The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 10, 1859,

was a good deal of misrepresentation, some abuse,
and more hostile criticism than so laudable a mis-
sion deserved from the American newspapers, which
it seems are kept as well informed in diplomatic as
they are in military matters in the present con-
juncture.

The propriety of Captain Prevost's mission has
been questioned.
I view it in this light. The island, with the rest
of the Archipelago, should have been considered as
under the guardianship and subject to the authority
of the two commissioners.

The disputed territory may be said to have been
put in trust in their hands pending the settlement of
the boundary. In their official position the com-
missioners were justified in protesting against any
action by either Government which would hamper
their deliberations or complicate the subject-matter
submitted to their adjudication. Therefore, as well
as for other reasons, I think it was quite justifiable
and proper to ask the American commissioner's in-
terference. The grounds of this refusal Ido not
pretend to question.
But having touched upon this part of the sub-
ject, I am compelled, reluctantly, to state that the
American commissioner has laid himself open to
severe animadversion for the part he has acted in
the matter of the military occupation.

He had been in communication with General
Harney just before the expedition set out. He ac-
companied it. Ho was present at the landing on
the island. He remained on the island on the occa-
sion from the 26th, when the troops arrived, till
the 28th of July, when he departed, but not before
the " Shubrick," which he had under his control,
had first gone in search of another steamer to help
her, which conveyed stores and military baggage
for the troops. The Commissioner may be said
to have assisted in the landing of tho expedition,
yet it is boldly asserted that he knew nothing of
its object. If he didn't, ought not a sense of his
duty to have prompted him to inquire P

This is not all. The following story is current :
—That he offered free passages to San Juan and
free gifts of land on the island, "and something
besides," to all American citizens who would come
and squat on It. That he did this, representing
himself in his official character as commissioner,
which added weight to his offers.
Those are grave charges against a man in the
position of arbitrator for his country. Surely his
duty was that of a peacemaker, and not of an agi-
tator.

I am very sorry to have to give such universal
publicity to charges against a gentleman who in a
slight personal intercourse I found very civil and
agreeable ; but his conduct is very serious, as it
directly implicates his Government, and gives colour
to the suspicion that the United States desired to
break with England, to disregard the commission,
or annul it without notice, take possession of the
disputed territory vi et arias, and cut with the
sword the knot which the commissioner's diplo-
macy had failed to unravel.
The first catalogue of improprieties is incontro-
vertible. Ido not vouch fur the enlisting of squat-
ters to occupy the disputed island and break the
neutrality. The whole matter requires explanation,
particularly if it be proposed to continue the pre-
sent Commissioner.
Matters stood thus when General Harney assigned
his second reason for his proceedings. As his charge
is demolished, and as we had no design upon any
" citizen" on or off the island, the Governor has
called upon the General to withdraw his troops---a
step which he has not yet taken, and which I do not
believe he will take until he has played out his game.
The colonists are unanimous in their condemna-
tion of the conduct of General Harney, which could
not fail to stir up feelings of animosity between
them and the resident Americans at a time when
the most friendly relations existed. The Americans
are in a large majority in Victoria. They all wish
success to the General's enterprise, for accession of
territory is dear to the American heart ; but most of
them think he was precipitate. In case of need
they would, however, sink all differences, and lend
all possible assistance to his designs on the disputed
territory. They held a few private meetings at
which they agreed upon such aline of action, should
an occasion for their services arise ; and they bought
up all the odd parcels of lead in the town to serve for
bullets in case of need. Armed they always are,
wherever they go, at home and abroad ; but, on the
whole, there is nothing to complain of in their con-
duct. Americans visiting Victoria from Puget
Sound and San Juan blustered a good deal, and
hinted at the prospect of an attack on Vancouver's
Island, unless the Britishers should wear their
"faculties meekly ;" to all which, and to kindred
rhodomontado, no one paid much attention.

