The Sun.
London, England, 1838-01-05 00:00:00

tittered community invariably feels towards its conquerors.
Thus the utmost advantage, if advantage it can be called,
which this country will reap, will be to prove its
superior powers, and to show that twenty millions of Britons
are stronger than a few hundred thousaads of French Cana-
elians. For this worthless gratification of national vanity, is it
consistent with your feelings of justice—is it in accordance
with your notions of morality—does it agree with your duties
as Christian men, to plunge into all the horrors of civil strife.
Remember ! an unjust war is the greatest of crimes !
The despots and the tyrant! of the earth have too
often repeated, with impunity, those crimes against huma-
nity. Will you, a free and powerful nation, sanction by your
*conduct similar outrages, by engaging in an unholy struggle
:against a people who feel themselves aggrieved, and that they
ought to be free ? To this I reply, as I think every Briton
oaght to reply, with an indignant negative. The Hon. Ba-
ronet, who was loudly and vehemently cheered throughout,
concluded by moving the third resolution.
Mr. JOHN CRAWFORD then came forward to second the re-
-3„ lotion. He would only address a few words to them by way of
a statement of figures. He wanted to show them what they
'were joing to fight about, or rather what they were about to
lee dragged into an unjust war for. He must chiefly trust to
;nig menaory, for he had no idea that he was to take
;any part in the discussion of this meeting until a short
time ago.—( Hear, hear.) He would speak first on the
m otter of commerce. Some people, no doubt, fancied Ca-
nada' was & productive colony ; he would show then something
to the reverse, They were suffering an annual loss now, as
great as the whole capital that was employed in the trade of
*
Canada.—at Hear, hear.), Our North American Colonies al-
together co
saeinert at tins moment a population nearly the
same, exclusive ecslaees and foreigners, which the population
of the United States did, when it commenced its contest with
us, one million and a half of people, and the greater number
of the people were nearly in the same state of mind
that the American population was, some seventy years
of our British and Irish ex-
ago. The total amount
aorts to all those Colonies put together, made just
000,000/. sterling. The share of Lower Canada, against
he liberties of which they were to engage in an unjust
'arfare, would make, according to his calculation,
enethine about 600,000./. He believed that men.
ants Would be tolerably satisfied, if from this
0,0001. they could gain a profit of ten per cent.
( Hear, hear)—that would be 60,000/. a year. There were
v in the Canadian trade 800 ships, the total tonnage of
ch was 220,000. They were the very worst description of
,s, because, when they were very bad and unfit for any
e. trade, they were immediately put into the Canadian
e for the purpose of carrying out white sieves
bringing home the worst timber in the whole world
?ear, hear)--and what did they pay for that timber?
oing to 1831, the public documents showed that we paid
union and a half more than we should do ware it not
o monopoly enjoyed by the Canadians : that mono-
vas of no advantage to the Canadians—it was only
vantage to the Lumberers, who were the most
ed of the whole community. One of the present
rs, Mr. P. Thomson had said that it would be butter
satioi, to pay the million and a half to the 2,000 tons
'rig engaged in the Canada trade, and let them cruise
ore in the Channel. The Military and Civil Govern-
-aarlda cost t 300,00001 and the people of Canada were
zed. They were taxed to the amount of 174,0001.
01. ; while the whole thirteen states, before they
their allegiance, paid only 31,0001. From
)1. to n 0,000,000/. had been expended on the
and naval and military establishments in that and
forth American Colonies cost US annually two or
ns. It was for this we are called upon to go to war
'Fy wished to say a few words. In MIL when
n Conwitution was under consideration, the Whigs,
Mr. Fee, had supported those very claims
Canadians now made.---( Hear. hear.) Who
es no:v.—(;fear.) It would stem that what
rroeg in 1791 was polit;callv right in 1837.
t should be remembered that the Radica:s were
crone ir. this count -y, and it would not be so
this country into an unjust war. —( Cheers. )
a —if they carried on this war they would be
•all out the Militia. Now he would suppose
wo-Line, man bring called on to serve, be re
sked his objections ; he says merely, I
lines giving hit reas.ons. He (Mr. Duffy)
on, and on being asked why lie won't
r is a simple and a slime one—" Because he
being represented." This was no imaginary
7 near bias a person who gave a similar
asked for his taxes (Mr. W. Lovett) The
Per in their own hands, if thee would only
trs.) he (louse of Commons might make
a point beyond human endurance to which
it them. ---( Hear, hear.) There was a
would 'lilac to ask any Hon. Gentleman
‘lember of the Leeislatute, and he would
acted Chairman himself. There were
ling for power in the House of Commons ;
of whom be (Mr. Flume) was
tinguished leaders.—( Cheers.) The
ing to obtain a greater share of power
were, however, so unfortunately placed,
ime strange fatality over them, which
ttion many of the acts of a weak
'.—( Hear, hear.) They had dragged
tae, until at last they were confounded
'ere Whigs or Radicals.---( Cheers.)
gin question to any Member of the
oppose Lord John Russell were to
the House of Commons, declaring
extremit:ea the war against Lower
•ed to give their sanction to that ?
apport the Whigs., and believe them
people?—( Hear. bear.) Such
he called en the Members of
-e present to give an answer
t would be in such a case ?
so years had been such as to shake
n all public men.—( Hear, hear. )
Wakley said they could squeeze
hut a plain honest course would
Whigs and Tories, instead of
th they had hitherto pursued.
ide and seek and hunt the
se of Commons. —( Laughter. )
shout Ireland, and they (imposed
( Hear, hear.) There was no
• themselves to be dragged
istry. Where was Leporello
d laughter.) Was be (as we
'.he war in Canada ?—( Hear,
r. D.) had seen the Hon.
ord John Russell since the
lutions respecting Canada.
e'er support the man who
er he was right or wrong.
net and define the course of
n the House of Commons ;
'enty of them, still, by act-
letermined manner, they
out at once.--( Hear. )
iy be secured, and he had
nurse was to be adopted,
He trusted that he should
question, and that the
neith a party who pur-
. Gene' leman had asked
ted a Ojstinct answer ;
never supported the
a
hear, nei cheers.)
hem when he ,thought
He never meanst to
)—but he would ask,
ate against a meas'Ve
y badmen ?—( Lotad
pose the Whig Mi-
they exercised the
and for the benefit
is answer ; and he
tad done.
had been put by
elf he would say
Deals out plainly.
tad no hesitation
as a party. .But
acted some good
had given then
tasures which hue
Poor-law Bill-)
he had been so
''ord John Ru s-
them again. -
two evils ; for
ate of Ireland.
now how the
t round their
'e to do what
do, because
as regarded
pport every
Tory, but if
uld get no
'owed by- a
carriedtd
ion, said
letain ed,
all detail
,y them
'1 hands
ed most
and, if
wed ol`c
,ercing
d not
ag the
atend
, but
ime,
neat
sere
at
the
sla-
-3.)
ny
ar
ly
.)
St

