The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-22 00:00:00

CANADA.

rile following paragraphs are extracted from a
pamphil et which, in a few days, we believe, will be
ready for publication. A more direct allusion to the
suijec t will be:found in our leading columns] :
Ere s I close this pamphlet,* I will respectfully di-
rect • attention to an occurrence now agitating the
publi is mind, and on a su eject which has been alluded
to i r the Imperial Parliament—" The Canada Rebel-
lhe a. Indemnity Bill."
having, with every branch of my family, ever sup-
p artEd the Government in Canada, and opposed the
ii
.tsigns of anarchists and traitors,
I will venture to
assert that this Bill, now awaiting Lord Elgin's assent,
was nut a proper or judicious measure. It was intro-
duced by his own French Canadian Ministry, to
reimburse the disloyal Lower Canadians for losses
sustained in the rebellion of 1837. In a former ses-
sion the Parliament reimbursed the loyal Upper
Canadians for their losses. It was but fair a similar
measure should relieve the loyal Lower Canadians;
but I deeply regret to find that his Excel-
lency Lord Elgln overlooked the fact, or
permitted the introduction of one name, and
that. too, the heaviest claimant, Dr. Wolfred
Nelson, a person of
great talent in his profession, but
who was a traitor, and was the principal fomenter of
treason, at St.• Charles, and on the banks of the
Richelieu ; tiny, further,
that he either was one of
those transported to Bermuda! or, what was still
worse, fled his country and 'remained in exile for
years, till ttte general amnesty permitted his return ;
a sad evidence of presumed guilt !
There can be no excuse pleaded to justify Lord
Elgin overlooking Wolfred Nelson's name. Unfortu-
nately,
it was too prominent in the rebellion of 1837,
for a price was set on his head; and his violence, at
that period, was as conspicuous as that of Mr. Papi-
neau ; consequently, it amounts to a serious error of
judgment on Lord Elgin's Part, and I am not surprised
that his popularity should be on the wane. No go-
vernor, possessing discretionary power, should permit
a'
men should
apersistednresponsibilityhynn boreffi
interference
rer,
en remu-
nerating
driven
s-
na
note Ministrya
to
tni
e traitors
wonderedrat iot ofrosi s;
tf
oonnrt ihfi sni the
such acts
that
loyal
m
to revolt. However, the whole matter appertains to
by Canada,tneimperial
nd CanadaL Legislature
natluornee
will be most ; and
unwarrant-
able and uncalled for. The strong arm of the law is
ample enough in the province to suppress any attempt
of the petty section in the minority of the Legis-
lative Assembly to sow the seed of revolt
or mischief; and I particularly allude to that section
represented by Sir Allan Macnab and Mr. Sher-
wood. Their inflammatory speeches have produced
much mischief, and it is thus that clever firebrands
"sow the whirlwind," leaving the humbler class to
" reap the storm."
The colonial press has devoted itself for some
months, in a strain the most violent and bitter,
against the measure ; and it is to be deplored that his
Excellency Lord Elgin, whose government has been
most judicious, and whose motives have been the
purest throughout the period of his command, did
not pause ere he permitted this Bill, obnoxious only
with regard to Dr. Nelson's name, to be introduced
" as a Government measure."
It never could have been contemplated or intended,
that those proved to be fomenters of rebellion and
de facto traitors, should be rewarded for their per-
fidy and treasonable conduct ; and, in Dr. Nelson's
case, an exception should have been made, as, to all
the other claimants, no mention of opposition or the
slightest hostility has been exhibited to the full reim-
bursement of the claims of loyal sufferers by the
rebellion ; and I now fear it is too late to remedy this
very serious error, for it is a wretched precedent !
Lord Elgin should have objected at the initiative
step, and, before the 13111 was introduced to Parliament,
either dismissed his Ministry, or .appealed to -the
constituency by a dissolution of the Legislature.
However, whatever course is adopted, I will impress
on the reader that the sum to defray this indemnity
taxation, and
Bill is contributed by general provincial
consequently found by those who, in the elective fran•
ndoubted privilege of return-
chise, have exercised the u
ing those Members who are pp
su osed to speak the
general sentiments of the electors. A reference to
the votes, and the overwhelming majority in its favour
in the Legislative Assembly, bespeaks the popular will.
Now supposing the navigation-laws passed by the
Commons, and again by the Lords, by a very trifling
majority of even of 2, I question much if her Majesty
would dare attempt to veto a measure passed by both
branches of the Legislature. The Canada Bill is an
exact parallel, but with this serious exception ; it is
asserted but has yet to he proved, that Lord Elgin's
Ministry selected some six partizans, and elevated them
to the Legislative Council (the Colonial Peers), and thus
carried their measure by a majority of four. If this is
the case, his Lordship would be unfit to retain his post,
and should be immediately removed. He has
violated privileges which should have been held
sacred in the province of Canada ; and, I fear, the
result will lead to a serious collision between the
French and English sects. The idea of granting
premiums for rebellion is too monstrous to entertain
for one moment; but, as insurrections oftimes entail
serious losses, miseries, and hardships on the well-
disposed and loyal portion of the people, they, and
they only, are the parties whose claims to indemnity
should be favourably entertained, and the British por-
tion of the community have never objected thereto. But
a hatred is now engendered in the province by the Eng-
lish towards the French party. To arrest its progress,
there is but one judicious step to be taken. At once
divide the province of Canada into the Upper and
Lower provinces ; include in the former the island
of Montreal, and the eastern townships ; and let
each province retain its own Legislature. Reduce
the salary of the Governor-General to 4,5001., and
appoint a lieutenent-governor at 2,5001. for the Lower
province. Let the seat of Government be Quebec
for that division, and Montreal for the Upper pro-
vince. This step would entail no expense, as the
Governor-General's salary is 7,0001. per annum, which
exceeds even that of the President of the United
States.—The French and English races would thus
be divided.

