The Sun.
London, England, 1838-01-11 00:00:00

No. XXXII'.

EXTRACTS OF A DISPATCH FROM THE EARL OF GOSFORD TO
LORD GLENELO (MARKED PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL),

DATED CASTLE ST. LEWIS, SEPT. 8, 1837.

Of late the meetings of the Pepineau party have been less
frequent; one object in having them in so many districts,
previous to the meeting of the Legislature, was, no doubt, to
influence the votes in the Assembly, and it had this effect.
The plan now seems to be to keep the country in a state of
excitement by means of a convention, or, an it is termed, a
central committee, which meet regularly in Montreal, and
at which Mr. Papineau and his party make a point, as I am
informed, of attending. It is stated that all orders and in-
structions to the local committees throughout the province
emanate from that body, who prof, ss to publish its proceed-
ings in the Vindicator and Minerve ; and though these
proceedings have evidently a treasonable tendency, they
have nut as yet reached such a point as to make it wise or
judicious for the executive to institute legal . proceedings
against any of the parties concerned. The Attoroey-Ge-
neral is now in Montreal, and I have strongly urged upon
him the necessity of keeping a good look-out, and I am de-
termined to have recourse to a court of law when an occa-
sion occurs to justify such a step, but to attempt it without
a strong case might do more harm thin good. The inju-
rious effects that must result from a convention, such as
I have alluded to, are obvious. Had the Executive the power
of saspending the habeas corpus, it would be in a better posi-
tion to meet the d'iliculty, should the conduct of the coeven-
tionslists compel it to have recourse to more vig-orous mea-
sures than the ordinary course of the law prescribes ; end
from the madness ef their acts now, I cannot but ac'mit that
there is a possibility of my being driven to the necessity of
exercising a power that I should most gladly abstain from,
if any other mode presented itself by which the designs of
this party could be frustrated. However, should circum-
stances arise for apprehending such a crisis, it must be met
by promptness, firmness, and decision ; to attempt any thing
of a temporising character would be weak and futile. I
should at once avail myself of the powers confided to me.
We can now make no terms with Mr. Papiaeau; you must
either put him down, or submit to let him put you down ;
then: is no halting between two opinions. By at cnce in-
creasing the porter of the Executive and suspending the con-
stitution, you et once paralyse the ch sigrs of these mis-
chievous men ; it would establish confidence in the minds of
these disposed to peace and good government, and at no dis-
tant period you might be solieited to restore the Constitution
to the province, under arrangements beat r calculated to afford
satisfaction than could be accomplished by any effort or propo-
sal in the present state of things; for, until sou nullify Pepi-
neau's power, you can never be in a position to treat on any-
thing like fair and liberal terms with a men of his extravagant,
uncompromising, destructive views, exercising as he does com-
plete control over the minds of many who have been too long
accustomed to be under his yoke. As I stated former let-
ters I do not expect any serious comm eioe; at the same time,
when I see so many clever unprincipled engines in action,
yielding implicit obedience to the mandates of such a man as
Mr. Papineau, it is impossible to set limits to the extent ef
mischief they may construct. The jealousy that exists
between the two origins, is also a powerful instrument in
the hands of a Convention, or Central Committee, as be-
fore alluded to ; and corresponding, as they no doubt
do, with various parts of the province. The two
extremes are doing incalculable mischief, end must
disgust every friend to liberal measures. The feelings of
the great body of the French Canadians, are decidedly
loyal, and favourable to peace and order—and it now
rests with the government by wise and judicious measures, to
protect them from the designs of those who are now working
upon their credulity by the most gross rnisrepresentetions and
contrivances. The jealousy that existed between the two
races, I found upon my arrival here had reached such a hOight
that from the first I considered it one of the principal obstacles
•to a satisfactory edjustment of difficulties. I must, however,
observe, that this has greatly diminished ; and I can reckon as
friends to my administration a large proportion of the reason-
able and liberal men cf the province. The ultras on both
sides are struggling for ascendancy, and my determined oppo-
sition to the views of both in this respect, perhaps may in SOME)
measure account for their hostility to me, but I cannot relin-
quish my principles on this point. My situation now is not
an enviable one, and, on every pirate comideration„ I stall
gladly relinquish it. It is probable and, indeed, reasonable,
that if matters here should come to extremities, you would
prefer to have a man in my place who hod not so avowedly
declared his wish to carry on his government on the principle
of conciliation. In stating this, be assured at the same time
that I do not shrink from the difficulties which surround me,
nor would I wish in any way to embarrass the administration.
A public dispatch azcompanies this, which enters more into
official details.

No. XXXV.