The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-30 00:00:00

STATE OF PUBLIC FEELING.

We have already laid before our readers a good many evi-
dences of the state of public feeling in one part and another of
the province, in the shape of resolutions and addresses, voted at
recent public meetings, expressing the zeal of those who voted
them to stand forward in defence of the constitution and laws of
the province, against the traitors who would destroy all that is
truly free and valuable in either. From the extensive territory
covered by the Eastern Townships, in .particular, from the
smaller district lying Westward Townships of the county of
Beauharnois, documents of this kind have been furnished in
abundance. Actions, indeed, no less than words, give evidence
that the brave and hardy inhabitants of these districts are to a
man loyally devoted to their Queen and country. Thousands
of them are already in arms to attest their loyalty, and some of
them, as the marauders from Swanton will long remember,
have had the fortune to use those arms to some effect, for the
same purpose.—Of these men, whose loyalty has been thus un-
equivocally evinced, no small proportion are American citizens
by birth, not merely sons of American refugees, as the itinerant
mendicants of the revolutionist faction delight to call them,—
but bona-fide American-born citizens, who having made. anada
their home have thereby become British subjects, and who by
years of actual experience have foundßritish rule so thoroughly
the reverse of all that is oppressive, that they are now among
the heartiest of its supporters against its hypocritical opponents.
We should like to kuow, en passant, of our American neigh-
bours, who hold the opposite opinion, by what fatality it happens
that almost every man of their fellow-countrymen now resident
in Lower Canada is adverse to what they at a distance dream
to be the cause of freedom ? Is there aught in the air of Canada
to change the temper of the most independent people of the
known world? Can it be that Americans, and Englishmen, and
Scotchmen, and Irishmen, are found almost to a man on one
side in a political struggle, and that that side after all is the side
of tyranny and oppressive government ? If it be so, then indeed
the age of miracles is not yet past.

(From the Hamilton Gazette of Dec. 26.)
With great pleasure we announce that the rebellion through-
out the entire Western district, has been completely put down.
the various documents relative thereto, will be found in our
columns.—Colonel M'Nabb returned here on Friday evening,
and immediately proceeded for Toronto. The Volunteers were
under arms during the entire of Friday; ready to march at a
moment's notice.

On Friday Ancaste,r again turned out her brave and valiant
companies. nuclei Captains Suter and Chep—they took pos-
session, for the present, of our former printing office—would
that we could accommodate those flue fellows at ourownfiro
side.
Saturday, our town presented throughout the day the most
animated scene—hundreds of fresh volunteers hourly arriving.
About 5 o'clock, the troops which had proceeded to the west,
under Colonel M'Nabb, returned to town, not having lost s
man, and after having scoured the entire of that part of the
country, amidst the heart-felt cheers of a loyal people.
Sunday was an active day. The din of preparation was very
manifest, and every man was required to be at his post; the
men returned to their barracks for the night, after being mi-
nutely inspected by Captain Gourley.
Early on Monday [Christmas] morning the entire body pa-
raded in the Court-house square, and a fiuerappearance than
was there presented, no loyal heart could desire to see. Colo-
nels M'Nabb, Laud, G. Chisholm, Major Land. Captains
Gourley, Macdonald, Secorde, Chote, Kirby, Poore, 'Hewett,

Aikman, l'iotrnan,' Suter, Chep-.-CoGley, and many others, ap-
peared 4).uniform, and headed their respective companies, and
at about 11 o'ciock, the word March was given, when from
1,290 to 1,400 as fine fellows as ever trod Canadian ground, pro-
ceeded on their'way to Chippewa, headed by Colonel M'Nabb,
in the neig,hbonrboo t of which, on Navy Island, the murderer
Rl'Kenzie, and some others of the rebel crew, have taken shelter.
It is ne.edleis for us to say that Lieutenant Craig, of the To-
ronto Volunteer Artillery, was at his-post,.under the command,
as understand, of that brave officer and. excellent man, Cap-
ttiin Gourley.
About 200 of the Mohawk and Onandaguia, with a number
of the Credit Indians; accompanied the troops, under their res-
pective chiefs.

