The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-16 00:00:00

CANADA.

The news from Canada is unimportant. The Mon-
treal Courier asserts in a late number that the Go-
vernor-General had formed his Cabinat—lralso re=

ports that the present Ministry do not think it ad-
visable that the existing Parliament should be again
called together; although it is tolerably certain that
they would command a majority of eight or ten mem-
bers. The crops through the provices are abundant,
the weather fine, business good, the people peaceable,
and everything appears satisfactory. Toronto had
been visited by a large and destructive fire.

It was reported in town yesterday evening that
his Excellency the Governor-General has contem-
plated an Administration.
Mr. Morris is spoken of as the Receiver-General,
Mr. Merritt as Inspector-General ; Mr. D. B. Pa-
pineau as Commissioner of Crown Lands ; Mr. Cha-
bot, Member for Quebec, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Mere-
dith are variously spoken of as Attorneys and Solici-
tors-General. It is said that in case either of the
latter gentlemen accept office, a vacancy will be made
for them at three Rivers, by the retirement of Mr.
Grieves. We have also heard it stated that Mr.
Sherwood will be Solicitor-General for Canada West.

Ths Sherbrooke Gazette says that a meeting was
held in Sherbrooke on the 19th inst., at which it was
resolved to carry out a long-talked of project of estab-
lishing a cotton factory at that village. A subscrip-
tion was opened for 25,000 dolls., in shares of 100
dolls. each; 130 were'taken up on the spot, leaving
100 open. A gentleman from Massachusetts,
acquainted with the manufacture, subscribed 2,000
dolls. A building will be erected this fall, 40 by 80
feet, three stories high, on the site of the old saw mill,
just below the Magog-bridge. The British American
Land Company has given a choice of a water privi-
lege, with the use of it rent free for twenty years.
lchinery is to be employed to drive 1,000 spindles,
capable of turning out 300,000 yards of cotton cloth
per annum.
In addition to the cotton factory, knitting machines
are to be set going for the manufacture of woollen
drawers, shirts, stockings, &c. ; and arrangements
have been made for making sewing silk from the raw
material.
_ _

We regret to learn that the strike among the Irish
labourers on the Beauharnois canal, is of a more
deeply disgraceful nature than we first anticipated, for
they not only have refused to work themselves, but,
by force of arms, are compelling a number of French
Canadians, who were employed on the line to abandon
the work. Some of the contractors have made repre-
sentations to the Board of Works, protesting that
they are forced by bodies of riotous men to stop their
works, and that, unless they are protected by a suffi-
cient military force, they cannot resume their labour.
Common labourers are now receiving three shil-
lings a day, but they have turned out for 3s. 6d., and
some of them want 4s. The Gazette thinks that
3s. Gd. is not an unreasonable price for a day's work,
but we believe we are correct in saying that it is an
unprecendented price in Canada, and we doubt whe-
ther contractors will receive money enough on their
contracts to pay it. Taking into consideration the
low price of provisions of every kind, wages are de-
cidedly high at 3s. a day for common labourers. But
we fear that it is not the rate of wages which occa-
sions these difficulties every two or three months, but
the same spirit which was conspicuous among the
same class of persons on the canals and railroads of
the United States, and which has finally brought upon
them the hatred of the American nation. No civi-
lised community can have two opinions on such dis-
graceful conduct.—Montreal Herald.
QUEBEC, AUG. 12.—The season still continues ex-
traordinary. Some hay was got in on Saturday, but
it again rained during the night and yesterday morn-
ing. Some wheat was rusted in the alternate sun-
shine and showers which prevailed during the whole
of last week. It has been remarked that wild fruit of
every description has not come to =Wray this season,
or is smaller and of an inferior quality; and it is to
be apprehended that the cultivated crops may have
suffered from the same influence, although they gene-
rally appear luxuriant. The apples are small and at-
tacked by worms or insects, and smaller fruits in
the gardens have suffered by too much wet.—Gazette.
GREAT FIRE AT TORONTO.—We learns from Mr.
Smead, of the Canada Express, who left Toronto at
half-past three o'clock yesterday afternoon, that a
most destructive fire was raging. It broke out in
Metcalf and Cheney's iron foundry in Lot. street
which was consumed with three dwellings. From
thence it communicated with a large brick block of
dwellings in Young-street, which was in flames when
Mr. Smead left. The wind was strong from the east,
and the fire had caught a number of times on the
west side of Young-street, but by great exertions of
the citizens was got under. Serious apprehensions,
however, were felt that it would get the mastery;
if so, the destruction of property would have been im-
mense.—Buffalo Corn. Ado.

(Correspondence of the United States Gazette.)
SAN FERNANDO.—How unfortunate has been the
year 1844 for Venezuela! what evils have we suf-
fered, and how much more are we yet to suffer before
this fatal year is sepulchered in the abyss of time!
All are absorbed in the last misfortune that has pros-
trated us, the new deluge that has submerged and
devastated San Fernando !

San Fernando may now be said not to exist. The
river begun to rise in May last, and continued until
it covered the entire surface of the land ; and in spite
of our most efficient, active, and constant eftOrts
to save ourselves, by opposing barriers and dikes
to the force of the waters, the Apure has at
last reached the height of two yards above
the general level of the land, and has inun-
dated the entire community. The houses have also
been flooded in all parts, and, notwithstanding we
exerted our individual endeavours to oppose the ad-
vance of the waters by new intrenchments, they have
been filled to the height of two, four, and six feet;
some have wasted away and fallen, while those that
remain, although they still resist the dashing of the
waters, must eventually submit to their power and fall.
The streets are so many rivers, in which the rapid
current is scoring and penetrating deeper; already
deep wells and ditches are formed, which, after the
waters have retired to the bed of the river, will re-
quire much earth, much time, and many thousands of
dollars to obliterate and level.
There are now no houses, no estates, no seed-
time ; all has been levelled and destroyed by the
fury of the inundation ; nor have we even a place
in which to bury the dad; should the flood con-
tinue a month longer, we shall see the dead bodies
of men, women, and children, with those of the
wild beasts of the mountains, and domestic ani-
mals, all floating together upon the devastating
waters.
r. The inhabitants of this province bave applied to
the Executive power for aid to alleviate their neces-
sities. We hope that the Government will come
promptly and generously to the rescue.

SUPPLEMENT TO LONDON

GAZETTE."

A Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday,
which was published on Saturday evening, contains
the Orders in Council for carrying into effect the
treaties of commerce ,Nith Austria, Hanover, Olden-
burgh, Medlenburgh icheiyi in, and Meelilenburßli
Strelitz—and also Orders in Council creating certain
" districts for spiritual purposes" under the provisions
of the " Act to inale better provision for the spiritual
care of populous places."

Dispatches from the Governor of the Maurities
were received at the Colonial-office on Saturday.