The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-29 00:00:00

S N 9 AUGUST 20, 1848.

VANCOUVER'S ISLAND.
TO THE EDITOR OP THE TIMES.
Sir,—As one who has trodden the shores of Van-
couver's Island, and who knows its value sufficiently to
appreciate it, I trust you will give me a place in your
columns. I read with pleasure your leading article of
this morning, as I was afraid you were going to pass
over in silence the most interesting subject of Friday
night's debate, in which the Right Hon. Member for the
University of Oxford has so ably brought before the
public a case of such vital importance to the interests of
this country.
We hear on every side cries for relief, and we are told
that emigration is the only possible provision for the
universal distress, and yet, in the face of all this, we see
an island nearly equal in extent to England, most
admirably suited to the wants and constitutions of
Englishmen, and so situated as to become the watch-
tower of the Pacific, consigned to oblivion by being
granted to a company who for nearly 200 years
have held the- most despotic sway over a tract of
country nearly equal in extent to ourlndian possessions.
Have they made such rapid advances in civilization as
to sanction the existence of such a monopoly at this ad-
vanced stage of the 19th century? No, their motto is
statu quo. They have nothing to show, it is their in-
terest to show nothing,

Sufficient argument has been advanced by Mr. Glad-
stone to prove that the Hudson's Bay Company are
unfit to colonize; not one statement which he has made
can they refute; he has even dealt leniently with them,
they know it, and no doubt rejoice at getting so easily
out of an ugly scrape. On the other hand, to meet
those arguments of the Right Hon. Gentleman, great
exaggerations have escaped the lips of the Government
supporters; the Under Secretary for the Colonies uses
the following expression—" that they have at this mo-
ment a very flourishing settlement on Vancouver's
Island." Let your readers judge whether that settle-
ment deserves the appellation which Mr. Hawes has
given it, being in reality a wooden enclosure of some
200 feet square, occupied by two Englishmen, two half-
breeds, and three or four Canadians, with their Indian
wives. He likewise dilates upon the high encomiums
passed by the American Exploring Expedition on the
internal management of the company. originating in
some passing compliments, perhaps unwillingly admitted
by Captain Wilkes, in return for some interested acts of
courtesy which he received during his short stay in their
territory. But, not only this, he would lead you to be-
lieve that the American Commodore had visited the Red
River, and that he described it as a settlement " ad-
vancing in civilization and flourishing;" but the Hon.
Member forgot to state how the Commodore got his
squadron across the Rocky Mountains.
The less that is said about the Red River settlement
the better; it is not a free settlement, and a most dis-
graceful specimen of British colonization; and as for the
Puget's Sound Association it is a bugbear.
Mr. Buller has made rather a miscalculation as to the
voyage out to Vancouver's Island and the expenses at-
tending it, but it is to be presumed that he does not know
much of those matters. He has taken a very illiberal
view, too, of colonization i❑ general, and seems to think
that New Holland, New Zealand, and the Cape of Good
Hope should be "filled" before emigration to Vancou-
ver's Island should bo encouraged. lam sorry to say we
have too long practised an erroneous system of emigra-
tion; it has been, in fact, a species of transportation, and
not free emigration. We ought to take a hint on this
subject from our brethren on the other side of the At-1
lantic, not force our countrymen to colonize against
their will, on Mr. Buller's principle, by sending a
family to New Holland who preferred the Cape, or
to New Zealand who preferred Vancouver's Island. " Do
to others as you would be done by;" do not shut out
to the emigrating community a most desirable colony.
I say shut out, for that under the jurisdiction of the
Hudson's Bay Company it is so to all intents and pur-
poses, time will show. Why should they have roused
from their slumbers after such a long snooze, and taken
such a colonising fit into their heads? The problem is
soon solved. Because they found that energetic indivi-
duals were about to confer a lasting benefit on their
country by founding the nucleus of a future generation
on the distant shores of Vancouver's Island, and they
knew that the first dawn of civilisation in that
quarter would be the signal for them to quit, so they
made a bold effort; and although they have carried
their point, certainly not with flying colours, yet I
venture to predict that before eleven years of probation
have expired, or even the first term of five years, the
Government will repent their bargain, and be wiser by
half on this subject than they are at present, although,
as usual, John Bull will have to " fork out" for the ex-
perience.

