The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-16 00:00:00

INSURRECTION

IN CANADA.

The Montreal Gazette of the 27th ult. contains the
following narrative of the sacking and burning of the
Parliament House:—

" she writer yof this report, on proceeding to the
House of Assembly on Wednesday evening. at about
9 o'clock, to take his place in the reporters' gallery, fell
in with a crowd of persons marching towards the house.
The crowd advanced on the house by difforent streets
from the direction of the Place d'Armes. It speedily
surrounded the house and commenced throwing stones
through the windows. The crowd was large, but not
very dense; the writer was able to walk about through
every part of it. 'ft.,' excitement appeared to be intense.
door
toA boLityt:ooptetnhetihneorheavlliodleonotr,among the crowd proceeded
doing in the space of a few mowmhemoments,
s, stna
to atoms. They then rushed up the main stairs into
tho hall of the Assembly, a few members only having
remained, among whom were Messrs. Stevenson, Galt,
they
s hing
in
1‘1•Connell, and Dr. Fortier—the first named, with great
coolness, planted themselves in such a manner as to
escape the volleys of stones, and, like philosophers,
coolly surveyed the scene ; the hist, screaming
and yelling from very fear. The snob pro-
ceeded to demolish everything in the hall. One
fellow took possession of the' Speaker's chair, and
declared in a solemn voice that he dissolved the Parlia •
meat in the Queen's name, and that the Members had
better. take themselves off, or ho would not answer for
meantime
ehe
reporters
er nvee,epi
taken
idtceeuTrnas
lhrs
jumped
munr
gedpeme
fdbaoei
unh
fromi
inng d or
the
aMfiwer msei
npbdieeoaar
viis, ice
t.os
tehhat
ande
ier
second
story. encw.oti
nh e
t Onehd
f the
!tory. This, however, was needless, for instead of hay-
in. to pass through a lobby full of yelling demons, as
Hon.
Gentlemen anticipated, they had simply to walk
out.