The British subjects, while willing and ready to
riso to a man to resist aggression, have the good
sense to commend the conduct of the Executive in
shaping a course which ought to prevent a collision
between the troops of the two nations. At the same
time there is a very general feeling of dissatisfaction
entertained against the Governor for not having
landed English troops on the island "to be equal
with the Americans." As a general principle this
sentiment has much force and reason. People can-
not well endure that the Americans should be
allowed to have it all their own way when they are
s• clearly in the wrong.
Certainly, a contingency may arise in which the
presence of a British force on the island would be
very necessary. It was asserted lately that the
Americans intended to attempt to impose taxes
on the British property (which is the only pos-
session of value) on the island, and to extend their
rcvenue law to its commerce, which is confined to
the stock and provisions of the English owners in
possession. Any attempt to do either, or to sub-
ject British subjects to American laws, civil or
criminal, would, as a matter of course, bo resisted ;
atioi if any such attempt be made, those subjects
should have a national force at band to appeal to
for protection; and the absence of such a force
might subject the English people on the island to
unjust exactions and to other inconveniences.
However, a ship of war is always stationed at the
island, and there are other vessels of war at hand
which would suffice to meet either of the contin-
gencies above alluded to. Besides, there are
some soldiers quartered at Victoria and an addi-
tional number is coming down immediately from
Briti-lt Columbia, which will make a force of about
160 men, besides officers, available at any moment,
in addition to the company of Royal Marine Light
Infantry, lately from the mainland, and besides
the men who could be spared from the ships of
war. In fine, we feel quite easy at Victoria, hap-
pen what may ; and, unless the American military
authorities bring it on wantonly, I do not think
any collision will take place.
From all I can learn, there is nothing to complain
of in the bearing or conduct of the American officers
stationed on the island_ They aro merely carrying
out the orders of their chief; and they are said to
have displayed considerable tact and ability,
blended with courtesy, in the performance of their
duties.

other.

All eyes are turned to the home Government, in
perfect confidence that its action will effectually and
for ever relieve the people of these colonies from
the irritating aggressions of an unscrupulous and
imperious neighbour, always ready and willing to
domineer over the weak and to succumb to the
strong. As our Government has the power, it
would be an insult to doubt that it has the will to
protect us in a just cause.
After wading through this tedious detail of in-
civility, insult, and aggression just practised upon
us, questions of serious import will naturally sug-
gest themselves to the mind of an English states-
man. For instance—How is a recurrence of such
dangerous proceedings to be prevented ? Are we
a
to have great armaments, naval and military, sta-
tioned on the other side of the globe to keep our
neighbours
their go o 1 (
behaviour?
t Will the people of England submit tobe
taxed
for
in
the hr
ef hemisphere
suciia
distant
n t
appanage?
And, are the colonies of British Columbialsa and Va-
ncouver's Island worth the cost humble
opinion my
opinion these problems are susceptible
of a favour-
able and easy solution.

As to the value of our colonies, I would mention,
hastily,

1. That our harbour of Esquimalt is considered
by our naval officers one of the best in the world—

easy of access by night as well as by day, secure and
commodious, and so easily defended that a moderate
ontlay would make it secure against all the risks of
an attack. No vessel could get near its entrance if
resisted, while it is well suited for dockyards, and
commands the neighbouring coasts.
2. It is not only the best, but the only good har-
bour on the whole west and north-west coast of tho
Pacific from Cape Horn northwards to Sitio, ex-
cept San Francisco.

home Government will now be more free to act with
vigour in asserting the rights of the nation in this
quarter.

Within the last few days the American forces at
San Juan have been increased to 700 men, and ad-
ditional stores have been landed, and the camp has
been removed to a still stronger position, within"
rifle shot distance of the Hudson's Bay Company's
buildings at Bellevue.

No further action has been taken by the Britieh
authorities. The Satellite has relieved the Tribune,
and is now stationed in Grffin Bay, on the east side
of the Island of San Juan.

