The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-06 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL iTANDARD

NEWS FROM CANADA

(Fr,mi the Corre,pondent of the London Standard, of Saturay.)

PORTS,Lk.UTH, SATURDAY, MARCH 3, HALF-PAST EI,HT,
A.Al.—Tile American packet ship. Quebec, arrived here this
mornin, at four o'clock, which vessel left New York on theWth
ult. The accounts from Canada are of a favourable character,
tranquillity having been entire.iy restored on the American run-
tier. The Montreal Herald of the 3d Feb. states that cher( was
a probability of fresh disturbances in the county of Arcadi,, iu
Lower Canada ; but every precaution had been taken b) the
government to prevent such an Occurrence. A brother o' M.
l'apineau is said to have been arrested on a charge of high rea-
son.

The news from the United States is of no importance A:
meeting was held at New York, on the 7th of February, then
resolutions were agreed to against the sub-treasury scheme
The boundary question is likely soon to occupy public aten-
tion. In the House of Representatives, On the Bth, a discussion
took place upon some aliedged encroachment of the British on
the territory of the United' States, when a message from the
Executive on that subject was referred to the Committee or Fo-
reign Affairs.

The following are extracts from these papers:—

(From the New York Mercantile Advertiser of Feb. 7.)

Extract of
,a. letter from Detroit, Jan. 16.—" Our frontiei ex-
hibits quite a warlike aspect. 3000 men are encamped or the
opposite Canadian shore; and, as is usual with that most civil-
ised of all uncivilised nations, Great Britain, among those 3000
troops are 800 Indians."

•
Extract of another letter from Detroit, Jan. IG.—Every tling
continues quiet here, so far, since the dispersion of the patriots
from Sugar Island; but I am apprehensive that General Suther-
land will give us more trouble. I send you to-day a letter from
Col. Dodge, who was one of the patriot officers in the schooner
which was captured at Malden by the British, and who received
a hall in his head on the occasion. The letter was addressed to
General Sutherland, who affects to believe it forgery. The
letter says, • You, as well as I, have been all deceived as to the
feelings and opinions of the people of this province. As far as
I can learn, see, and judge, so far from being disaffected to
their laws, constitution, and government, they are as much at-
tached to them, and as determined to support them, as any
people in the Llvilised world. They have rallied to this frontier
from all pails; and there are not less, as I am credibly informed
and believe, than from 2 to WOO men, well armed, and ready
to defend themselves from any attack. In this state of affairs,
allow me to entreat and implore you to disband yourselves, and
to return home To gain -the point we aimed at is utterly im-
possible. To prevent further bloodshed is our duty. Nothing
can be gained by further hostile operations; and as your friend
engaged, as I foolishly thought, in the cause of liberty—l again
implore you to separate, to return home, and to'abandon a cause
so utterly hopeless, and, as I now perceive, so thoroughly un-
just.' The.genuineuess of the letter is attested by a member of
our Senate, and by two other respectable gentlemen, who saw
the writer at Malden. Dr. Pitcher, who was sent for to extract
the ball from Dodge's head, but could not succeed, also assures
me that the letter is genuine
•• General Brady still considers it necessary to have guards
up at our magazine and arsenal.
_ _

" M. Prince, of Sandwich, late, and probably at present, a
member of the Canadian provincial parliament, came over
yesterday to see Governor Mason. He addressed about a hun-
dred of our citizens in a speech, the object of which was to re-
present things in their true colon's. He promises that all the
prisoners taken at Malden shall be given up, if he has to go
upo❑ his knees to the provincial governor, except Dr: Theller,
wiri, although a citizen of Detroit, is, Mr. Prince states, a na-
tive born British subject. He can make no promise for his re-
lease. Besides being a British subject, he says that his conduct.
was outrageous at Malden, firing into the streets among women
and children. He fears that there is no hope for him. You
know the Doctor very well, and know him to be a citizen of the
United States. Whether he has forfeited bis claim to their
protection, by volunteering into a foreign service, I am not ca-
pable of deciding. All I know is, that we have suffered very
much here by the proceedings in this Canadian affair."
Extract of another letter from Detroit, Jan. 18. —" I can
give you nothing,,new to-day about Canada. Gen, Sutherland
and about a dozen rebels, as the Canadian loyalists call them,
are parading our streets, dressed in blanket coats, with tri-
coloured cockades in their hats, and muskets on their shoulders."

