The Sun.
London, England, 1812-05-06 00:00:00

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verntnent of Canada, the purport of which waS the
procuration of a species of information, which it was
he.duty of every officer so circumstanced to acuire.
He returned to Canada about the aid of that year ;
and before he proceeded further,-it was proper their
Lordships should con*ider the 5i11130911 in which Ca-

nada was then placed;•with.respea to the Govern-
ment of the United States. -Avery great heat and

olamour prevailed in America at the time, and the
country aEsuined.a very._ warlike- and menacing- al ti-

Ride. Not only defensive measures were thin set
on loot., but on the 25th of November, the Gover-

nor of Boston had receiedOrderi to hold ieti't heti-
Sandnurn, then under his coinmand, in reitclinesi to
march at a moment's notice. This circumstance was
publicly no. orious, and stattd in the public panels.
This was the province nearest to British! Not th Ame-
rica, and, if that force could be Applied, at all, it teas

. .
:tibe iovaiion/of our dominions. This was Gene-
'al Craig's convidion at the, time, as he.even pre-

vented the expedition then teady• for sailing from
Halifax against Martinique; but retained them, be-
cause it put all our North American possessions in
great hazard. But that was nat.all ; on the 13th
of November,,Congresi voted fifty thousand volun-
teers, on the requisition Of the Executive ;
Mr. Erskine, our then Minister, very properly de-
manded 'an- explanation. , What possible eventual
oikjeet could such a force•be for, but to _attack the
British American possessions? The answer of iVIr.
Madison to Mr. Erskine was, that the conduct of
the belligerents was such towards them (the Ame-
rican) as to authorise the Commencement of hosti-
lities without any turtlier notice. Mr. Erskine then
very properly-sent wean express to Sir Janies Craig,
informing„him of the circumstance ; - and it was
known that Canada or Halifax were the points first

to be attacked. These ci►cutnstances served at
least throw a colour upon the relations in which
the two Gov'ernments stood at- the time. (Hear,
kear!) But other circumstances might be men
-
Unmet, hostilitieS were actually committed at the
time; some British boats were seized on the Lakes,
though no reprisals were attempted. Th 6 fcur East:
ern States of America took the most active mea-
sures at the time, with reference to the commence-
ment of hostilities) and their Lordships must feel
how desirable and necessary it was at the time tor
the Governor of Cattada to know the sentiments pf

the different States, and 'an opinion generally pre-
vailed, that in the event of a war, some degree of
separation would take place. He believed that no
man would say the' condula of General Craig,_ on
such an emergency, w.,s,iMproper. Whatever may
be said as to the question of poky,' there could be
little AS to, the point of morality, when the state of
preparation, and the menacing attitude of tha,"-kine-
rican Government was considered ; when they de-
clared hostilities may be commenced without fur-
ther' notice. But having received communications
from Mr. Henry, and thinking that he was well
acquainted with the general sentiments of the East-
ern states, he sent him thither in ?ebriaary LBO9.

A great deal which appeared in the papers, how-
ever, was false and unfounded ; but as 'far as au-

thentic instrudion- went, he must contend the di-
rections were not for the purpose of exciting dis-
content, but wholly tot the purpose of obtaining in-
formation which in the event of hostilities might
enable Sir J. Craig to avail himself of the prevalent
temper and disposition in the States. There was
'no presumption warrantee in any thing or measure
adopted by Sir J. Craig, that such untar or impro-
per objects were in kis view. - So far from it, that
‘'-v hen he-heard the points in discussion Were ad-
juited betweed Mr. Madison and 'Mr. Erskine, he
sent orders to Mr. Henry. to lxillidraw from the
United States, and that proved that all his instruc-
tions were given 'in the contemplation of hostili'.
ties.. With respect to what was said of the appli-
cations which were made by Mr. Henry fur a re-
muneration, he bad to observe, • that when such ap-
plications were made, it was naturally_ an ohjea
with him to inquire into the cir;n:aaer and conduct
of the individual so applying and on the security
of the recommendation trom,Sir James Craig, and

it appearing he. had been employed in procuring
certain information, and that sorriesremuneration
had been promised him for his services, he had. Aro
hesitation 'in saying, 'that as he thought lie had I
b'een so employed, and nothing_appearing against.
the character of the individual at the time, he held
it his duty,, as he should in all cases of the kind, to
have aged as was mentioned in the correspondence
with General Prevost. Such a line.of conduct was
adopted as the impressions of what the individual
might have done in the way of renderiog a desirable
service fairly warranted. -Neither was it afterwards
deemed consistent with delicacy to say any thing
which might have reflected in , the "least Upon the
character of Sir James Craig,who had returned home
twin his government under a mortal distemper,
to survive but a few months. But he:could not
think the course adopted by the Noble Brron the
most proper to be taken ; it sbduld rattier be left to
our Government to take such measures as they
.deemed proper; to explain and set lorth the subject
in its true light. Neither did he approve of the .
course adopted by the American Executive ; they
should liave demanded an explanation in the first
instance of the British Government. He toasted
these were principles and conviaions on this delicate
question which their Lordships would feel and en-
tertain ; and if they saw that no blame could fairly
attach "to his Majesty's Governinent On the occa-
sion, they would do them the justice to believe they
would not be wanting to tnernselves,or neglea
their dirty on ttie occasion ; a part of which he (the
Noble Earl) felt it to be to resist the motion.
Earl GREY argued at'some length in support of
the motion, and maintained that on a
.qut'srion of
such important , Government ought to be anxious
to justify itself to the world. He contended' that
the pers,4l alluded to, instead of being sent as ale-
"gitimate agent, was authorised to sow dissension
among the 'United States. If America: had shewn
a hostile &position, it 'ought to be met by a de-
.elaration 'of. war .' How would we have felt if'
France had sent emissaries to stir up the Catholics
of Ireland ? He thought the Noble Lord's con-
:duct rather incautious in
„appointing captain 'Henry
without any other documents, and the transaction.
being known to Government, without any expres-
sion of disapprobation, was a cixcurnstauce highly
objectionable in their conduct.
Lord LAUDERDALE said, that Sir James Craig, by
recalling Mr. Henry as soou'as the apprehension of
war was over, &hewed that he was aware. of Wale.