3. If, by any fatality, we should part with it or
lose it, we should not, in case of a war, have a spot
in which to repair a singlo ship iu the whole length
of the Pacific within the immense space I have just
mentioned. Its value to us is incalculable, and en-
hances a hundredfold the value and advantages of
the island of Vancouver, in which it is, providen-
tially, placed.
4. Both Vancouver's Island and British Columbia
aro surrounded by numerous and good harbours.
Their coasts afford the best fisheries in the whole
Pacific in abundance and quality of fish. They
are close tothe North Sea whaling-ground. And,
with the growth of Victoria, now rising into im-
portance without any forcing of patronage, but
from eligibility of situation and a free port, there
is no question but that this eligibility of situation
will attract the whalers to Esquimalt (the port of
Victoria), and that the whaling station will remove
from the Sandwich Islands as soon as a town shall
arise which will afford facilities for the refitting of
ships, the sales of cargo, and the operations of ex-
change. The position insures this result.
5. Both colonies have a healthy climate, abund-
ance of timber, for which Australia and the South
Coast of the Pacific afford geoid markets, and fer-
tile soil ; and British Columbia is one vast field of
minerals—gold, silver, ism, copper, lead, cinnabar,
and coal; while in Vancouver's Island the coal
fields are said by competent judges to be more ex-
tensive than those of England. This island abounds
in minerals also. Gold exists in Victoria itself.
6. Then there is Queen Charlotte's Island, one of
our dependencies, lying close by, rich in gold, and
covered with timber.
7. Besides the vast resources of these colonies,
which afford profitable openings for the redundant
population of the mother country and investments
for its spare capital, their geographical position
renders them of the highest political importance to
England. In fact, if she either losesthem or keeps
them and does not strengthen them, she will not
only lose her moral influence but she will be help-
less in this part of the world. With two such ag-
gressive despotisms on either side, America on the
south, and Russia on the north, she would be swept
out of the Pacific. To prevent the possibility of
such a catastrophe they must be made the strong-
hold of her naval supremacy in this ocean.
8. And, looking into the future, if the much-
talked of interoceanic railroad is ever completed,
it is not unreassnable to expect that much of the
commerce of Asia and Europe may pass through
these colonies should circumstances close the other
overland route through Egypt. This expectation
gains strength from the fact that a highway for
such a purpose would pass from ocean to ocean
through British territory.
Now, if you believe with me that these colonies
are worth the cost of protecting them, I trust you
will bear with me while I attempt to explain, in a
few lines, how I think they can be so strengthened
as to be invulnerable, without much expense.
Two things are wanted—first, is make Esquimalt
the station of our Pacific squadron ; and, secondly,
population from the mother country, and from the
other colonies that can spare emigrants.
Esquimalt is admirably adapted for the naval
station. It is as near to England for postal commu-
nication via Panama, as Valparaiso, the present
naval station, is. The freight of stores from
England would be very little more to this place
than it is to that. A great advantage gained by
the transfer would be that the money now spent on
and by the squadron among foreigners would be
disbursed among our own people. The expendi-
ture would give a great impulse to agriculture and
to trade, and to the settlement of the two colonies,
and would be an economical way of patronising
them and giving them a start by the mother country.
The utility of the squadron in prothcting our
commerce would be increased by the change of
station. Our greatest and more immediate interests
will soon be here, and not on the south coast.
But the effect of having this the head-quarters of
the squadron is what I wish to draw attention to
more particularly. The effect would be to keep our
neighbours within the bounds of their own terri-
tories, of which they have enough and to spare
without encroaching on us—to keep them on their
good behaviour, in short. This effect produced,
our prosperity is assured.
A few gunboats would be a most serviceable
addition to the force ; and I believe they could be
built on the spot with the timber of the island,
which is said to be well adapted for shipbuilding—
a n oak of the country.
This plan of shifting the station from foreign to
British territory would cost little additional ex
pense. Except in the one item of freight on stores,
I don't sac that it would cost any more, and its effect
for good would be incalculable.
No additional force, except a few gunboats, would
be required, nor would it be necessary to keep men-
of-war always lying here. They would cruise as
they do now; but the impression that some of them
might drop in any day would answer all the purpose
we want the station for.
The propriety, and now the necessity of the
change of location are so apparent that I believe our
naval officers all admit it. I know that some of
them do.

The flagship the Ganges and the Tribune are in
Esquimalt Harbour; the Pylades is in San Fran-
cisco, whither she went with despatches to overtake
the European mail of the sth inst., whence she will
soon return. The Plumper is in Burrard's Inlet, on
the mainland of British Columbia. She went over
to that place a few days ago, to rescue two English
gentlemen who were reported to have been cap-
tured by Indians ; but the report was unfounded.
Indians don't molest "King George men" unless
they mistake them for " Bostons," a mistake which
their acute knowledge of physiognomy generally
saves them from.

The Plumper is now making a survey on the
coast of the mainland, and will be back in a few
days.

The news from the gold mines continues favour-
able. Considerable quantities of " dust " are being
exported, and trade is brisk.

The next requisite to our protection is popula-
tion. This is more difficult to be obtained than the

A vein of gold-bearing quartz has just been dis-
covered at Victoria. It " crops out" under Beacon-
hill, in the public park, and extends along the shore
of Fuca Straits, under the sea. Its value has not
yet been ascertained.
The colonists aro getting up a memorial to the
home Government on the subject of the San Juan
occupation.

Ships can be ordered to come, but men

must be coaxed to do so. There is every reason to
hope that with a radical reform in our land system
men would come. The present system is so devised
that it acts most admirably as a recruiting sergeant
for the United States, takes all the farmers away
from these colonies, and leaves the miner, in the
midst of a rich soil, to eat stale vegetables grown
800 miles off in California, or go without ; to fester
of the scurvy, as many have done, because the land
is not yet for sale, because it is not surveyed, and
because, in short, it is tied up in red tape.
In Victoria, with a soil as rich as the richest in
England, such is the dearth of farming energy, by
reason of the ♦illany of the land system, that all
our provisions come from California, Oregon, and
Washington ; and very fine prices the lucky citi-
zens of these foreign countries do screw out of us.
£l2 a ton for hay ! no, not hay either, but oat
straw.