Just as the great body of loyalists had cleared King-street,
that devoted patriot, Colonel William Chisholm, M. P. r. ar-
rived from Nelson, Oakville, &c., with about 250 of his fine
fellows, and after a few minutes refreshment, proceeded after
the
,former gallant band, of whom we we shall be enabled iu a
few days to give a good account.

On Sunday, two companies of the 32d Regiment, and a field
piece left Montreal to reinforce the detachment Of troops at St.
Martia.
Yesterday morning, about ten o'clock, four companies of the
83d Regiment, with their head-quarters, arrived by steam-boat
from Quebec. This is -a very seasonable reinforcement. The
remainder of the regiment may be daily looked for, if the
weather permits of a steamboat running. The greatest praise
is due to the loyal and indefatigable exertions which the pro-
prietors, captains and crew of the steamboats have already dis-
played.
Yesterday afternoon, about five o'clock, two companies of the
24th, and onej company of the Royals were landed from the
.Frincess Victoria; also two field pieces. They had been to

We translate the following from the Populaite of yesterday :
HUMANITY OP THE GoviiiiNsiENT.—We have just learned
that twenty of the unfortunate farmers who were taken with
arms in their hands at St. Charles, and who were prisoners in
this city, have been set at liberty.
This circumstance is eloquent as to the mildness of the go-
vernment under which we live.

(Correspondence of the Rochester Daily Advertiser.)
LavviToN Dec. 23. .
Dear Sir,—The strength of,Navy Island
ammunition, stores, and men, has been daily and hourly on the
increase. It is difficult to form a correct opinion of the num-
ber of men who are embodied there, as those who know do not
give any information upon tee subject. You may judge of their
Constant increase bk what' takes place in your own neighbour-
hood, knewing also that the saine feelings of sympathy for the
patriot cause extends over the whole country. lam informed
by a person who has very recently been upon the island, that
their force amounts to one thousand men, and that there were
15-pieces of artillery. The last night, as a matter of course,
increased the number of the latter.
saw General Wan Rensselaer, who is in command, yester-;
day. He speaks with the utmost confidence of the capacity of
the island for defence, by a very few resolute men, against any
force that can be made to operate against it; and observed that,
whatever might be his ulterior movements, he should continue
to'ocCupy the island with a force sufficient to defend it against
aey attack that can be made. He speaks with confidence of
his ultimate success. I think he does not intend to leave the
island until his arrangements with the patriots upon the main.
When he moves he intends to succeed. The want of system,
pFeconcert, and necessary supplies of arms. &c., added to the
absence of the requisite talents and experience, has produced
much mischief. General Van Reusselaer's appearance now,
,compared with what it was three weeks ago, indicates the cease-
less vigilance which be has called into operation, to reduce to a
proper state of discipline and efficiency the mass hastily collect-
ed.under his command. I think a short time will enable him
to make these men a well-disciplined corps, which the peaceable
inhabitants will have no reason to fear.
One or two steamboats arrived at Queenstown last night, but
I cannot learn their particular object, as they ,went down the
river before morning.—Very sincerely yours, &c.
P.S.-1 cannot give you the rumours as they come to us, for
they are too extravagant and unfounded for belief; for instance,
1 have amused myself this afternoon in learning the ideas of
the inhabitants who are flying from Canada. In answer to my
inquiry of their idea of the force on the island, they supposed it
would amount to 4,000 real fire-eaters, who would devour Upper
Canada. Such are the rumours which circulate there ; these
enlargements are to be guarded against in all the accounts we
receive.—Yours, Ste.