(From the New York Commercial Advertiser, Feb. 8.)

We have Toronto papers of the 2d instant. The following
paragraphs are from the Patriot of that date :
" Fifteen of the persons taken in the schooner Ann, captured
by the Loyalists, said by the Detroit Post to have been all
massacred,' were brought to this city on Tuesday afternoon,
under a guard of militia, and lodged in gaol to await their
trial. The London district, so much talked of as the theatre
of excitement and discontent, seems to be quiet.
" Names of the Prisoners.—Edward A. 'Diener, General ;
Stephen B. Bropney, Colonel of Engineers; Claude Campean,
Augustus D. Bodineau, Francis St. Augustine, Henry John-
ston, Abraham W. Partridge, T. Cuiver, Chancey Parker,
Louis Lennoux' Francis Cloutier, Walter Chase, Benjamin
F. Pew, Henry L. Hull, and George Davis, Captain.
" The Assembly have voted R/0 guineas for a sword to be
presented to their honourable Speaker Colonel M'lsTab; and
75 guineas for a sword for Captain Drew, R.N., for his (rallantry
in capturing the piratical Caroline. This is right. While go-
vernments are grateful, subjects will be heroic."

(From the New York Gazette, Feb. 10.)

TORONTO, UPPER CANA DA, Jan. 31.—Every thing internal
is quite tranquil here. An election, in the loom of David
Gibson, is at this moment going on. The candidates, three iu
number, are conservatives. On the Ni4gara frontier all seems
quiet, and the affair of the Anna at Amberstburg has at all
events checked the patriotic ardour in that part of the world.
We have now three regiments of incorporated militia, in very
good training, and the service companies of the 24th, 32d, and
831 regiments, with a good train of artillery, howitzers, and
mortars.

PROTESTANT INFATUATION IN RELATION TO

PO l' Eit Y.

(From the Covenanter for February.)
There are few evils of worse chat:Atter, or more ominous ten-
dency, than the growth of Popery in any country; and there are,
few signs of the present times ❑tore dark and foreboding, than
the insensibility and infatuation of Protestants, of different
names, on this subject. In the last September number of this
periodical, we attempted to exhibit some instances of this delu-
sion, and to show the utter fallaciousness of many of the pre-
tences put forward in favour of the headlong measure of Papists,
either by themselves, or .by those who faternize with Iberia in
their political schemes. •
The subject is far from being exhausted: under the desire
atkd hope that an exposure of this kind may be blessed to awaken
soo►e'Protestants to a sense of evils from which, though of enor-
mous magnitude, they apprehend no danger, and to encourage
faithful men, "when the Enemy comes in like a flood," to
" lift up a standard against him,;' we present to the notice of
our readers a few other examples 'of Protestant delusion in re-
gard to Popery and its partisans, as striking and deplorable as
any that hive yet been noticed.
• Unhappily, in our day, the cases in which the supporters of
evil systems push forward their destructive plans, without excit-
ing any deep concern in the religious community, are not Of
rare occurrence. The spirit of slumber seems to have overtaken
rulers and people. While unfulfilled prophecy is hastening to
its accomplishment, and those events are rapidly transpiring
which are intended to prepare the way ror shedding the last
blood of the martyrs of Jesus, the strong judicial infatuation to
which Protestants are given up, is itself one of the surest synip-
toms that a time of trial and suffering is approaching.

