The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-11 00:00:00

" TO THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL Or DURHAM.

" We approach your Lordship with sentiments of high
esteem, and sincere congratulation on your Lordship's safe
arrival in your native land.

" Conscious of the pernicious influence of war, not only
on our commercial prosperity, but on the general interests
of humanity, and regarding civil war as especially destructive
of the virtue and happiness of the community, and of all
that is best worth preserving in society, we received, with
deep regret and apprehension, the intelligence of the late
revo!t in our Canadian possessions.

We felt consoled, however, by the appointment of
your Lordship to the office of Governor-General of the dis-
turbed Colonies. The difficulties with which this office
was beset were manifest. To unite those disunited by dif-
ference of lineage, language, customs, prejudices, and in-
terests, and to supply the place of a Constitution unavoid-
ably suspended, by the authority of a single person, de-
manded, on the part of the individual selected for the task,
a degree of ourage, judgment, and political experience
rarely conjoined ; supported by an amount of power not
often conceded by the British Legislature. But we had
known your Lordship long, and felt perfectly convinced
that, arduous as was the task, you would show yourself, in
the hour of trial, adequate to its achievement ; and we cer-
tainly hoped that no malignant influence at home would be
employed to thwart the operations of that authority which,
great though it was, we considered safe from abuse in your
Lordship's hands, and requisite for the pacification of
Canada.

" We were not disappointed in our reliance on your
Lordship's talents and character ; each succeeding mail
from the disturbed colonies brought evidence of returning
order and tranquillity, and of the confidence of the go-
verned in their governor ; and that not merely in the Bri-
tish possessions has your Lordship's influence been already
most beneficially exerted, but the substitution of a friendly
feeling among the population of the United States, for
one of a different character, evinced that not merely were
our colonies to be pacified, but foreign war to be averted,
by a policy at once firm and merciful. The circumstances
by which our expectations, and those of the people of Eng-
land, have been frustrated, are too familiar to require that
we should dwell on them at length. The ordinance, tried
by the only legitimate test—its applicability to the con-
dition of the colony—was one of justice and mercy,
furnishing security to the public, without needless
oppression of the offenders. A different mode of judg
o• -
in was resorted to in the Upper House of Parliament ;
andb men totally inexperienced in the actual condition of
colonial affairs, tried and condemned it by rules perfectly
applicable to the well-organized society immediately around
them, but destitute of all force in reference to a country
where the ordinary functions of Government were sus-
pended, and the usual course of judicial proceeding could
produce only perjury and injustice.
" That Parliamentary proceedings, originating, we be-
lieve, in motives the most factious, supported in some quar-
ters in ignorance, and adopted in others with culpable timi-
dity, should, by rendering your authority powerless for good
government, have compelled your Lordship to abandon
an office undertaken with the best intentions, and carried
on with the happiest results, we deeply deplore ; and we
much fear that events will arise to convince the whole na-
tion that such proceedings have been as little founded on
policy as justice.

" Whilst, however, we cannot but lament that circum-
stances should have occurred to compel your Lordship to
relinquish your appointment, we are in some degree con-
soled by the reflection, that the powerful aid of your expe-
rience and counsel will be contributed in the British Legis-
lature to arrest any further evils from proceedings which
have tarnished its character for justice and wisdom.
" Signed for and on behalf of a public meeting of the in-
habitants of the Borough of Sunderland, held on Friday,
the 7th of December, 1838.
"JOSEPII SIMPSON, Mayor."
The eehai
tingr. were voted to the Mayor for
his e thanksconduct o fin thethem
Chair.