"'The writer proceeded round the House on the out-
side; the crowd appeared to be composed, for the most
part as far as he was able te observe. of merchants and
other respectable citizens of Montreal.
" The number of persons inside the House was not
very large; there was a party in the lobby engaged in
breaking up the Committe-rooms, clerks' offices, and
knocking windows out. On
the outside the writer saw
five or six rough looking fellows beating in the window
panes with sticks and axe handles. A few boys were
throwing stones through the windows. The writer
heard s'une expressions to the effect that it was not
oe m for stationery.
improbable that the mob in the building would set it
on fire ; these expressions did not seem unnatural
from the manner in which the work of demolition was
going on. On arriving at the west end of the building
was employed saw
afewnen :
a barteark-roopoe open
a woodengallerwy,helt the
e
e
boarding (a kind of panelling)
was broken through, some
loose papers appeared to have been strewed on the floor,
which the writer thought were leaves of printed bills,
as these were flying about in all directions. The men
then fired those loose papers, and threw them about the
room. The wind was high, and in a very few moments
the wooden gallery and a canvas covering above it were
enveloped in flames. The crowd stood at some distance
watching in an apparently impassive manner the progress
of this handful of incendiaries. The anxiety of the mo-
ment was painful. Five or six resolute men might hare
arrested the incendiaries and prevented the catastrophe.
The writer's first impulse was to hasten for the police ;
he did not take this step, as the wildfire rapidity with
which the flames spread rendered it useless.
" Some fire-engines were immediately in the neigh-
bourhood, but they did not play upon the fire. It was
rumoured that the crowd would not permit them.
"The writer again hastened to the hail of the House
with the intention of endeavouring to aid in saving some
part of the library or records. He found the hall dark
and in confusion. He thought there w ere some persons
engaged already in what he intended to du; and finding
that he could be of no use, again left the hall to watch
the progress of the flames.
" All this occurred in the space of 10 or 15 minutes.
The wooden part of the building was now blazing with
intense brightness. A dense smoke was visible inside
the main building. A moment more, and it belched
through the windows and chimneys with awful fury. It
was now evident that any power, less than the hand of
God, must be inadequate to save the building, and it
woull have been madness for human beings to have
attempted it.
-suing the were now an
Al} hopes of re—. libraries at
end. The centre part of the building, occupied by the
library of the Assembly, in a short time fell in with
a dreadful crash through the roof of the west wing of
the building. In a little time more the whole building,
from ono end to the other, was enveloped in one sheet of
living flame. It was now impossible to approach near
the building for the intense heat, the belching flames
now bursting through the roc) f as it fell in, and the sight
became awfully and magnificently beautiful. The night
was clear and cold, and the high wind lashed the flames
Numbers of
-
dazzlingly white flakes
to maddening fury.
rose to some height above
balloons of fire, r
of flame, like
the raging flames, and were borne by the winds to some
distance. These fire flakes appeared to be caused by
burning
- pieces of paper beir's shot upwards by the fury
of the flames. The whole liea;ene were illuminated,
and the clear and beautiful blue of the firmament, with
the moon and stars brightly shining, contrasting with
the maddened flames and white light below—made a
picture of thrilling and awful beauty, such as it is rarely
the lot of the artist to look upon, and such a one that
his pencil would vainly try to imitate.
" The crowd was still not dense ; it was not too much
so to allow a horseman to gallop through it. The ex-
pressions were various. Some were execrating the
Governor-General ; some deploring the outrage ; some
speculating on the oss, more particularly of the two beat
and most extensive libraries in the province ; and some
were exulting over the ruin ; while others amused
themselves with tearing to atoms numbers of bills which
had been thrown through the windows. Some were
making witty allusions to the warm and sudden disso-
lotion of Parliament, comparing it to the Long Par-
liament. There were various stories circulating about
some fellows taking away that bauble,' the mace ; and
of some fellow taking possession of the chair, and de-
claring that the Parliament was dissolved. Somo were
wondering where the military were, and some gave out
that they were coming. This did not, however, create
the slightest alarm that the writer was able to perceive,
except that a few Canadians, catching the word, on the
hint respectively said, ‘je m'en vain,' which they imme-
diately did. The feeling of the crowd might be divided
into two divisions—deep regret on the part of the re-
reflecting and better informed, and jesting exultation
among the unreflecting and ill-informed.
"In the meantime the roofs of some houses on the op-
posite side of Commissioner-street had taken fire, and
painful fears began to be excited that it would extend to
the whole of St. Paul-street, the wind being so high.
The fire companies, however, performed their part well,
working in an intense heat, and succeeding in putting
down the fire, one or two houses only being, burnt, of
comparatively trifling value. The damage in the other
street, on the east side of the house, was confined to
some wooden railings. The writer was on the spot until
near two o'clock; when the rage of the flames had
abated, all the flooring and roofing had fallen in, the bare
walls alone stood, and the interior, from one end to the
other, presented one mass of living embers.
"It may be ob;ervcd that it was a late hour before
the military arrived at the scene; and the writer ob.
served no police until the work of destruction had irre-
trievably commenced. This cannot be too much re-
gretted, and the reason should be well inquired into; for
the writer affirms that fire or six policemen might have
arrested the incendiaries, while the crowd, at some dis-
tance, looked passively on. The greater part of the
crowd consisted of men too respectable to have aided
lin
incendiarism, and it seems wonderful that they could
have stood and looked so silen;ly on. The writercan
idea
only account for it by supposing that they had no
of the sudden result.
"The next morning the house lay in smoking ruins.
The stone of which it was built being blue limestone,
the walls were whitened, crumbled, and tottering in a
very dangerous state."
(By Electric Telegraph.)
MONTREAL, WEDNESDAY
gOUNING, MAY 2.

We continue in a most excited state. All sorts of
rumours cre flying about. The Royalists from various
isth&town,
e'tiut w n'a
n dr
French
lintiric
heitrs conflictsare
stei a inreh %
occurringaareing on
with the Fn
habitans.