An instance of the infatuation or Protestants in relation to

the claims and schemes of Papists, to which we formerly advert-
ed, deserves finther notice, because of the recent illustrations

I
which it has received in various parts of the British empire. It
is maintained, that to free the deiotees of Rome from all civil
disabilities—to concede to them political power, and to extend
to them the fostering care of Protestant governments, is the
sure way to secure their cordial love and attachment; and sonic
there are who vainly dream, that thus, too, the spiritual fetters
of Rome will he broken, and her children brought to the recep-
tion of gospel truth. This was the syren song of every political
empyric, and of numbers of lukewarm and liberal Protestants,
when the measure of Roman Catholic Emancipation was pass-
ed; and after the experiment has been tried upon thelnyalty,
peaceful dispositions, and kindly intentions of Romanists, on a
large scale, it is still the darling plea ever and,ation urged in
behalf of further concession, bv'those who are the willing dupes
of the partisans of Popery, or who are lulled in deceitful secu-
rity in relation to the dangers that are thickeningaround them.
Such a course adopted would be the strength of the empire—
would restore the halcyon days of peace and concord between
all classes of professing Christians : the wolf would cease to
prowl and prey, and the serpent would be despoiled of his fangs,
and become innocuous! Can there be an expectation inure
fallacious than this? Never in he annals of any country has
legislation more miserably failed to effect the good designed,
than has the measure of Popish Emancipation done in this
country. Instead of conciliating the kind dispositions of Ro-
manists towards Protestantism, Protestant rulers, or Protestant
fellow subjects, it has only tended to draw forth and display the
embittered and irreconcilable hatred of Papists towards every
thing that bears the name of Protestant. And, instead of the
concession of poiitical power opening the way for the spread of
I truth among humanists, every person the least acquainted with
the state of matters 'in Ireland, knows that the door has been
completely closed, in many quarters, since Popish Emancipa-
tion was granted, and that it is every day closing more and more
in others, against any efforts for disseminating the light of the
gospel through the dark paces of the land.
If other proof was wanting to show that connexion with idola-
'tors will ever be fraught with baleful consequences, we have
abundance furnished in the present disturbances in Lower
Canada, amounting, there is reason to fear, to a well-organised
rebellion, and involving one of the fairest colonies of the em-
pire in the horrors of civil war. Canada was originally colonised
by French settlers, many of them the dregs of the population of
France, and bigotedly attached to popery in its most debasing
form. In 1759, it was ceded to England, after the conquest of
Quebec, by Wolfe; and every thing was done to conciliate the
inhabitants. Popery obtained tint alone full toleration—it was
the religion established by law, the Romish clergy enjoying ex-
clusive right to the tithes, exemption from taxes, and other va-
luable immunities. So light was the taxation that a conside-
rable part of the expenses of government was furnished out of
the national revenne of Britain, and not raised off the colonists.
Of late, too, numerous concessions were made to the Canadians
by liberal legislators in Britain. All this, nowever, instead of
conciliating regard, has only rendered the ever active and rest-
less partisans of Rome—the priests and political demagogue.,
more insatiate in their demands. The Canadians had few griev-
ances. They were fostered till treason and rebellion have been
matured till the feeling of utter abhorrence to British power or
connexion has been spread extensively, and has at length burst
forth in deeds of violence and blood, and till there is giound to
apprit,nd the disruption of the tie that binds the colony to
Engla-d. Britain found the Papists of Canada steeped in po-
verty and wretchedness; she nourished there in her bosom; she
lavished on thein unbounded kindness. What has been the
fruit; Like a viper benumbed, when roused from sensibility
by the fostering care of some humane but incautious traveller,
they heve repaid British generosity by attempting to sting to
death their benefactors. Such is the consequence of concession
to Papists—such the effects that may be expected to flow from
cherishing idolatory. The Moral Governor of the Universe has,
in righteous retribution, visited the guilt of British rulers ,in
swearing to support Popish idolatory in Canada. With such
in:tances before our eyes, how grievious the delusion to enter-
taiu the belief, that favours lavished on the slave of Rome will
eve! command for a Protestant people gratitude, obedience, or
respect!

Another aspect of the saite delusion is seen in the deceitful
security in which the abettors of Popery have contrived to lull
Protestants in reference to the success of their schemes. On all
sides, in Protestant lands, that which forms the subject of dis-
tinct prediction in the Sacred Volume, seems to be in progress
of being accomplished. The deadly wound of the Beast is
healed. Jr. England, Ireland, and in various parts of the Con-
tinent of Europe, Popery is on the increase—she is extending
her conquests, and strengthening her bulwarks. Monasteries
and nunneries are erecting in various directions; Jesuit esta-
blishments are spreading; and the different religious orders, as
they are called, Rome's devoted soldiery, are rapidly introducing,
and calculating on Protestant ignorance or delusion, they un-
blushingly trumpet forth the merits of their self-invented devo-
tions fur the living and the dead. A Popish Bishop has been
recently appointed for the colony of the Cape of Good Hope;
an,ther, largely endowed by the British Government, has been
recently sent out to New South Wales, and the proposal has been
favourably entertained by British rulers to establish Popery in a
portion of Southern India, and to grant a public endowment to
its priesthood.