In conclusion, I only regret that the Noble Lord at
the head of the Government should know so little about
Vancouver's Island, or have so little respect for Ameri-
can citizens as to think that they would make a piratical
descent upon the island, while he was obtaining the
requisite information to justify his disposing in such a
summary manner of an immense tract of her Majesty's
II dominions. If it is any satisfaction to the Noble Lord,
I can assure him that even " should dire war spread
death around," the Americans are as likely to invade
Iceland as Vancouver's Island, as they have got more
territory than they can well take care of for many years
to come.
OCULAR DEMONSTRATION.

- -
PROTEST AGAINST THE THIRD
READING OF THE IRISH FISHERIES BILL.
1. Because a Bill of this nature, dealing with various and
conflicting rights, ought not to have been forced forward for
the adoption of Parliament in the absence of nearly every
Peer connected with Ireland and at a period when it is im-
possible to give the subject due consideration.
2. Because the Bill is founded on a principle not only un-
precedented, but indefensible; oppressive and discretionary
powers of taxation being vested, not in the owners of pro-
perty, but in conservators, chosen by persons who may for
the most part possess no property whatsoever, and whose only
qualification is the payment of a license duty for the use of a
fishing rod or net.
3. Because a system of annual election by a constituency
not required to possess a property qualification cannot fail to
lead to confusion, mismanagement, and strife, when applied
to the government of a district which, like that of the
Shannon, may extend for several hundred miles.
4. Because the imposition of an annual license duty levi-
able from the poorer class of fishermen, and exceeding the
total value of the cats and nets employed by them, is
grievous and oppressive ; calculated to deprive many honest
and industrious persons of their means of livelihood at a
time of unexampled distress, and which cannot fail to pro-
duce just discontent, leading to acts of violence and resist-
ance to the law.
5. Because the imposition of an invariable tax on all
Scotch weirs, without any reference to their relative value,
is unjust and unequal, and will in many instances act as a
prohibition against a mode of fishery, which in Ireland as
well as in Great Britain has been found profitable and pro-
ductive, and is a violation of all the rights of property.
6. Because the power of levying a tax of 10 per cent. on
the rated value of any description of fishery is iniquitous and
unjust, and is the less defensible at a period when Parlia-
ment has withheld its assent from an additional property-tax.
of 2 per cent., though stated by responsible Ministers to be
required by the exigencies of the State.
7. Because the appointment by Act of Parliament of the
Inspectors of Fisheries to hold- the additional office of Com-
missioners, is inconsistent with all sound principles of admi-
nistration, the same individuals being called on to discharge
conflicting duties, to issue orders as Commissioners, to exe-
cute those orders as inspectors, and, finally, * decide and to
report on the manner in which they have themselves exe-
cuted their ministerial duties.
S. Because it is not shown, or even suggested, that this
extraordinary Bill has been sanctioned or recommended by
the Commissioners of Irish Fisheries, the official functionaries
appointed under a recent statute to report annually to the
Legislature and to Parliament on this subject.
9. Because on these grounds the Bill is unwise and unjust,
oppressive to the poor, partial -in its bearing on the more
wealthy, destructive, to industry, and inconsistent with the
-rights of property, and :is therefore likely to create
.lust
feeling's of discontent in Ireland, when that country is madeihc
the subject and the victim of a legislative experiment which
in rela-
te ioounl dt
on tehv er
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ni
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AG' nGruecLahEt BleoriFstalßan r.Rn
Ae
DON.