• Lewi Dec. . 1837.
Dear Sir —1 with about I,3ooston, men, left 24 Hamilton
yesterday for this frontier, and has not yet arrived. It is ex-
pected that soon after his arrival an attack will be made upon
Navy Island.--• Yours sincerely.
:Nevi ISLAND.—Nothwithstanding all that has been said
and written about this rallying point of patriot forces, its loca-
tion and peculiar advantages are yet but imperfectly known.
It is located two miles above the Niagara Falls, within half a
mile of Canada, and a mile and a half of the American shore.
The north-end of Grand Island covers about one-third of Navy
Island (by drawing a parallel line front the. American shore)
and is little short of half a mile from it. Between the two
islands the current is rapid, but not so rapid as.it is between Navylsland and the Canada shore, the distance between which
is, we should judge, a trifle over half a mile. It would be im-
possible for a boat to make its way from the Canada shore to
this island, in a direct line. The current would carry them be-
low the island, and, unless, skilfully managed below the falls.
The only possible way for a landing to be effected by the
royalists. would be to start from some point, a mile or more
above, more partially with the current, and strike up the south
point of the island. If no resistance should be made, this could
very easily be accomplished; but the discharge of a few pieces
of ordinance, loaded with grape-shot, upon the fleet of boats
which would necessary be employed upon such an expedition,
would so maim them as inevitably either to sink them, or
make them so perfectly unmanageable as to be carried.with the
current over the falls. Itis t..e knowledge of this fact which
prevented more than 15 from volunteering their services fur an
attack upon the island. The thundering( of the mighty cata-
ract were far more. eloquent than Governor Head; and its
frowning
_brow tuore:terrilic than his threats and swaggering.
Ikma
cti kes the Navy Island—unadorned with either Walls or but-
qark.—luore formidable than Quebec or Gibraltar, and per..
anti?' inlpre'nable. 500 men, well armed, with a good trPin of
cheirY. taught bid eternal defiance to 10,000.
is and
PPews is about, half a mile below the north point of the
fr°4l , and situated that it could be destroyedr--by hot shot
, the tY qu The troops on the Canada shore are priici-
artered in two large taverns directly opposit# the centre
the island, both of which could be easily shattered by the
patriot artillery.
and be banks of the island are from 10 to 20 feet in height,
L'cl generally perpendicular. At no point, however, could they
present a landing, if 'unguarded ; but their elevation would
enable a few men to do wonderful execution among those who
should venture an attack against an armed force.

P:RLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.-oVving to the arri-
val of news from Canada, and the press of local intelli-
gence, we have been under the necessity of condensing
our parliamentary intelligence into an unusually small
compass. We have, therefore, to endeavour to supply
this deficiency by taking a brief review of the discussion
which took place in the House of Commons on Friday
night.

It will be seen that,Sir Robert Peel had intimated his
intention to move as on amendment that a part of the
preamble of the ministerial bill should be struck out.
Instead of offering any resistance to this and other
amendments of.whieli:he had given notice, the ministers,
fearing, the result of a division, prudently " gave in" to
the great conservative leader, and actually consented to
have the bill shaped to his own mind. The reason which
determined them to adopt this course is sufficiently in-
telligible. Owing to the defection of the radicals, which
is now openly avowed, and in. consequence of the ab-
sence of a great body of the Irish representatives, the
ministers were conscious that, if pressed to a division,
they would have been left in a minority. Feeling that
their places were in danger they adopted the alternative
of sacrificing their bill, and have thus furnished another
proof, if any were wanting, that their love of office is
paramount over every other feeling.

In reference to Sir John Campbell's assertion, that the
bill was very little altered by the amendments, the
Standard very. properly remarks—.

"r It seldom happened that in a bill of so much importance so
feW alterationi were made in. committee!'—take breath after
that, and then looked to thefacts.. The original bill consisted
of seven—of these seven. three -were amended, and. four wholly
withdrawn: eight clauses were ridded ; and of these, if we are not
mistaken, fire have been expunged. Lastly, the bill has been,
as Mr. Harvey said,- decapitated of its preamble, and docked of
its tail.

if this be to undergo but slight alteration, we should like to
know what agreat alterat ion would he—clearly something beyond
the change in Sir John Cutler's stocking darned from one
material to another."

We would now once more remind our readers that
this is the ministry that the liberal papers throughout the
country-have been so loudly praising, ever since their

accession to office. These are .the men for whose con

tinuance in power such great exertions were made by
the self-styled reformers of England. What do these
same reformers, and their organs of the press, now say
of the ministry ? Like the Albion. of yesterday, they

say that they suffer their measures to become "tor/ed.'