In the United States of America, the land of boasted civil and
religious freedom, within the last eight or ten years, Popery
, Etas male the most astonishing progress. The whole territory
bas been meted out by the Pope into Dioceses, in which already
reign in princely state, one Archbishop and Eleren Bishops,
with innumerable grand Vicars, theulogions, priests, monks,
nuns, &c.
" in the, year 1830, the Pope and the crowned heads of Eu-
rope, between whom, by the way, and Rome, an alliance for
furtherance of their respective despotisms is in The highest de-
gree natural, appropriated 200,000 dollars per annum, for the
propagation of Romanism in the valley of the Mississippi alone.
At the same period, and in the same quarter, the Society de
Propaganda had a hundred Jesuit missionaries employed. A
single iissociation in France gave, in foul years, from 182-1 to
1828, more than 61,000 dollars for the same object, and the
1 Pope himself granted 20,000 to the Bishop of Alabama alone.
In the Christian Intelligencer of March, 1835, published in
connexion with the Ditch Reformed Church, is stated, that in
1833, no less than 300 mass houses were erected, or in the course,
of erection, in the United States; and that " the Papists pro-
phesy that in thirty years they will have carried the Western
States, and then, they say, they will easil manage the East.
In many towns and counties of the Western Valley, they have
a decided ascendancy. They constitute one fourth part of the
population in our five largest cities, in some of which, they have
nearly muzzled the press and the pulpit, and in most of which,
gravitating like a single weight, their number is sufficient to
turn the scale in the present balance of political parties."*
While these extensive schemes are in progress, it is the deep-
laid policy of Antichrist to keep Protestants incredulous or in-
different on the subject. The press is in many cases muzzled,
or by the influence of money, Rome's potent lever, becomes a
pledged instrument to help forward the design of universal con-
quest. If any honest public men discover the designs of the
enemy, and speak out on the subject, every attempt is made to
decry or discredit their testimony. They are branded as enthu-
siasts, and held up to public odium and ahorrence. Well-ver-
sant in the grand maxim of the prince of darkness— divide and
conquer—Popish plotters aim to weaken Protestants by disuni-
ting them, and then to strengthen themselves by the co-opera-
tion of lukewarm or Infidel protestants. They boast loudly of
the numbers of Protestants who are inveigled into their associa-
tions, though it is evident that many of these are merely Pro-
testants in name, knowing nothing of. or carrying nothing for
genuine Protestant principles. Grasping at universal domi-
nion, they are ever restless, while, with consummate address,
they will carefully screen what they have gained, magnify their
imaginary grievances or privations, and become more assuming,
overbearing, and intolerant, as they think matters are in a pre-
pared state for effecting their purposes. At one time, and in
certain kinds of Protestant society, they ate all humility; they
plead their poverty, and are full of professions of universal good
will. In other circumstances, they assume the bearing of
haughty lordling,s—breathe forth the most intolerant dogmas,
and evidence, in their conduct, that their professions of kind-
ness are but a stalking-horse to effect their designs, while their
hearts still meditate extermination to Protestant men and prin-
ciple. After such unequivocal evidences of the spirit, and aims,
end tactics of popery, is it not sheer delusion and folly to con-
tinue blind to the success of this wicked system, and to remain
indifferent to the plans whereby the partisans of Rome assidu-
ously labour to make Protestants themselves the unconscious
tools of their evil machinations?