I will not annoy you with a description of the
present system. I entered fully into the subject
15 mouths ago, and suggested a remedy. That
remedy was to lower the price. It is too late to
apply that remedy now. The patient is too far
gone. The only thing which can now save British
Columbia is a system of free grants, or at the price
of survey, 6d. an acre; but say ls., which is double
the cost of survey, conditional upon occupation and
gradual improvements, tillage, &c., to all British
subjects. There are thousands of men in Canada
ready to start for this country when they can get
land ; there are supposed to be 10,000 persons in
California who left different parts of the world for
these colonies, but who remained in California
owing to the bad reports. A new country which
does not offer the inducement of cheap land with-
holds the chief attraction.

In Vancouver's Island the evil already done can
be remedied to some extent by reducing the price
in ordinary cases, and in exceptional cases by free
grants prudently given.
All the arrangements of the land department
should be left entirely to the local Government. All
the Imperial Government should trouble itself
.
about is to put the matter such a state that it
,could say to all applicants for land, or for informa•
tion respecting land, " Go out; you will find plenty
of good land ready for you cheap,—only you must
work it, not speculate with it. Your farm must be
a bona fide homestead."

FRIDAY, AncusT 27.
On the 22d news of peace between France and
Austria reached this place faom California.
This has raised the spirits of the colonists to a
high pitch, because it gives theta assurance that this

LATER FROM VICTORIA.

(From the Alta California.)
The steamer Forwood, Capt. G. P. Lock, arrived
in port Sept. 1, with dates from Victoria to the 28th
ult. She was detained 12 hours off the bar in a fog.
The Forwood brings 20,000 dols. in gold dust.
QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLAND.--On her way out
from the harbour of Victoria, the Forwood spoke
the schooner Island Queen from the Queen Char-
lotte expedition, which reports that the search for
gold there was a failure.

Th 3, Gazette publishes the following reply by
Douglas to Harney :
" TO BRIGADIER GENERAL WM. S. HARNEY, COMMANDING
THE TROOPS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF OREGON.
" Government House, Victoria, Vancouver's
Island, Aug. 13, 1859.
" Sir,---On the evening of the 10th inst. I had
the honour of receiving your dispatch dated Fort
Vancouver, Aug. 7, 1959.

" In reply thereto, I must thank you for the
frank and straightforward manner in which you
communicate to me your reasons for occupying the
island of San Juan in the Haro Archipelago with
a portion of the military forces of the United States
under your command.

" I am glad to find that you have done so under
your general instructions from the President of the
United States as military commander of the de-
partment of Oregon, and not by direct authority
emanating from the Cabinet at Washington.
You state that the reasons which induced you
to take that course:are the "insults and indignities
which the British authorities of Vancouver's Island,
and the establishment of the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany, have recently offered to American citizens
residing on the island of San Juan,' by sending a
British ship of war from Vancouver's Island to convey
the chief factor of the Hudson's Bay company to
San Juan, for the purpose of seizing an American
citizen, and forcibly transporting him to Vancou-
ver's Island to be tried by British laws.
" I will explain for your information that the
agents of the Hudson's Bay Company hold no offi-
cial position in Vancouver's Island, nor exercise
any official power or authority, and are as entirely
distinc fromt the officers of the executive govern-
ment as are any of the other inhabitants of Vancou-
ver's Island.

"To the reported outrage on an American
citizen I beg to give the most unhesitating and un-
qualified denial. None of her Majesty's ships have
ever been sent to convoy the chief factor or any
officer of the Hudson's Bay Company to San Juan
for the purpose of seizing an American citizen, nor
has any attempt ever been made to seize any Ame-
rican citizen and to transport him forcibly to Van•
couver's Island for trial as represented by you.
" Up to a very recent period but one American
citizen has been resident on Sax Juan. About the
commencement of the present year a few American
citizens began to squat' upon the island, and upon
one occasion a complaint was made to me by a
British subject of some wrong committed against
his property by an American citizen, but no atten-
tion was paid to that complaint, out of considera-
tion and respect to the friendly government to
vvhich the alleged offender belonged, and whose
citizens, I think, it cannot be denied, have
always been treated with marked attention by
all the British authorities in these parts.
With reference to San Juan in particular, I
have always acted with the utmost caution to
prevent, so far as might lie in my power, any ill
feelings arising from collisions between British sub-
jects and Americ in citizens, and have in that re-
spect cordially endeavoured to carry out the views
of the United States Government, as expressed in a
despatch from Mr. Marcy, dated 17th of July, 1855,
to her Majesty's minister at Washington, a copy of
which I herewith enclose for your information, as I
presume the document cannot be in your possession.
"Following the dignified policy recommended by
that i'espaCh, I should in any well-grounded ease
of complaint against an American citizen, have
referred the matter to the federal authorities in
Washington territory, well assured that if wrong
had been committed reparation would have fol-
lowed.