"M0..)5 of people have been moving in the neightour-
hood of the city during the past night, in expectation of
arrivals of French hubitans ; if these should come in in an
armed. body we shall have sad work.
It was reported yesterday that a deputation was
coining from Quebec to present an address to the Go-
ir labnedriinegg, but notwithstanding some 6,000 or 7,000,
Go-
vernor-Gencral. This created a good deal of excite-
masesnertn,balnedd ato
large mob, numbering
prevent their
their efforts to prevent them, they succeeded in effecting
a landing at the Cross, about three miles below Montreal.
Large meetings are being held in Toronto and
Kingston, and numerous petitions are getting up to her
Majesty the Queen for the recal of Lord Elgin.
The following are the votes and proceedings of the
Legislative Assembly of Canada after the destruction of
the Houses of Parliament:—
BONSECOURS-HALL, SATURDAY, APRIL 28.
Hon. Mr. Doulton moved the following address to his
the Commons of Canada in
Excellency:—
her Majesty's
dutifulMa Yu.
Parliament assembled, have witnessed with feelings of
intdplelTalyosnurbiEeextccitihe,
deep sorrow and indignation the proceedings of a mob of
riotous and disorderly inhabitants of this city, who, in a
time of profound peace and tranquillity, have committed
several wanton and disgraceful outrages, as well upon
persons as property, the most prominent of which is
the destruction of the building occupied by the two
Houses of Parliament. At such a moment of excitement
we feel it to be due to ourselves and our constituents
to assure your Excellency of the devoted loyalty and
attachment of the people of Canada to the person and
Government of our beloved Sovereign, and of their
earnest desire to preserve the connexion with the parent
state.
" We further beg leave to express to your Excellency
our deep sense of the justice and impartiality which has
uniformly characterised the constitutional government of
your Excellency, while assisted by the counsels of your
former, as well as your present advisers, without refer-
ence to the policy of either.
" While we sincerely hope that Ulu tranquillity of the
city is now substantially restored, we feel it our duty to
assure your Excellency of our cordial support of any
measure which your Excellency may find it necessary to
take for the preservation of the public peace, and we
Pledge ourselves to make good any expense that your
Excellency may have found it necessary, or may yet
find it necessary, to incur for the accomplishment of that
object."
Mr. Wilson moved, in amendment—
" That an humble address be presented to his Excel-
lency to express that, we, the Commons of Canada, in
Parliament assembled, beg to assure his Excellency of
our undiminished devotion and attachment to our most

Gracious Sovereign and the Crown of Great Britain,!and
of the respect due to her Majesty's representative in this
portion of her Majesty's dominion; that this city ha=
been the scene of violence and outrage of a most dt,-
pionble and frightful character, the public records of
the province and the Parliament buildings have been
burned by lawle:,s men, private property destroyed, and
serious injuries inflicted on several pc:at:ethic and loyal
eit:z?ns.

" That this House desires to express unanimously its
abhorrence and indignation at such outrageous and law-
less acts, eestructive to the peace of s:iciety, order, and
good government.

That this House is prepared by every constitutional
means to aid the Government in the suppression of vio-
leace, the restoration of order, and to assert the su-
premacy of the law."
Yeas—Messrs. Badgley, Boulton of Toronto, Cayley,
Christie, Galt, Gugy, Sir Allen N. M'Nab, Malloch,
M'Connell, Papitiesu, Robinson, Seymour, Sherwood of
Brockville, Sherwood of Toronto, Smith of Frontenac,
Stevenson, and Wilson-17.

Nays—Messrs. Armstrong, Attorney- General Bald-
win, Beaubien, Bell, Boulton of Norfolk, Boutillier,
Burr:tt, Cameron of Kent, Cartier, Cauchon, Chauvesu,
Davignm, De Witt, Duchesnay, Dumas, Forgusson'
Fortier, Fournier, Fourquin, Guillet, Hoiwes, La Ter-
riers, Laurin, Lemisux, Marquis, M'Farland, Merritt,
M6'.hot Morrison, Nelson, Notman, Polette, Price, SAII-
- Smith of Durham, Smith of Wentworth, Tache,
Thompson, Vig2r, Watts, and Wotenhall-42.
Hou. Mr. Sherwood moved, " That the further con-
sideration of the main motion be postponed until Mon-
day next."

Yeas—Messrs. Baclgley, Boulton of Toronto, Christie,
Galt, Gugy, Sir Allen M'Nab, Mello* M'Connell, Ro-
binson, Seymour, Sherwood of Brockville, Sherwood of
Toronto, Smith of Frontenac, and Stevenson-14.