blasted, and that the Democracy of Canada, like the Demo-
cracy of the world, might be triumphant.
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. PROUT said he would content himself with moving that
petitions to both Houses of Parliament be prepared in ac-
cordance with the resolutions, and presented.
Mr. CHAPMAN seconded the resolution. They were now
fully aware of the greater part of the grievances under which
Canada laboured. The Government of Canada had for years
been trying to raise the people to their present position, but he
trusted their machinations would be frustrated, and fall upon

themselves.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN said places would be appointed at which
the petition might be signed, and he trusted it would be nu-
merously signed. —( Cheers.) [An individual in the crowd
here called out, " Mr. Chairman, will you remonstrate with the
Press?"] The Chairman—l wish the Press to be unshackled,
whatever course it takes.—( Cheers.) But public opinion

will control the Press.
Mr. CRAWFORD moved the following resolution :
That the thanks of this Meeting are eminently due, and are
hereby given to John Temple Leader, Esq., M.P. for this City,
for the sincerity, zeal, and ability he has displayed in defending the
just rights and interests of the Canadian and British people ; and
this Meeting deem it their duty to declare, that the disinterested
and patriotic eonduct he has displayed, on this and on every occa-
sion is: which the happiness and liberty of his country are con-
cerned—when viewed in connexion with the base attempts to
asperse his character by sordid and unprincipled tools of the cor-
rupt factions, both Whig and Tory—should raise him still higher
in popular esteem, but especially in that of the enlightened electors of
Westminster.
Mr. PROCT, in seconding the resolution, said that he felt
the greatest pleasure in doing so, because it bad been said that
Mr. Leader's conduct upon the Canadian question was
displeasing to his constituents. Now there was no
act of his (Mr. Prout's) life of which he was prouder
than that he had introduced Mr. Leader to Westminster.—

(Cheers.) From the time that he began to suspect Sir F.
Burdett and Sir J. Hobhouse, he was looking out for some
one to supersede them, and he never rested until he got
in Mr. Leader.—( Hear, hear, hear.) It was a great
triumph to get in Colonel Evans.—(Cries of " Where
is he to day?") But the triumph was not complete until they
gave him Mr. Leader for a colleague.—(Cheers.) He (Mr.
Prout) felt quite assured that the electors of Westminster
fully concurred with him, and approved of his conduct on the
Canadian question and every other.
Mr. HU could not allow that resolution to pass, without
bearing his sincere testimony to the conduct of his Hon.
Friend upon all occasions, especially when the affairs of Ca-
nada were under discussion. On all occasions he displayed
his attachment to the liberties not only of the Canadians, but
of the British people.
The resolution was then passed by acclamation.
Mr. LRADER said he rose to think them, though it was
difficult for him to exoress to them in suitable terms the
gratitude which he felt for . the great and unmerited
mark of confidence and respect which had just been
paid to him. As for the attacks that had been made
ow him by the Whig and Tory Press—he gloried in them,
for they only proved that he had done his duty by the