If this recommendation, which is a popular one, is
not entertained, replace the division of the union as it
was previous to the rebellion of 1837, and give each
province its own legislature. The union of the
provinces after the rebellion was an injudicious
andill-advised step, and I question much, if mea-
sures are not immediately taken to divide the pro-
vinces, that nothing can prevent a revolt. In that
case, it will be the British community rising against
that Government which required, a few years since,
their loyal services to put down treason and rebellion,
which was fomented by the Lower Canadians. The
position of Canada is certainly most critical.

" Our Colonies. By Arthur Wellington Hart, of
Canada." Richardson, Cornhill, London; Walmaley,
Liverpool. May, 1849.

MR. H. G. WARD AND TER BOARD op Alo-
ecrety
generally to tbe
MIRALTL—We have very sincere pleasure in publishing
the following high testimony to the important services
We by our
believelate tMemberthat
the as
electors Sar
Ad
miralty, by those best capable of appreciating their
renderedvalue
value.
will
be gratified by this well-deserved compliment,
which in some measure reflects honour on them-
selves, in having elected and supported during the long
period of twelve years a representative capable of
bringing to the public service administrative abilities
of the highest order. The minute, which is
as follows, is taken from the Minute-book of
the Board of Admiralty:—" Board Minute, 2d
May, 1849.—Mr. Ward having been
appointed
by her Majesty Lord High Commissioner of the lonian
Islands, and in consequence ceasing to be Secretary of
the Board, my Lords cannot permit him to retire with-
out expressing the high sense they entertain of the
zeal, ability, and unwearied attention with which he
has performed the important and laborious duties con-
nected with his office. In reviewing his services, the
Board cannot but notice with marked satisfaction the ar-
ratigemvnts introduced into the dockyards under Mr.
Ward's supervision, and by which he sacrificed much
customary personal patronage to the improvement and
best interests of the public service. Let a copy of this
minute be forwarded to Mr. Ward, with the best wishes
of the Board for his future success and welfare.—;By
order of the Board.—W. A. B. HAMILTON."—Sheffield
Times.
Tire BANBURY MEEDER.—James Layton, who
stood charged with atteu3pting to murder his wife, by
shooting her and cutting her throat, on the Southern-
road, near to Great Burton, was on Monday morning
again brought up at Banbury, before the two county
magistrates, John LovedAy, Esq., and the Rev. William
Lloyd, by whom he had been remanded, and committed
for trial. To the astonishment of all, Mrs. Layton is
still living, and had, up to our last information, pro-
gressed favourably. The wound in the forehead presents
a deep hole; that in the throat is granulating; but she
is quite unable to swallow. Mr. R. S. Wise attends
twice a day, and administers sustenance, such as arrow-
root and beef tea, by means of the stomach-pump. We
have been expressly requested by her to state her gra-
titude to Mr. Wise, for his great attention and kindness.
Betore the prisoner left Banbury, he was told that his
wife was likely to ricover. He said he was sorry to
hear it; if she died, he would go to the gallows dancing.
Oa ford Journal.
The Bishop of Salisbury preached the anniversary
sermon for the Royal Humane Society, on Sunday last,
at the Royal Collegiate Chapel of St. Katharine, Re-
gent's-park, to a distinguished and select congregation,
atter which a collection was made in aid of the funds of
the institution.