The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-25 00:00:00

his 'small account.' The paterfamilias of restricted .
means denounces as a bore that respectable individual
with an umbrella under his arm, and a receipt book
sticking out of his pocket, who has already called two
,lays running without success for half a-year's poor rate.
The belle of the season groans under the affliction of that
periodical visit to the family dentist, which she is
solemnly assured is essential to the preservation of three
of her front teeth. These inevitable annoyances must
ever be included in the genus bore,' simply because
they ara inevitable; and because, moreover, they are
re-current. It was the same with most good measures
which have been pertinaciously pressed upon Parliament
notwithstanding repeated rejections. Parliament en-
dured a wonderful amount of boring' at the hands of
Wilberforce, Romilly, Branham, Grey, Russell, Ver-
non Smith, amongst many others, who year by year
fought with patient resolution on behalf of wise, just,
and salutary reforms. Parliament was bored.' Par-
liament uncommonly enjoyed a joke or a sarcasm at the
expense of these troublesome gentlemen, who would take
no denial, but were no sooner beaten than they corn
menced preparations for a fresh attack. The wits made
very good fun of them. There was plenty of brilliant
talent, there was no lack of ponderous prejudice opposed
to their exertions ; nevertheless they made way, and
finally conquered, not by dint of mere dogged mulish
obstinacy, but simply because the bulk of the nation was
at their backs, and because their cause was intrinsi-
cally just. So it is with the ballot. The House, not-
withstanding Mr Berkeley's caustic pleasantry, is rather
bored by the ballot. The majority of the refined and
wealthy classes of society are bored by it ; they wonder
it should still thrust itself forward into notice, like a
vulgar weed reappearing after it was supposed to be
extirpated. It is impertinent, obtrusive, aggravating ;
in short, it is a bore.' Well, no doubt it is, but see
why it is so, examine !he question fairly and honestly.
Are you justified in rejecting it? Are your grounds of
objection solid? Are they satisfying to the conscience?
May be after all the best way of disposing of the ballot
will be to make it law. May be there is no other method
of extinguishing the nuisance. Like a refractory crumb,
or an obstinate pill, the best way to get rid of it will
probably be to swallow it."

The question is very far indeed from being
exhausted in this little pamphlet of 43 pages
octavo, penned by Sir ARTHUR ELTON. It is
popularised in it. It is simplified through the
medium of its clear aad homely logic. But ex-
hausted ?—well, one might as well have expected
to find the Free-Trade argument exhausted, in
one of the catechetical inquiries of PERRONET
THOMPSON, or in one of the Corn-Law Rhymes of
EBENEZER ELLIOT, or in one of the many masterly
speeches of RICHARD COBDEN, as look for exhaus-
tion of the subject of the Ballot in a single pamph-
let by Sir ARTHUR ELTON, or in a single speech
by Mr. HENRY BERKELEY. One might, perhaps,
carve the designs of the Shield of Achilles upon
the surface of a cherrystone, or pack the twenty-
four books of the Iliad inside of it. But—exhaust
the Ballot in one speech or in one Pamphlet? We!l,
hardly—even though Mr. HENRY BERKELEY him-
self were the orator, or Sir ARTHUR ELTON, with
all his common sense, his logic, his wit, and his
rhetoric, were the pamphleteer.