Of this deep infatuation, we notice another exemplification in
the pleas that Protestants frequently advance about the im-
pruced character of Popery and Papists, while the most abusive
and reproachful epithets are heaped upon all who faithfully
maintain their protest against the abominations of the Man of
Sin. Already have we noticed the utter futility and falsity of
the plea that Popery and Papists are more tolerant than in
former times, and shown that her unchanged statute-book and
her boasted infallibility utterly falsify the plea that she is less
persecuting in spirit and principle, and more tolerant towards
Protestant principles and professors ihan in former ages. The
power may be gone. and the spirit of the age altered, but the
tone and temper of the Roinish Church, and of her true sous
towards the heretics, whom she consigns to hopeless perdition—
and all Protestants are of this number—are the same, un-
changed and unchangeable. Reform without—a mere political
bubble—may be cried up by the abettors of Papal policy, when
it eubserves the scheme of theirdomination and ai,grandisernent
—but reform enters not within the walls of the Vatican; it is a
term wholly meaningless when applied to any pail of the stu-
pendous fabric of Popish superstition and intolerance.

According to the statement of various religious institu-
tions, papists already form a tenth part of the United States. In
a work entitled, " Foreign Conspiracy against the liberties of
America," it is said, " They (the papists) are already the most
powerful and dangerous sect in the country," for they are not
confined in their schemes and means, like the other sects, to
our own borders, but they work with the minds and the funds of
all despotic Europe." It is farther added in the same work—.
" The recklessness and unprincipled character of too many of
our politicians give a great advantage to these conspirators.
There is a set of men in the country who will have power and
office, cost what they may, To such politicians a body of men
thus drilled by the priests, presents a well fitted tool. The
bargain with the priests will be easily struck. ' Give me &ice,
and will take care of the interests of your Church.' Ile ef-
feet of the bargain upon the great moral or political interests
of the country, will not fur a moment influence the calculation.
Thus we have among us a body of men, a religious sect, who can
exercise a direct controlling influence in the politics of the
country, and can be moved together in a solid phalanx; we have
a church interfering directly and most powerfully in the affairs
of the state. There is not in the whole country a parallel to'this
among the other sects." This account is hut too justly appli-
cable to our land, since Papists were admitted to place and
power and trust in the nation.