"I deeply regret that you did not communicate
with me for information upon the subject of the
alleged grievance. You would then have learned
how unfounded was the complaint, and the grave
action you have adopted might have been avoided.
I also deeply regret that you did not mention the
matter verbally to me when I had the pleasure of
seeing you at Victoria last month, for a few words
from me would, I am sure, have removed from your
mind any erroneous impressions, and you would
have ascertained personally from me how anxious I
have ever been to co-operate to the utmost of my
power with the officers of the United States Govern-
ment in any measure which might be mutually
beneficial to the citizens of the two countries.
"Having given you a distinct and emphatic de-
nial of the circumstances which you allege induced
you to occupy the island of San Junn with United
States troops—having shown you that the reasons
you assign do not exist, and having endeavoured to
assure you of my readiness on all occasions to act
for the protection of American citizens and for the
promotion of their welfare, I must call upon you,
sir, if not as a matter of right, at least as a matter
of justice and humanity, to withdraw the troops
now quartered upon the island of San Juan ; for
those troops are not required for the protection of
American citizens against British authorities, and
their continuance upon an island the sovereignty of
which is in dispute, not only is a marked discour-
tesy to a friendly power, but complicates to an un-
due degree the settlement in an amicable manner of
the question of sovereignty, and is also calculated
to provoke a collision between the military forces of
two friendly nations in a distant part of the world.
—I have the honour to be, Sir, Four most obedient
servant,
" JAMES DOUGLAS."
GOVERNOR GHOLSON AT SAN JUAN. —The
steamer Julia arrived yesterday afternoon from
ports on the Sound. Governor Gholson, ()Mash-
ington territory, visited San Juan Island in the
Julia, and was to return to Olympia in the same
steamer to-day. The Julia left this harbour lass
evening.—Gazette, Aug. 25.

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THE CASE OF DR. SMETHURST.

Another week has elapsed, and the officials of the
goal have received no further information from the
Secretary of State as to the intentions of the Go-
vernment with regard to the ultimate disposal of
the prisoner, who still remains upon the prison
books as a capital convict, reprieved during her
Majesty's pleasure. The prisoner is evidently very
much alloyed at the delay, as there is no doubt that
when he was informed of the reprieve in the first
instance he regarded it as an indication that he had
succeeded in creatinglidoubts of his guilt, and that
the next step would be a free pardon, and it would
seem that he made a statement to that effect when
the notification of the reprieve was made to him.
The long delay that has taken place, however, has
evidently shaken his confidence, and within the last
few days he has evidently become more anxious as
to the result, and as he is aware that the case is
still under consideration, he appears to entertain
some dread that the original sentence may still be
carried out, and, although he still persists in his
declarations of innocence, those about him can see
thlt he is very uneasy, and awaits the decision of
the Government as to his fate with great anxiety.
There is no foundation whatever for the statement
that appeared in a Sunday paper, that the Lord
Chief Baron was still engaged in reading the evi-
dence, and the other papers connected with the case,
and that the final decision of the Government with
regard to the prisoner would depend upon the re-
port made by the learned judge. The Lord Chief
Baron was of course appealed to in the first instance
to state his opinion with regard to the evidence, and
whether he concurred in the verdict pronounced by
the jury, and the reply he made was that in his
opinion the jury were quite justified in returning a
verdict of guilty against the prisoner ; and it may be
stated on ample authority that he has never changed
that opinion, or, indeed, modified it in any manner,
but he at the same time stated that if the advisers
of the Crown, upon a consideration of all the facts,
thought it was a case in which the capital punish-
ment might be commuted, he did not feel himself
called upon to oppose such a course, or to take
upon himself the responsibility of declaring his
opinion that the law ought to take its course. Since
that time the Lord Chief Baron has had nothing
whatever to do with the matter, and it is believed
that the delay in finally disposing of the prisoner
arises really from the difficulty in which the Go-
vernment is placed as to what course they should
adopt in such a peculiar and unprecedented case.