WINDSOR, SUNDAY EvEt!ailG.—The birth- day of
his Royal Highness the Prinpe Cotisort was celebrated
in Windsor yesterday with the customary demonstra-
tions of loyalty; the ringing of the joy-bells in the tower
of both church' and castle; the firing of royal salhtes by
the guns of the Belvidero Battery in the Great Park, re-
echoed britie -Corporation guns in the Bachelor's-acre;
by a public dinner in the Town-tall, plentifully supplied
with venison fiom th 6 Great Park, and choice fruit from
the royal fruit gardens adjoining the grounds at :Frog-
more House, The principal inns and the houses of the
royal tradesmen were splendidly illuminated after sun-
set; and to-morrow the festivities are, to be continued,
by another public dinner at the Royal Adelaide Hotel,
in the vicinity of the LOng-Walk,
,with a brilliant dis-
play of fireworks, salvoes of artillery, Ste.
THE ROYAL VISIT TO BALMORAL—We have now
the gratification of being able to announce that arrangements
are being made for her Majesty's 'visit to the north, which
will take place very early- in September. The royal visitors
will proceed directly to Aberdeen, and will land, it is believed,.
on the quay of the harbour, immediately below Regent-
bridge. It is proposed, that should the tide not be suitable
at the time when. the royal fleet approaches Aberdeen, it
shall lie to in the Frith of Tay, so as to arrive here exactly
at high water. Her Majesty will be accompanied by a com-
paratively small retinue, and it is understood that it is not
the intention of the royal party to make a lengthened stay
at Balmoral at present, the sole object of the visit being to
inspect the lately acquired royal residence there. It is ex-
pected that the whole trip will be accomplished in ten or
fourteen days. Inquiries have been made as to the facilities
of posting up Dee-side, and the number of horses to be or-
dered is quite beyond the wants of any party of less rank
than royalty itself. Professional orders, to be executed im-
mediately, have been received by several of her Majesty's
tradesmen in Aberdeen. The House Steward arrived in
Aberdeen on Tuesday night, from Osborne, where he had
waited on her Majesty, and received her commands as:to the
necessary arrangements for the reception of the royal party.
We are happy to learn that the necessary arrangements for
the debarkation of her Majesty and suite in this harbour can
be satisfactorily made.—Aberdeen Herald.
THE TRICKS OF FLYING STATIONERS.—On the
morning which had been fixed upon for the execution of
Burton, at Huntingdon, a packet of tolerable size arrived at
the station that town, directed to some one unknown; and anit
was not called for at the end of ten days it was opened,
found
otnof
econtaino
fa
CI ahragrel e
sq
Bu auerttiotny,
,of the
ready
for‘ l a sitmdmyiendgi
immediate
ec
cir-
culation, but which the respite he had received rendered
valueless.

L

L•

wedread .03dgor

IMPROVEMENT IN PRINTING.
A new printing machine has recently been produced
in America, the invention of Colonel Hoe, a partner in
a well-known engineering house in New York. This
machine seems quite novel in its working, and is called
by the Americans, " Hoe's Last Fast Press." The fol-
lowing description of the working of the machine is
from the Philadelphia Ledger :
" The essential principle of difference between this
last invention and all other kinds of presses or machines
hitherto used consists in the fact that while upon those
the types are locked up with ' quoins' and a mallet
and shooting-stick,' in a chace, and laid flat upon a
bed' of iron, the surface of which is flat; with this one
the types are screwed up with a wrench, in what our
compositors are pleased to denomine a turtle,' consti-
tuting both bed and chace, and placed upon a large cy-
linder, four and a half feet in diameter, more or less,
which revolves upon its own axle within four other
smaller cylinders, the fourth part the size of the larger
one, these revolving also upon their own axles in an op-
posite direction.
"Each one of these smaller cylinders receives from
its supplying attendant the sheet of paper with which,
at every fourth revolution, it meets the form or turtle'
of typo as it comes round, and in passing, gives the im-
pression, and instantly throws it out into the receiver's
hands, above or below, according to the relative position
of the cylinder.
''Surrounding the large inner cylinder, to which the
form of type is attached, and between those giving the
impression, are placed the inking rollers, which spread
the ink upon the face of the typo as it revolves under
them. There are two of these to each cylinder. The
inking fountain is placed entirely underneath the ma-
chine, from which the ink is constantly drawn by means
of a continually revolving small iron cylinder, forming
itself a part of the fountain. From this the ink is taken
up by means of small rollers, with a small vibrating dis-
tributor, working in connection with them, and is con-
veyed to the surface of the large cylinder, the entire cir-
cumference of which, except that section of it occupied
by the form of type, performs in its revolution the office
of both distributor and feeder to the eight inking
rollers, from which latter the types receive their supply
direct.
" With two of the cylinders the white paper is fed in
above, and the printed sheets are thrown out below, and
with the other two it is fed in below and thrown out
above. The room taken up by the machine, paper
boards, and all included, is about sixteen feet in length,
and nine feet high by about five feet in breadth. The
types used upon it are the ordinary types hitherto used
upon the Ledger, which are made to assume a circular
form in the make up ' by the use of bevelled column-
rules.

" For the attendance of this press ten persons are re-
quired—viz., a superintendent and an assistant, and four
to feed sheets in, and four to receive them as they come
out. This is the same number only that have been re-
quired to attend the two presses heretofore used in
printing the Ledger."

—edger.-
Thismachine, according to the Ledger, is capable of
throwing off twelve thousand impressions an hour with
the same amount of labour as that bestowed on those in
ordinary nse at the same office, and which are stated to
be the best that -could be produced. The invention is
certainly one of great importance, and may be the
means of producing great changes in periodical lite-
rature.