Nays—Messrs. Attorney-General Baldwin, Beaubien,
Bell, Solicitor-General Blake, Boulton of Norfolk, Bon-
tinier, Cameron of Kent, Cartier, Chabot, Chauveau,
Davignon, De Witt, Solicitor-General Drummond,
Duchesnay, Dumas, Fergusson, Fortier, Fournier,
Fourquin, Guillet, Hincks, La Terriere, Laurin, Le-
mieux, Marquis, M'Farland, Merritt, Methot, Morrison,
Nelson, Notelet], Polette, Price. Smith of Wentworth,
Tache, Thompson, Viger, and Wetenhall-38.
Mr. Galt moved, in amendment to the main motion:—
"That this House have viewed with the most profound
regret the disturbance of the public peace in the city of
Montreal during the last three days, and which has re-
sulted in the destruction of the Parliament building, with
the archives and library—the destruction of much pri-
vate property, and injury to the persons of her Majesty's
subjects.
" That this House considers it their first duty to tender
to the Government their assurance that nothing shall be
wanting on their part to restore public tranquillity, and
that they are ready to make :provision for any future
measures judged necessary to protect the lives and pro-
perty of her Majesty's subjects.
" That whilst this House are of opinion that the
restoration of peace is the first object to be achieved,
they consider that they should be wanting in their duty
to the country, if they did not express their opinion that
to the advice of the present Executive Government, in
recommending his Excellency to assent to the Rebellion
Losses Bill, and to the manner in which the assent was
given, are to be attributed the disturbances which have
resulted so disastrously for the honour and prosperity of
this province; and that this House. fully recognising the
constitutional principle that the Administration are to be
held responsible for all acts of the Government, desire to
express to his Excellency their sincere regret that his
advisers should have taken that course which has caused
insults to be offered to the representative of her Most
Gracious Majesty in this province, as well as to this
House, which are calculated to diminish the respect of
the people for the constitution under which they live."
Yeas—Messrs. Badgley, Boulton of Toronto, Christie,
Galt, Gugy, Sir Allan N. M'Nab, Melloch, M'Connell,
Rebinson, Seymour, Sherwood of Brockville, Sherwood
of Toronto, Smith of Frontenac, and Stevenson-14.
Nays—Messrs. Attorney-General Baldwin, Beaubien,
Bell, Solicitor-General Blake, Boulton of Norfolk, Bou-
tillier, Cameron of Kent, Cartier, Cauchon, Chabot,
Chauveau, Davignon, 1)o Witt, Solicitor-General
Drummond, Duchesnay, Dumas, Fergu=son, Fournier,
Fourquin, Hincke, Holmes, La Terriel-e, Lemieux,
Marquis, M'Farland, Merritt, Nelson, Nottnftn, Pspineau,
Polettc, Price, Smith of Wentworth, 'rade, Thompson,
Viger, Watts, and Wetenhall-37.

The question being then put upon the main motion,
the House divided thereon, and it was decided in the
affirmative.

Yeas—Messrs. Attorney-General Baldwin, Beau-
bien, Bell, Solicitor General Blake, Boultun of Norfolk,
Boutillier, Cameron of Kent, Cartier, Cauchon, Chabot,
Chaveau, Davignon, Do Witt, Solicitor-General.Drum-
mond, Duchesnay, Dumas, Yergusson, Fournier, Four-
quin, Mucks, Holmes, La Ternare, Lemkux, Marquis,
M'Farland, Merritt, Notman, Polette, Price,
Smith of Wentworth, Tache, Thompson, Vigor, Watts,
and Wetenhall-36.

Nays—Messrs. Badgley, Boulton of Toronto, Cayley,
Christie, Galt, Gugy, Sir Allan N. M‘Nab, Malloch,
M'Connell,Pepineau, Robinson, Seymour, Sherwood of
Brockville, Sherwood of Toronto, Smith of Frontonac,
and Stevenson-16.

A committee was then appointed to prepare the
address.

The Hon. Mr. Boulton, from the committee to prepare
an address in accordance with the foregoing resolution,
reported the draught of an address, which was agreed
to, and ordered to be engrossed.
Ordered—That such Members of this House as are
of the Honourable the Executive Council of this pro-
vince do wait upon his Excellency to know when be
will be pleased to receive this House with its address.