May we be allowed to whisper another word of advice
in the ears of our radical journalists ? Is it not possible
that the government are forced to torify their measures
in compliance with the " voice of the people" ? Has

not expediency been ever their governing principle ?

and d 9 they not now find that it would be more expedi-
ent for them to yield to the unequivocal expression of
public opinion, rather than, by opposing it, place their

retention of office in jeopardy ? This, we have no doubt,

is the secret of the conversion of Lord Melbourne and
his associates to conservatism. We hail the circum-•
stance as an additiOnal proof of the rapid progress of
the reaction which is taking place in the country, and
which will ultimately force the present incapable minis-
try from their seats on the treasury benches, to make

room for lionester men and abler statesmen. We are
glad to find that the conservative members of the House

of Commons have recently shown so determined a front,
and earnestly hope_ that an opportunity'may be speedily
afforded of trylngtheir strength against the ministerial
- Will the latter venture on such a trial ? -

party.

THE REGISTRATION OF 1838.—1 t is of the most ur-
gent importance, in the present nicely-balanced state of
parties, that our conservative friends in Liverpool should
be on the alert to provide for the revision of the lists of
voters, both for the parliamentw and municipal consti-
tuency of the borough. We are assured that the radi-
cals are making the most diligent preparations for ob-
jecting against the conservatives, and for placing upon
the lists as many" of their own adherent§as possible. We
feel it necessary, therefore, to warn our friends of their
proceedings, which are carried on with a degree of se-
crecy calculated, in a great measure, to lull suspicion.
The deep mortification which they endure, in conse-
quence of the signal defeat which they :sustained at the
last general election, has prompted them to the use of
every means within their' reach, for the purpose of aug-
menting•their numbers, and of diminishing the conser-
vative force. TO counteract the schemes which the ra-
dicals have set on foot, and to
.which, we may hereafter
feel called upon more particularly to allude, we would.
strenuously •urge•the necessity of immediately re-organ-
ising, in full force, the different Conseryative Ward As-
sociations. We, have been credibly informed that the
Tradesmen's Reform Association are • in possession of
•1_

