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

CANADA.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Stu,—The recent accounts from Canada (if we are
to believe the Ctandard) 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
Lord 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 Canadas. Then as to the Indemnity
13i11 on perusing the names of claimants, that
of " Wolfred Nelson " appears for nearly one-fifth the
amount. This person was attainted with treason, he
fi!sd 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 their 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 tha 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 duff adopt the latter
course.

Let Englishmen rememkr that 'Canada possesses
in miniature the British Constitution, and that its
representation and Legislature is based on the princi-
ples of the Imperial Parliament. Let me ask, if the
Indemnity Bill had passed the British House 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 Canada resist, and
refuse his acquiescence to a measure which has
Fussed 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-
tuenciet. 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
;ustice can interfere ? I question much if any int,r-
ference by the Governmert 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 '
repulsive 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 Wolfrod 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 not held at Montreal. Mr. Ogle R.
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 fotnentors 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 Canada&."

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:—

ASSETS.

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

Cash and ingots
Ditto in branch banks
Bills past due •••
Bills falling due in Paris, of which
13,968,610 f. 49c. are from the branch
banks •••. ••• ...
Bills in the branch banks
Advances on coins and ingots...
Ditto on French public securities
Ditto by branch banks... ...
Ditto to the State on Bons du Tresor..
Ditto on the loan of 150 millions ..
Rentes of the reserve fund
Rentes, disposable funds ...
Investments of the new branch banks in
the public funds ... 12,779,541 39
Hotel and furniture of the Bank ... 4,000,000 00
Real property of the branch banks ... 2,283,787 00
Loan of 10,000,000 f. to the city of Paris 8,000,000 00
Interest in National Discount Bank ... 200,000 00
Ditto branch banks ... 230,000 00
Bills protested at Paris ... 6,514,155 95
Ditto at the branches ... 4,060,296 00
Expenses of administration of the Bank 486,146 39
Ditto of the branches ... 347,739 00
Miscellaneous 941,366 14
Advance to the department of the

... 47,116,944 26
... 81,654,083 95
... 16,927,052 00
... 28,194,558 95
1,483,337 00
50,000,000 00
50,000,000 00
10,000,000 00
42,581,488 13

Seine ••• •••
Loan of 3,000,000 f. to the city of Mar-
aeilles

3,000,000 00

1,000,000 CO

f. 705,418,673 49