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
METROPOLITAN REFORM ASSOCIATION.
Sir,—On Monday the 14th, the debate on the Mar-
riages Bill was further adjourned till June 13. These
adjournments for six weeks are a sad trial for those who
are smarting under the effects of the existing law. And
as such they are intended. There can be no wonder at
lengthy speeches, when an orator has only to rise at an
hour when Hon. Members are sleepy, to throw ovor the
process of legislation for half a quarter of a year at a
blow.
The Parliamentary Oaths Bill is to be subjected if
possible to a similar process. Though there was a full
House in expectation of a division, this was resisted and
the debate adjourned till Thursday. And Thursday a
Puseyite Member discovers to be Ascension Day;
whereupon notice is given of a motion to adjourn over
that day, and all is to_be abroad again.
Lord John Russell consented to the omission of what
is popularly considered as the nonsense part of the Par-
liamentary oath, viz. that which talks of the Pope of
Rome and defending the settlement of property withia
this realm. But why does he preserve the words "on
the true faith of a Christian," which it is clear to every-
body are the accidental peg on which the existing wrong
is contrived to be hung? The most reasonable answer
appears to be, that he does it in order to demonstrate to
the peasant mind the trickery and unmeaningness of the
words altogether. For everybody knows that there are
at least three or four different parties taking the oath on
" the true faith of a Christian," who would cut each
other's throats it tiny ono of them was enforced to ac-
knowledge what is called " true Christianity" by the
other. The words therefore aro a dhlraceful double
entendre; and as such the Noble Lord holds them up, by
allowing them to remain.
On Tuesday great interest was felt in the House,
from the knowledge that questions were to be proposed
to the Government on the subject of the news from Ca-
nada. The Minister gave a guarded reply, intimating
that he would give information to the House when he
knew more. On the whole nothing appeared which
should alter the conclusion to be drawn from the public
prints, that the outbreak in Canada is of the same na-
ture as if the Orangemen had appeared in arms on the
Royal assent being given to the Catholic Emancipation
Bill, or the English Comervatives on the passing of the
Reform Bill.
The case stands thus. A Government under certain
forms of representation is established in Canada.
Bat one class submits to it only with an understanding,
that if the votes go egeinst them, they are to rise in arms.
Votes are to do their work while it suits them; and
afterwards the musquet. Their threat at present is, to
make the country over to the Americans, who are pledged
within the life of man to have an army at Windsor Castle.
There can be no doubt that the whole thing has its con-
nexions and bearings here. It is to act upon the Bill
before the Lords upon the Navigation-laws, and the Jew
Bill is not to go as ithout a portion of its influence. A
party which can rise in arms in Canada, is not without
terror to the timid and the timeserving here. The
King of Hanover's advent is promised at the same con-
juncture. Is he driven from his dominions, or is he com-
ing to vote in the Committee of the Lords ?
The present Government are evidently put upon their
trial, and their future character will much depend upon
the way ni which they shall call around them the adher-
ence of the country.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
AN OLD REFORMER.
London, May 16, 1849.

ITAWICK MANUFACTURES.—(From a Correspon-
dent.)—For nearly the period of a century the town of
Hawick has been celebrated as a thriving seat of manu-
facturing industry and enterprise. From small begin-
nings in the woollen branches of hosiery and weaving,
its trade has gradually extended until it has become the
greatest manufacturing place in the south of Scotland
In the hosiery department alone more frame work, in
the shape of hose, shirts, drawers, under-clothing, &c.,
is manufactured than in all Scotland put together. In
the weaving department the annual value of the manu-
factured goods is also very great, consisting of tweeds,
tartans, shawls, blankets, and shepherd's plaids, alias
mends, which latter article is indigenous to this place,
and scarcely made anywhere else. The greater part of
the above articles is made from foreign wools, purchased
at the London sales, and sold, to a great extent. in the
metropolis, as well as in the provincial towns. Out of a
population of 8,000 nearly all are employed, directl yan or
indirectly, in the production of the above goods, d
taking into account that the burgh it, 50 miles from a
seaport, and 30 miles from coals, much credit is due to
the enterprise of its capitalists. By this enterprise
several steam-engines have lately been erected to aid
completionetho nv
ge
rin of nd
oa tin I ,n e butryo
wn
1 che
su hfording a powerful
stimulus to oer surroundin towns of the boer
countier,
mercial enterprise.nkth g into poverty for want of a spirit of Cordm-
tatenrf 13600ofyisteleri tesi:lndt dihnebwuderrgibliv and Hawick Railway, a
further extension will be made,,af
SPOTS ON TEE SUN.—Mr. Chalmers, of 'Weston-
supervary says—,6 That there is at the present time
in the centre of the sun's disc a collection of spots of
such extent thitt the whole may be seen as one spot
without the aid of magnifying power, by merely pro-
tecting the eye by a dark glass. Of course with a good
telescope the spots present a very curious appearance."