When will this country awake to a proper
sense of the stupendous responsibilities her im-
mense Colonial possessions entail upon her ? A
good deal of progress in this direction, it must be
admitted, has been made of late years, but still we
are far behind hand. What a destiny has been
adumbrated for us ! What a history may ours be
if we put forth our strength in the discharge of
our bounden duty ! Suppose we had to record
the plougshare of desolation having passed over
the face of Europe, uprooting and destroying the
various nations by whom it is inhabited, with the
exception of ourselves—how the national mind
on recovering from the terrible shock would
expand and glow with ardour at the
thought of peopling the vast region with
our own race, who should carry with them
the immortal and fructifying seed of our free in.
stitutions with all we inherit from them ! Brain,
and tongue, and pen would weary to comprehend
the grandeur of our position and give it adequate
utterance. Statesmen, philosophers, men of com-
merce, and you the industrial million, believe us
—a grander destiny than this wild speculation
suggests to you is shadowed forth to us in no idle
wandering dream, but as a more than possible—
a contingent reality ! We have areas equal to
many Europes in our possession waiting but ade-
quate justice at our hands, to owe to us the foun-
dations of a future which the airy imagination of
the poet might well fail to describe, and the phil-
anthropist weep with joy while unable fully to
realise. Is it not time we proved ourselves worthy
of our destiny by accepting it, and taking
strides towards its development in proportion to
its grandeur !
It is not our intention to enter into the evi-
dence by which the assertion can be substantiated.
The realer will find abundant testimony at hand if
ho allows himself a few minutes for reflection.
Our object in speaking as we hive is to stimulate
him sufficiently to be interested in what follows,
corroborative as it is ('f our remarks. Should he
be disposed to accuse us of bathos, we turn on
him and say—if what we are about to advance be
bathos, how surprisingly grand must that be to
the imperfect outlines, of which we challenge
denial, and it stands in such relation. Take up
the map of America. Look at Canada. It is a
British colony. Years ago it was strong enough
to rise in rebellion against our misrule. It has
grown wonderfully in importance since then.
What with industry, railways, and posi-
tion the young giant has grown so great that
350,000 square miles do not afford him
elbow room. This Canada of ours, if filled up,
would be a great empire even when placed along-
side of a great European monarchy. It is instinct
with the future that awaits it. It pants to lay
the foundations of its hereafter wide as the area
it must ultimately embrace. Turn your eyes to
a contiguous territory—not to the United States.
Do you know anything of it ? Look how it
stretches onward to the Pacific—how many Ca-
nadas are embraced in its vast area. Take up
your compasses and rule—measure and calculate !
The area of this territory of which you know so
little—why, it actually comprises four millions of
square miles. Do you know whom it belongs to
and how it is peopled and governed ? It belongs
to Great Britain, is almost a desert so far as
population is . concerned, and is governed in
the most un-English way conceivable. Industry
is represented by the trapper ; agriculture is pro-
hibited ; desolation and plunder alone are culti-
vated. The very missionary has the door shut
against him. The devil himself may grin from
one end of it to the other without a moment's
intermission. It is in the hands of the Hudson's
Bay Company, whose title is as good as that of
I the owner of an estate stolen within living memory.
Their only charter is a surreptitiously obtained
licence, which expires in 1859.
Oh, it is suggested, "it is a bleak, uninhabit-
able, worthless country." A thousand times
No ; it is not. The greater portion of it is as
good as Canada. It teems with coal, with cop-
per, plumbago, and other metals. Gold ore, it
is more than whispered, despite the efforts of the
Company to keep the fact secret, has been
found imbedded in it. It may turn out a
second California. Flax, tallow, hides, are to
be had from it. It is capable, when culti-
vated, of feeding kingdoms with its produce.
Its climate is at least as good as that of Canada ;
and with all these advantages it produces only a
number of furs. It is shut up against mankind,
and its inhabitants bowed to the earth, mentally
and morally, to fill the pockets of a petty, but
most unscrupulous trading company. These vast
territories, in immediate contiguity to Canada—it
is of them we are speaking—these vast territories,
belonging of right to Canada—for such is the fact

—that very Canada there needing and crying out
for elbow-room, and unable of itself to get it.
Does the history of the world record anything
more preposterous than this? Here are some of
us glorying in the progress of C tnada, and all of
us " perplexed in the extreme" to find a colony,
or room in one or other of our colonies, for the
discipline of our convicted burglars, garotters, and
other dangerous felons, and all the while this
area of four millions of square miles is populated
chiefly by a few trappers, and is shut against us
resum tencatis—by the Hudson's Bay Company !
by a few audacious London traders ! Well may
the Canadian Board of Trade meet to protest
against so monstrous and unrighteous an occupa-
tion, and demand liberty to break down a barrier
which keeps them from their own, or, at the
very least, stands in the way of Canada's legisla-
tive development. Well may we he excused for
having spoken as we havo done, if excuse be at
all needel. It is hard to speak on the subject
with patience.

Viscount Palmerston arrived in London yesterday
morning, and returned to Broadlands in the afternoon.
Lord Stanley of Alderley left town yesterday for
Alderley Park.
BRIGHTON.—The Duko of Devonshire purposes pass.
ing his Christmas in Kemp Town, and probably s'lme
time longer. On Monday his grace had a select dinner
party, including the Marquis of Ahercorn And Lady
Louisa Hamilton, Countess of Durham, Hon. Mrs.
Hodgson and Miss Hodgion, Lord Cavendish, Cap'ain
and Mrs. Davidson, Colonel Clifford, Mrs. Giles, and
Mr. Erskine. The Dowager Countess Granville is
among the latest arrivals at the Bedford Hotel. The
Marquis and Marchioness of Head fort have arrived at
the Bedford Hotel. Sir Fitzroy Kelly, after a stay of
some days at the Royal Albion Hotel, has taken his
departure for London.--Brighton Gazette.