The onlycOnclusion that can be drawn frbm the con
duct of the whigs in this matter, is, that they are willing
to allow the conservatives to manage the government of
the country in reality, tti hilst they continue to engross
all the emoluments for doing sO nominally. They have
afforded evident proofs of their incapacity to conduct the
affairs of this great empire ; and still they persist in. re-
taining office, Their _career has been uniformly marked
by the grossest weakness, vacillation, bungling, and in-
fatuated folly ; and still: they rest contentedly in their
situations;l as if totally unconscious of the ridiculous
figure which they cut in the eyes of the nation! All
• -
parties laugh] at them and despise them. -Witness the
languag6 of the Spectator, in describing the scene which
took place, on Friday, in the House of Commons :
"Last. night, Sir Robert Peel and the Tories triumphed
without mercy over the Submissive Whigs, The House of Com-
mons went- into committee on the Canada Bill; when Lord
John Russell announced the determination of ministers to adopt
tii:r Robert Peel's amendment, by striking nut of the preamble
of the hill the words recognizing the assembling of Lord Dur-
haM's council of advice, and the douse empowering the Queen
in' council to repeal the act at pleasure. Loud and repeated
were the jeers and, cheers of the tones during Lord John's
Pompous anrounceineibt of his resolution to succumb. Lord
John complained of the indecorous exhibition of mirth at his
expense, which absolutely appeared to arise from a feeling of
Party exultation,—as if such sentiments could have place in the
discussion ,of such weighty matters ! Besides, said Lord John,
We adhere to our policy, and abide by our instructions to Lord
Durban].
"Sir Robert Peel treated ministers with the most galling
contempt. He was not surprised at Lord John RUsiell's an-
nouncement : front the first he knew that ministers would give
way; his ainimidruents, he knew, must be carried ; for, added
Sit Robert, with a bitter sneer, were they not conormable to
Continen sense? He did not intend to move a vote of censure
on the instructions,- which the ministers had imprudently pub-
lished—for he could not attack the %exercise •• of the Queen's
prerogative; but as be had been challenged to refer to them,
be most say they were eminently absurd. Why, they were vetting 'news from Canada every week; and when the Ist if
Jpiit arrived, the day when,Lord Dui ham would sail, those
ineructious might have to-be repealed. Who ever before heard
of riving the goverrior of a distant colony his instructions two
or tiree months before his departure? The fact was, that the
instiletions.were hastily prepared, to prop the abominable pre-
ambli of the hill ; and lie prophesied that they would be re- WHAT 'IS O'CONNELL DOING.? This is a qiiestion
Peal+4. Sir Robert then emphatically declared his objection
to `iitiv :neasure frarniilg a constitution For the Canailas with- which is continually asked, and to which we know of no
out, reference to the other North American Colonies; for it satisfactorv.answer. Heretofore, the arch-agitator and
tnight'le found advisable to unite theta one federal union,
witirsqirale local governments. 'his tail have been in the habit of hastening to London
e ,ehale which folioed was rot imlimiant•
reaeated tueh of what lie had said nu the previous nifthr ; and
7-Sh. 1 at the very commencement of each. session of Parlia-
w, as glad. C course that ministers Yielded. Mr. Harvey with Daniel found it necessary to remain in Ire-
t.iitor's • • ' ment. Has
aicant alluded to the ptedimti",ri.e of Sir Robert Peet land to avoid giving his opposition to the ministry ? Has
th.e.""e as the senior couuseii": Nrhoni -the
draltS of ti4rbilis werelertrred for:tuner-Om) and
Lord' Howick erh into
. ' lie been in dread of the' inevitable .Consequences of his
along andjulixlibeitstion of the mule intiarnmaturrappeals,to the Popish rebels Of Ireland, and.

the names of all .the householders and freemen who have
died_ or removed since. the period of Ilie last revision of
voters. How these particulars have been obtained wer
shall, in good time,ldisclose. In the meantime, we would-
suggest the propriety of appointing active committees-
in each ward, for. the ptirPose. of collecting all the infor-
mation which may be necessary for purging the next
lists:or every radical whose name.shall be improperly in-
setted. Such persons as have any orticularS to. com-
municateion the subject Would do well to forward them
to the secretary of the Conservative Association, at the
News room, in Church

subject of Canada; but did not, as far as we can discover, pro-
duce anything worth !once. Mr. Ward had strong) app-roved
of the words in the preamble, but would not oppose their with-
drawal, as the policy of ministers was not changed. At the
suggestion of Lord Stanley, supported by Sir Wm. Follett, a
clause is to-be introduced prohibiting the repeal of any act of
the British parliament by Lord Durham and his council. That
council is to be called the special, not the legislative council,
(as the council of advice was now termed in the amended bill;)
Lord John Russell having made this alteration at the suggestion
of Sir Edward Sugden, who objected to a name which would
create confussion, there being already a legislative council of
Lower Canada. Several members reproved ministers for the
slovenly manner in which their bill had been drawn up. Sir
John Campbell provoked roars of laughter by declaring that
the bill had not been materially altered. It finally went through
the committee; having, as Mr. Harvey remarked, lost head
and tail."

