The Sun.
London, England, 1822-11-09 00:00:00

'HE COLONIES.

CANADA.—PRIVATE CORRESPONIANCE.
CC MONTREAL, SEPT. 18, 1822.—in all commu-
nications between the Gentlemen in London who
take an interest in Canadian Affairs and the Mi-

nistry, language to the following effect seems
perfectly proper at the present crisis :
" The great variety of information respecting the Canadas,
now before you, tends to prove, that notwithstanding an excel-
lent soil and a salubrious climate, their industry languishes,
their commercial resources are not drawn forth, anti that the
present state of affairs, if left to their natural course, affords
not even a distant prospect of those countries becoming less
burthensome to the finances, nor less embarrassing to the Go-
vernment of the British Empire. It is equally evident that the
present evils and bad prospects arise more particularly from de-
fects and abuses in the political organization and legislative
routine of the Lower Province, where difficulties daily aug-
menting surround the English part of the population, who see
with alarm that the Provincial Institutions are become-totally
incompetent for improving the Colony, or redressing the griev-
ances of the Colonists. The principle of political improve-
ment appears extinct in those Institutions ; and if a remedy be
not speedily applied by the British Government, the Colony
must fall a prey to disorders which it cherishes in its own bosom.
" The Ilouse of AsseMbly, as now composed, is really so
weak and illiberal, so insensible to the distresses of the English
part of the popUlation; including the townships, and the Emi-
grants, and to the claims of the other branches of the Govern-
ment, that, as far as it it lies,
.it will continue in every respect
its destructive war against commerce, discouraging the mu-
tually beneficial commercial and financial connection with
Upper Canada, repelling all community of interests with New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia, cherishing to the last, as the
foundation of its power, the inveterate prejudices of the French
Canadians .•
" The Provincial Executive, subjected to many local influ-
ences and intrigues, may be found defective in inclination,
energy, or ability, to probe evils to the bottom, administer
palliatives, report extreme cases, and persevere without ceasing
in claiming the interference of the British Government to esta-
blish the ascendancy of British principles in the politics of
Canada.
" We intreat you therefore to persevere in that wise, enlighten-
ed, and prospective policy which introduced into Parliament,
during the late Session, a Bill for the Legislative Union of
Lower and Upper Canada, extending their Parliamentary
Representation, prescribing English as the language of sta-
tutes, parliamentary proceedings, and debates, facilitating se-
lief from feudal tenures and burthens, producing, in fine, a con-
fidence in the minds of all thinking men, that these great Co-
lonies, their growing interests, and population, will be watched
over by an intelligent Legislature, able and willing to employ
every proper means of amalgamating the various inhabitants,
'directing their views to one common centre, uniting them all
in a sincere attachment to the Parent State, and exciting in
their minds the laudable ambition of contributing to the last-
ing glory
.of England, by spreading and perpetuating Bri-
tish laws, manners, and language over the Continent of North
America.
" To abandon the Union Bill, to take lower ground in exer-
cising the right of Parliamentary interference, would affect the
dignity of the British Government, and leave the English part
of the Population to continue a hopeless struggle for existence
against an oligarchical faction, desirous of raising up a French
nation, to the entire discouragement of all the 'essential charac-
teristics of British Colonies, and indulging in dreams of future
independence. But it may here be remarked, that were such
dreams realised; a State would arise modelled upon some one
of the feudal aristocratic Republics of Italy during the 16th
century, forming a complete anomaly to the other bodies po-
litic in North America, and which the States surrounding it
on every side would combine to destroy, thus effecting at a dis-
tant period by the sword that extinction of French principles
which a judicious application of acknoWledged legislative
power and rights by the British Government, would at the
present crisis. go far to eradicate, without seriously affecting the
convenience or interest of a single deserving individual.
" 'The principal objection -against the union appears to be
the placing of the French Canadians in a situation less fa-
vourable to the preservation of their language, laws, manners,
and habits, which distinguish them as a separate people. We
suppose that you are aware that such illusory ideas of separa-
tion, akin to that of the ancient Jews, have been cherished in
the French Canadians, by sonic influential persons, who were
so far blinded in that respect, as to endeavour to extend the
feudal tenure as one of the means of probably extending the