DEATH OF REAR ADMIRAL WETHERALL.—We re-
gret to announce the death of Rear Admiral Frederick
Augustus Wetherall (1854), of Ealing, Middlesex, which
mournful event took place on the 21st inst., in Upper
Mount-street, Dublin. This officer was born Feb. 20,
1788, and entered the navy in 1800. He accepted the
retirement Oct. 1, 1846.
ROYAL ACADEMY or MUSIC.—The nomination for the
two King's Scholarships, vacant at this time of the year,
took place on Saturday, the 20th inst. The Board of
Examiners, consisted of Mr. Potter, Chairman, Mr.
Goss, Mr. Lucas, Mr. H. Blagrove, Dr. S. Bennett, Mr.
Dorrell, and Mr. P. R. Cox. The number of candidates
examined was 88-17 young gentlemen and 21 young
ladies. The following were elected scholars :—Miss S.
L. Kilpac and Master C. W. Isaac. The following can-
didates were " specially" commended—Misses Tacker,
Aylward, Gnivier ; Messrs. Thomas, Betjeman, Amor,
and Waddell. The following were commended—Misses
Parton, Wallace, Clint, and Walsh ; Messrs. Mason,
Meeking, Bainbridge, Hammond, and Farrar.
OXFORD AMATEUR THEATRICAL SOCIETY.—The mem-
bers of this society commenced a series of entertain-
ments ore Tuesday evening, when they performed two
farces, "Time Tries All," and " The Fish out of Water."
The whole of the proceeds were given to the City Public
Library, towards assisting the funds for a lending library,
and amounted to 51. 19R. 61. The pieces, with the
assistance of two clever artistes from London, were very
creditably sustained.
We understand that a Treasury commission has been
issued, appointing Lord Portman, H. Ker Seymer, Esq.,
M.P., I. K. Brunel, Esq., C.E., Robert Rawlinson,
Esq., C E , Professor J. T. Way, J. B. Lawes, Esq.,
and Southwood Smith, Esq., M.D., to inquire into the
most effectual means of distributing the sewage of towns
and of applying it to beneficial and profitable uses.
The Right Hon. H. Labouchere, Colonial Secretary, is
about to erect a new family mansion on hie property at
Stowey, Somerset. The contract has been already taken
by a London firm, and amounts to about 18,0001. The
works ere to he proceeded with immediately.
EPISCOPAL LIBERALITY.—Tbe Lord Bishop of Gloces-
ter and Bristol provided lodging., at his own expense,
for every candidate for the recent ordination, and di-
rected that all their needs should be promptly and fibs-
rally supplied. The want of a palace at Bristol has thus
not been held by the right rev, prelate to be an excuse
for neglecting the rites of hospitality.
The Rectory of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, which has be-
come vacant by the elevation of the Rev. Dr. R. Bicker-
steth to the Bishopric of Rip in, has been conferred by
the Lord Chancellor on the Rev. E. H. Carr, M.A,
incumbent of Christ Chapel, Maida-hill. Mr. Carr was
fir some years rector of Ivlillbrook, Bedfordshire,
and obtained his appointment to Christ Chapel a few
months ago, on the nomination of the Rev. George
Fi.k, who was minister of Christ Chapel, to the vicarage
of Great Malvern.

SOUTHAMPTON ELECTION —SOUTHAMPTON, Wed ues -
day.—A general meeting of the friends and supporters of
Mr. Weguelin was held at the Victoria Rooms yesterday
evening ; Mr. Wm. Lankester in the chair. There was a
very influential gathering of the leading Liberals of the
town on the platform, and the room was well filled. Mr.
Weguelin and several members of his committee addres4ed
the assembly, and resolutions in his favour were carried

by consldera.ble majorities, although large numbers of
hands were held up against them. Many of Mr. An-
drews' partisans were present, and the proceedings were
occasionally of a very stormy and boisterous character.
District meetings were held almost nightly in the differ-
ent parts of 'the town in the respective interests of both
candidates, and the excitement slims no sips of abate-
ment.