Again, the Standard of Saturday evening, in com-
menting upon the same proceedings, observes—
" As we predicted would be the case, both of Sir Robert Peel's
most important amendments were last night conceded by the
Queen's Ministers.
"Lord J. Russell made the concession with sufficient solem-
nity, but with the worst ppssible grace. He declared that he
had considered it his duty to take the sense of the whole cabinet
upon the point, and that in giving way he acted upon their
collective judgment; but he expressed much displeasure at the
approbation with which his submission was received, and mani-
fested great annoyance at the number who had assembled to
witness it; in short, he gave good reason to suspect the truth
of a rumour prevalent yesterday, that it was intended to get rid
of the subject for a few hours .by having no house, or to di-
minish the eclat of the ministerial chamade by having but a
very thin one. The Conservatives, however, mustered in full
force, and thus defeated his lordship's scheme—not for the first
time, nor, as we suspect, for the lust. Lord John made a feeble
and an unfortunate attempt to save the ministerial honor by
saying that while he and his colleagues resigned the attempt to
obtain a preliminary parliamentary sanction for their plan of
policy so minutely detailed in the original bill, they would still
persevere with the plan, and he even insinuated that the non-
condemnation of the plan in question, after it had been promul-
gated, must he taken as a virtual, though not afbrmal, sanction
of it by parliament.
" Sir Robert Peel's reply was a complete triumph of prin-
ciple and of genius ; he showed that either to approve of, or to
condemn beforehand, in detail, the proposed exercise of the
prerogative, was foreign to the province of parliament, and that
the noble lord was therefore going much too far when he con-
strued- the silence of, condemnation into a prospective sanction
of measures of detail, which ought not to have been communi-
cated to-parliament, and upon which, whether communicated or
not, the. Hoi:se of ;Commons could constitutionally pronounce
no judgement. The right hon. baronet then addressed himself
to a commentary. upon the original bill, and the instructions of
Lord Glenelg to Lord Durham, and exposed their absurdity
with matchless power. Persons who heard Sir Robert Peel
last night, declare
.that his speeCh on that occasion was his
greatest, and that he rose on his previous high reputation, to an
extent impossible to be conceived by those who felt how high
that reputation stood. The contrast to the miserable display on
the ministerial side, the
_contrast, not merely in eloquence,
but in dignity and wisdom, was the most striking everexhi-
bited in parliament. Its present influence seems to have in-
spired Mr. Harvey with the following happy illustration. We
give it as we find it in the Morning Chronicle's report:—
"' The hill upon which we have had a debate for the last
week, the bill framed with so much care and so much legal
judgment, brought forward after long and anxious consultation,
with the sanction of the highest legal authority, was naturally
presented to our attention as being perfect in all its parts—
having no ambiguity in its object—no undue verbosity in its
expressions. (Hear, bear, and laughter.) And yet, so true is
it in legislation, as in the higher interests of human affairs,
we know not what an hour may bring forth.' (Cheers and
laughter.) In the short interval-of four and twenty hours this
bill, so perfect and mature, had been decapitated, and lost its
tail. (Great laughter and cheering.) I hope, then, I shall be
excused if I reserve any remarks I may have to make until the
period when, peradventure, we may be led to hope the bill will
be perfection itself, that is to say, when it shall be submitted to
the house for the third time. But I still hope that the conver-
sation which we have had this evening, by far the most.valuable,
of all the discussions we have had upon this subject, will not be
allowed to pass away as a shadow, and to leave no effect upon
it. I hope we may be allowed to implore the leader (Sir R.
Peel) of the powerful party who range themselves upon the op-
position benches to throw aside the sin which besets him of
being the leader of that party, and that he will hereafter con-
tinue in his course of well doing to counsel the cabinet (cheers
and laughter), to throw around it the shield of his protection,
and to spare her Majesty's ministers and the nation from the
evils which otherwise beset them. (Laughter and cheers.)
The course which the right lion. baronet-has recently pursued,
reminds me of the practice in a lawyer's office when l was a lad.
When a draft was first prepared it was submitted to some sub-
ordinate member of the profession—generally to somebody un-
der the bar, who had his small fee and advised upon it ; but
when, in a subsequent stage, it caine to be more seriously and
gravely considered,•it was sent to. some master mind—to the
very highest in the profession, who perused the deed, and finally
determined the terms of it. Now, it would seem that, although
we have a cabinet of small men (great laughter), who consider
and put together their ;crude notions and thoughts, they are
obliged, after they have thrown theta into the form of a draft, to
send it for revisal to the leader of the opposition. (Great laugh-
ter and.cheers.) And what a splendid instance of disinterest-
edness was here offered by. the leader of the opposition, who,
whilst he gives all his important advice gratis, allows the little
people to take all the fees. (Great laughter and cheering
This is in many. respects full of consolation.'"