scene of this separate existence. Now, besides that there never
has been given any pledge to favour such a mode of political ex-
istence, are a separation of feeling, and a difference in the modes
of mutual communication, worthy of the encouragement of the
British Government? or rather has not that Government a de-
cided interest in seeing the mixed population gradually amalga•
mated and.rendered homogeneous? and how can that be better
or more speedily effected than by an arrangement which will
open some path of advancement to all individuals contributing
their aid to this amalgamation and consequent assimilation to
the British character? If some French Canadian persons feel
hurt at the least partiality to British characteristics on the part
of the British Government, their own feelings, supposing them
to be sincere, are perhaps the best apology for that Govern-
ment.
" It is next contended that the British Government. having
left Canaflian affairs so long without interference, giving reason
to expect that the machine of provincial administration would
be suffered to take its impulse and directive from internal force
and volition, has thus virtually surrendered all right to inter-
fere with the high hand now manifested, and it may be now
remarked that this absence of decisive superintendence and
controul on the part of the British Legislature must naturally
have led many persons to contract feelings of political indepen-
den ce,particularly if they were not engaged in external commerce,
which is the principal support, both in theory.and in practice,
of the Colonial connection. This argument may be briefly op-
posed by defining, and describing the rights of supreme Govern-
ments which are imprescriptible, and also by making out such
a case of expediency and necessity as naturally requires such a
decisive interference for suppOrting the dignity and the interest
of such supreme government.
" We are thus led .from the justice of the measure to its expe-
diency, and the opponents on this ground assert, that the pro-
posed extension of territory submitted to the control of one Le-
gislature will be found incompatible with the necessary atten-
tion to the welfare and improvemei.t of the parts remote from
the city of Montreal, the most eligible seat of the united Legis-
lature. This objection is met, by asserting on the contrary
that the present and the 'probable impr9ventents of internal
communications by, land and by water are eminently calculated
to diminish the practical disadvantages of distance, and that
personal meetings, or an interchange of sentiments ,by letters,
can now be effected between the inhabitants of both extremities
of the settled parts of the Canadas in one-fourth of the time,
which was requisite fifty or sixty years ago. It is, indeed, such
improvements of intercourse by steam-boats, turnpike roads,
eonvenient relays of horses and telegraphic communications,
combined-with the influence of commerce and identity of lan-
guage, which enable the American States to extend their Na-
tional Government in a manner unexampled in modern times.
" Besides the clamour respecting the personal inconvenience
and the local damage to be suffered by a probable removal
of the seat of-Government, there is one argument brought for-
-ward apparently wills aj2iewta intimidate. Thus the measure
is asserted to be, inexpedient and dangerous, as by diminish-
ing in the Freteh Canadians the selfish hope of retaining
the ascendant, -or remaining a separate people, they will
be found neither able nor willing to second the British Govern-
ment and the English population in defending this country
against the Americans in case of another war. This argument
however is not likely to influence any Government conscious of
good intentions, and which ought to derive its stability rather
from enlightening and improving itasubjects, than from flatter-
ing their prejudices -or unreasonable antipathies. The British
Government will be here supported not more by the fame of
naval and military atchievements than by cherishing in the
minds of the well-informed a conviction of its determination to
extend to this country every means of physical and intellectual
advancement.
" Restoring, therefore, the ascendancy of British principles
in the Canadas, let the magnanimous policy of Britain pro-
mote to an indefinite extent the population, the commerce,
and the wealth of those countries destined by nature for great-
ness, and let her look forward without jealousy or alarm to that
period, when maturity of strength will excite in them a desire
of independence ; for the colonial connection may in due time
be exchanged with mutual benefit for that of a national alli-
ance, rendered more lasting and more sincere by those natural
sympathies which arise from similarity of laws, manners, and
language."
"MONTREAL, SEPT.2I.—We are happy to hear from Que.
beet that the Union bill' is universally prayed for by the com-
mercial men in that city and their connections ; and that when
the French Canadians commence their threatened operations
against it, the former will be found on the alert to counteract
them. An advertisement, calling a meeting on the 7th proximo,