint(d
despaired oE—Felix Farley's Bristol Journal.
THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS, TIA INDIA.—The first
Australian mail, via Southampton, Egypt, and India,
and by s i
teamers from Singapore, will, it s opecwa, be
dispatched olnut agi Anut.

.CANADA.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sta,—The recent accounts from Canada (if we are
to believe the standard) give us grave information as
to the proceedings held at a meeting of the " Brock-
ville Association ;" but being a Canadian, and well
acquainted with the politics of that colony, I venture
to explain much of that report which might tend to
excite alarm in this country.
You are aware that an Indemnity Bill was passed
in the Legislature of the Canadas to pay the losses
incurred by the late rebellion, and that it awaits—as
is usually the course—the Governor's assent at the end
of the session; there is nothing very wonderful in
Lard Elgin's not at once assenting to the Bill, for it
is the invariable custom to await the closing of the
'Legislature ere assent or dissent is expressed to any
Bill.
There is no doubt some parties in Canada who are
fond of stirring up anarchy are now at work sowing
the elements of discord. But the strong arm of the law
is quite ample to suppress any outbreak, which is very
far distant if the only casus belli is the "Indemnity
Bill ;" and we know that save other matter of greater
importance to the Canadas (and I allude to the
anxious wish of the Canadians that all restrictions
to the free navigation of the St. Lawrence he
removed, that Canada may cope with the United
States in the transit of produce via the St.
Lawrence to Great Britain, whilst by present
restrictions she cannot command a carrying
trade), no colony enjoys such quiet as
the Canaries. Then as to the Indemnity
Bill on perusing the names of claimants, that
of " Wolfred Nelson" appears for nearly one-fifth the
amount. This person was attainted with treason, he
fl:d the country, or might have been one of the " Ber-
muda -gang" transported to that colony, and for which
Lord Durham was charged with exceeding his power in
causing their transport to Bermuda.
If that one name had been omitted, and there can-
not be a doubt of Dr. Nelson and his brother both
having fomented on the banks of the Richelieu treason
to the fullest extent by tteir public speeches and acts,
I repeat, if Dr. Nelson's name had been omitted,
we never should have heard from Canada of any
opposition to this Bill ; for in the previous ses-
sion an Indemnity Bill for losses sustained in
Upper Canada received the Royal assent. Then
why not act as righteously towards Lower
Canada? For the rebellion raged stronger in Upper
than Lower Canada. Lord Elgin has placed himself
in a position of difficulty, and he has himself to blame
for it. Had he looked over the State Papers con-
nected with the rebellion, he must have noticed the
important part acted by Wolfred Nelson and Ro-
bert Nelson—and that both brothers fled their
country ; presumptive signs at least of guilt !!
Then, at the incipient stage of introducing this
Government measure to the Legislature, was the
period for Lord Elgin to have taken a bold stand, and
either dismissed his Ministry or appealed to the con-
stituency. As it is, he now can act in no other way
to save his own reputation than adopt the latter

course.
Lot Englishmen remember that 'Canada possesses
in miniature the British Constitution, and that its
representation era Legislature is based on the princi-
les of the Imperial Parliament. Let me ask, if the
Indemnity Bill had passed the British louse of
Commons by a majority of even 46 to 20, and the
Lords by a majority of even 2, then would the
Queen attempt to veto the measure ? Then how
can the Governor-General of the Canadas resist, and
refuse his acquiescence to a measure which has
passed both branches of the Legislature, and intro-
duced by his own Ministry ?
The members of the Legislative Assembly represent
and give action to the views of their respective consti-
tuencies. If they will that such a law should pass, they
who by taxation in the provinces will be called on to
find the amount to indemnify these losses, who in
;ustlce can interfere ? I question much if any intn.-
ference by the Government of Downing-street will
not prove the most unwarrantable violation of the
subjects' rights, and by so doing lead to rebellion.
It is the interference by the Colonial Secretary with
the.local matters cf the British colonies which has
sown the seeds of discord and misery in each of
these possessions ; and we are reaping the fruits of
that unjust system, tyrannical in its bearing, and
repuLive to the colonists. But this matter being
adjudicated ceases to claim from Earl Grey any
supervision or interference. Let him beware !
Let Lord Elgin weigh well what he is doing now.
His Ministry recommended the measure to him, and
with one exception to Wolfred Nelson's claim. No ob-
jection could be raised to this Bill—he must adopt it
or dissolve the House. But as regards the important
meeting of the " Brockville Association," the names
that figure there are, one and all, too contemptible to
attach any importance to their resolutions. The
meeting was tot held at Montreal. Mr. Ogle It.
Gowan for years fomented discord as the " Grand
Master of Orangemen," and many of the others
are little lawyers and wee tradesmen—but, as
a sign of the times, I may add that H. Sherwood
represents this town. He was Solicitor-General to
the weak Administration, and he and Sir Allan N.
.Macnab are the fomentors of a movement which will
go but to a trifling extent further, and then we shall
hear no more of them ; for as to rebellion the whole
affair is a "storm in a butter.boat."
"let the St. Lawrence be thrown open to free
trade with the world, and 1850 will tell a happy tale
for the Canadas."

Your obedient servant,
A. W. HART.

BANK OF FRANCE.
The following is a return of the situation of the Bank
of France up to May 3:—

f• .202,995,867 84
. . 130,422,444 00
▪ 259,865 49