EAST SUFFOLK ELECTION.—Mr. Andrew Arcedeckne,
the high sheriff, has appokted to-morrow, the 26th inst.,
for the election of a member for the eastern division of
the county of Suffolk, rendered vacant by the death of
S.r E iward S'nerlack Gooch, Bart. Tne election will
take place in the Town-hall, Ipswich. Lord Henniker
(Conservative) is the only candidate in the field.
WARD OF CRIPPLEGATE WlTHOUT.—Yesteydav tho
adjourned wardmote for this ward was held in the
school-room Redcross-street, for the purpose of Alder-
man Challis stating the course he should pursue in
consequence of two of the candidates at the close of
the poll on Tuesday having polled equal numbers.
Alderman Challis said he should declare the first seven
gentlemen on the list duly elected—viz., Messrs. Still-
well, Pickering, Cuthbert, Kent, Rua d, Johnson, and
Morrisse, and with respect to the eighth member he
should make a double return of the name; of Mr. Sewell
and Mr. Spencr, who had polled equal numbers, and
he had no doubt a fresh precept would be issued for
the election of one member to fill up the vacancy.
LIVERPOOL, Dec. 24.—The Eric3son sailed hence to-
day for New York, with a small complement of passen-
gers and a fair cargo. The Asia will take out the mails
for the same port on Saturday. The Montreal Ocean
Mail Company's screm steamer North American sailed
this morning for Portland, U.S., with 50 passengers, a
fair cargo, and the Canadian mails.

, .
THE CITY OF LONDON UNION FRAUDS.--Tae board
of fruar:lians, in consequence of the suspension by order
of the Poor-law Board of Mr. Rowsell, the clerk to the
union, have appointed Mr. R. J. Baylis, of Red Cross-
street, clerk to the ward of Cripplegate-wiliont, and
clerk to the East London Union, to be their clerk pro
tern. The guardians are still carrying on the investiga-
tion, but up to yesterday no further frauds had been die-
c3vered beyond those that have already appeared. Up
to last night the officers who hold the warrant for the
apprehension of Pael and Marini bad not succeeded in
c iptnring either of them. It is, however, stated that a
sufficient clue has been obtaine I as to their wbereabout,
and that ere long one or both will be in custody. It is
believed they are atill in the metropoli,.
morning 1A rar,
an Aaccc,
nNtT
terminatedirr TaE Sf
aTtnattiymt
0— Ymre. s te rday
David
Cornet, aged 67 years, will resided near Stamford-street,
Blackfriars. He was crossing Pickett-street, Strand,
when the driver of the omnibus No. 6,21 called out to
him ; and before the driver had time to pull up the
wheels of the vehicle passed over him, mutilating him
in a frightful manner. He was conveyed to the hos-
pital, but life was pronounced to be extinct.
THE EXPLOSION AT THE MONK BRIDGE IRON
WORKS —Yesterday morning an inquest was held upon
the body of Edward Dickenson, who expired on Monday
afternoon in the Leeds Icifirmary, after enduring ex-
cruciating agony from the effects of an explosion at the
Monk-bridge Iron Woiks, Leeds, the particulars of
which we have already reported. The evidence con-
curred in proving that the accident arose from too much
water having been turned on by the deceased himself.
Verdict, " Accidental death."

THE LEATHER MARKET. —The leather market at
Leadenhall on Tuesday was in a state of much ex.
citement, and a further alvance of from id. to 13i.
per lb. was readily obtained for crops, light butts,
offal, and shoulders.

COLLISION IN TUE CLYDE.—On Saturday night last a
serious collision took place in the Clyde between the
barque Felicity, grain-laden, from the Mediterranean,
and the steamer Vanguard. The Vanguard was on her
outward passage with goods and passengers for Liver-
pool, when, from some cause which is not at present
clearly understood, a violent collision ensued between
them. The Vanguard struck the barque on the port
bow, and cut her up to the foremast, which was broken
in two places. carrying away the eeindlass deck planking,
&c. Tile Felicity immediately filled by the gap in
her bow, and settled down in a slanting direction
across the channel, which is here very narrow, where
she now lies, appearing as a sort of bridge across the
stream. The crew escaped Without difficulty.
ThE CAPITAL CONVICTS OF MAIDSTONE.—the execu-
tion of the two prisoners, Dedea Redanies and Thomas
Mansell, who were convicted of murder at the late
assivs for the county of Bent, has beta fixed to take
place on Thursday, Jan. 1. In ordinary course the
execution of Mansell, who, it will be remembered, was
convicted of the murder of a corporal of the 49th R-gi-
ment, in which he was a private sol ier, would have
taken place on the second market day after his convic-
tion, but, as that happened to be Christmas-day, of
course it was felt to be impracticable for the sentence to
be carried into effect on that day. The prisoner Reda-
nies, who was convicted of the murder of a young wo-
man to whom he was engaged to be married and her
sister, under the usual course, as his conviction did not
take place until the day following that of the trial of the
other prisoner, would lof h eve had the sentence upon
him carried into effect tnttt the day above named, and
Mr. Palmer, the under sheriff of the county, upon
whom, as the deputy for the high-sheriff, the arrange-
ment of all these matters devolves, therefore considered
it expedient- that the execution of both the convicts
should be fixed for the later day. Both the prisoners
appear quite resigned to their fate.