people —(Great cheering.) If they had ceased to at-
tack him, he would have been afraid that he was not doing

right, or that he was doing sontethiog that met their
approval.
He thanked them most sincerely for this mark of their confi-
dence. and he begged to assure them that the only object of
his public life was to do good to his country, and the only re-
ward which he required was the good opinion of his fellow
citizens.
Mr. Tuner then moved the thanks of the meeting to Mr.
Hume for his proper and dignified conduct in the Chair.
Mr. CLgave would answer a question that had been asked,
in order to prove to the gentlemen of the Press, that the
working classes knew something about the real or actual state
of Canada. He bad been there in 1813, on board of the
Success, and he could state that the men were frozen to death
on the lower deeke, and Winter did not cea'e till May. If the
Morning Chronide was correct, that the Guards were in ex-
taeies at going out to Canada, he ( Mr. Cleave) would wish
them joy of their camprign.—( Cries of " Hear, hear, hear.")
Much had been said of the venality of the Daily Press, but if
thee wished to have a really independent Press, let every nook
and corn'r in the kingefom send forward petitions to the
Legislature for the repeal of the penny stamp.--(Cries of
" Hear. hear.") That was the legitimate way to accom-
plish their object. It was a well authenticated fact
that in a certain Morning Newspeper Office, with which
they were all well acquainted, the question had been
three day- in debate —what side they should take on
Canadian affairs. One day they were not in possession
•of sufficient data—on the second day they were overrun
with matter—and the third, the mountain groaned and
brought forth a mouse.—(Groans and laughter.) Now, that
paper---(Cries of " the Tap-tub, Tap-tub")--he knew to be
conducted by a gentleman and scholar, and. therefore, he
hoped most sincerely that tile article produced in that paper
this day had not been written by him. The editor of that
paper had been accustomed to censure the uneducated men
who take part in politics for the use he charged them with
making of declamation; yet here was an article on a vitally
important nuestion, made up of mere assertion, and an
extract from the " Working Men'A Address to the People
of the United .Kingdom, on the War with Canada," with a
recommendation to read " A few Words on Canada," by
a Briefless Barrister, by the way.—( Laughter.) Let the
people of England come forward and pledge themselves to ad-
vocate the cause of the Canadians—let them awaken from their
sloth, and they would soon obtain the repeal of the stamp
duties.—( Cheers.) Let the people only respect themselves
—let them support those only who were their friends, and
the Press would soon support them.—( Cheers.) Mr. Cleave
concluded by moving the resolution, which was carried
unanimously.
The CWUItMAN briefly returned thanks, and the meeting,
after giving three cheers for the Canadians, broke up.
The large room at the Crown and Anchor, which is calcu-
lated to hold about 4,000, was completely crammed, and
thousands went away being unable to gain admittance.

The following letter was addressed by Colonel Evans to
the Secretary of the Committee, but it was not read at the
Meeting :

" Bryanston-squre, Jan. 4.
" SIR,--I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt o
your letter, written to me at the desire of the Westminster Re.
form Society, and inviting my attendance at a public meeting
to he held this day at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, to peti-
tion Parliament regarding the insurrection in Canada.
" Parliament, every one knows, is convened to meet little
more than a week hence—earlier than at any former period—
for the express purpose of laying before the Legislature and
the country the whole of the information in the hands of Go-
vernment, and for an exposition of the views and intended
policy of Government thereon. 1 therefore lament to be
obliged to say, that to seize on the short intermediate period
fur an expression of opinion necessarily founded on es parte
or imperfect information appears to me to be unbecoming, in-
evitably calculated to prejudge a grave question, and not less
so to impair and compromise utterly the weight and influence
in the State which ought to belong to the constituency of this
great city.
" But I should have been still anxious to obey the wishes so
respectfully expressed to sue, were it not that since the receipt
of your letter I understand an advertisement has appeared
stating, not that this meeting is assembled for the purpose of
considering the affairs referred to, but for that of at once pro-
nouncing the Ministry guilty of a series of tyrannical proceed-
ings, and, in fact, of holding out the the most direct encou-
ragement to an armed resistance against the national forces.
" I have not arrived at those startling conclusions, and must
decline, therefore, being a party to a meeting whose sole and
avowed object is that of passing such resolutions.
" Whether impolicy shall be attributable to Government,
or whether (which I think quite as likely) the colonists may
have been ill advised in their mode of seeking reform, unwar-
ranted in some of their demands, or in their resort to arms,
,
remains
to be proved ; but I feel quite certain that the Reform
I Society, for whom I have sincere respect, are premature and
precipitate, and have been mischievously misled in the present
instance. I have the honour to be, &c.
" DE L. EVANS.
" To Mr. West, Hon. Sec. West. Reform Society."