Facts that are Avery day transpiring are the best refutation of
this idle plea for Itoillish tolerance. What, for instance, in
our own laud, is the tolerance evinced by popish priests, leaders
or people, towards those wlor forsake popery, or who labour to
diffuse Scriptural truth atnong a benighted people? Let the
fulminatious of the l'ope's Encyclical letters against Bible
societies—the anathemas of the priesthood from the altar—the
inflammatory and imbittered in vertices of Popish agitators—
ahcr the blood of murdered Protestant ministers, Irish Scripture
readers, and utioffending teachers, answer. the question. If
these are the evidences of Rornish liberality and tolerance
and they ate instances with which in late years our unhappy
land has been deplorably familiar--we freely leave them to
substantiate the apology as best they can—only we roust be per-
mitted to retain our wonder at theinfatuation that thus advances
for Baal, a plea which all facts falsify. Casting our eyes to
Popish European countries, we are furnished with abundant
similar samples of the advance of papists in the theory and
practice of modern toleration. But 'a few months back, his
holiness of Rome issued h's mandate to suppress Infant Schools
throughout his Italian dominions—affording thus a fine speci-
men truly of papal favour to the spread of knowledge! The
Protestants in France, with all the boasted tolerance of popery
there, at the present moment, are threatened in various ways.
Their activity in disseminating the Scriptures, and the revival
of evangelical principle among them, seem to have sorely an-
noyed their enemies. Some of the leading public papers—and
these strongly in the interest of government, openly declare
that Protestant efforts must no longer be permitted, and give
no uncertain indications that coercive measures against the
reformed in France, would he neither displeasing► to the Romish
ecclesiastics, nor to some who hold the reins of political power.
But the other day, when a number of simple villagers in a
part of the Austrian dominions, relinquished the superstition
and thraldom of Anti-christ, after' enduring every species of
insult and opposition from the devotees of popery—both priest
and people, the mandate of the Emperor was imperative that
they should return to the bosom of the Roman Catholic Church,
or depart from their native country. These faithful converts
nobly preferred expatriation to the sacrifice of a good consci-
ence, and they have gone forth to a distant land, rather than
return to the abominations of Rome. In a late number of the
Dublin Review, a popish periodical, the recent work art Roman
Catholic Bishop of the Peiclmmitese vallies on the Waldenses,
is held up to unmeasured commendation. In this work the
butcheries perpetrated upon the unoffending Waldenses of for-
mer times are vindicated; these noble confessors are exposed
to every species of reproach, and the evident object is to excite
the present Peidinontese rulers to oppress them. Such are a
few samples of the tender mercies of those who are most deeply
initiated in the policy of Rome: such the instances of the al-
leged improved principles and spirit of the sons of the papacy.
If this is the spirit of men in authority, men of learning and re-
finement, men that direct the administration, need we wonder
that their myrmidons, the ignorant and deluded thousands who
obey the imperious mandate of their despotic masters, should
be prepared for re-acting the worst scenes in the bloody drama
of popish intolerance and persecution?
The matter of wonder is the frequency with which nominal
protestants reiterate the plea for Romish tolerance, notwith-
standing such glaring instances of cruelty, injustice, and op-
pression. Protestants, in the excess of their liberality, speak
for papists what they would not say for themselves. They
allege that they are now " ashamed of their persecuting prin-
ciples," and that they disown the deeds of their forefathers.
Where have popish priests or writers ever said this ? Not they,
indeed. They have attempted to justify the burning of John
Huss, in violation of the most solemn stipulation for his safety.
They have vindicated the butcheries of the inquisition; they
have pleaded in behalf of the persecution under bloody Mary;
they have apologised for the Bartholomew massacre, and for the
Irish massacres of 1641 ; and, even at present, they dare un-
blushingly to tell the world, in the enlightened nineteenth con-
tury, that the most innocent and unoffending of all the Popish
persecution—the Waldenses, deservedly suffered the deaths
which their heartless oppressors inflicted upon them with in-
human barbarity ! And, lest the baseness of the apology thus
offered by treacherous or unsuspecting protestants should he
detected, they raise a hue and cry about tory persecution, but
say not a word about the intolerance, wholesale murders, and
systematic persecution perpetrated by popery under the mask
of liberality. The delusion is even kept up by charging the
Westminster Standards with intolerant and persecuting prin-
ciples, and the men who faithfully maintain them as intolerant
bigots.t The fact is, with papists, and with the liberal hireling
press, there can he no persecution if their own party is safe,
and if all that stand in their way and will not become unprin-
cipled liberals or practical papists be destroyed either in person,
or influence, or character. This is justice with a vengeance—
this is generosity, liberality, intolerance I Such we readily
concede to papists and their abettors; and when prutestants
foolishly talk of popish amelioration and of the progress of
tolerant principles among the partisans of Rome, we give them
the plea thus far, but no farther. We only add the fervent
wish that we and all who love the truth as ft is in Jesus may,
ever be preserved from adopting the infatuated maxims which
we have attempted to expose.

It is a'sufficient answer to this base allegation, put forward
by apostates—by men who seem to have a peculiar fondness for
papists and their measures, and by those who manifest a spirit
of embittered hostility to consistent religious men, that if the
Westminster Standards teach intolerance and persecution, so
do the scriptures of truth, for they inculcate nothing that is not
enjoined in the Bible ; and to affirm, what all impartial history
corroborates, that the men who first adopted the 'Westminster
confessions, though often persecuted, never persecuted, and
that those who firmly maintain it in the present day, to say the
least, discover in their spirit and conduct as much philanthropy
as those who would monopolise all the liberality of the age.

THE BALLOT.

Extract from a letter written by a well-known whig baronet in
Kent, (Sir John M. Fylden,) to the Editor of the Maidstone

Gazette.

My opinions may be wrong; but not having yet met with
any argument sufficiently strong to change them, I roust still
continue to oppose the ballot, although, in doing so, I am aware
that I differ from many sterling reformers, for whose opinion I
have great respect; but 1 think that, in their anxiety to obtain
relief from the evils we all complain of, they too eagerly take
up a plan which chews so fair and plausible without duly reflect-
ing on its ulterior consequnces, ..or, indeed, without any cer-
tainty that it will answer the hopes and expectations anticipated.
from it. I now proceed to the ballot question; the object sup-
posed attainable by it is ` perfect freedom of voting.' If it fails
in this material point, I conclude its strongest friends would
not adhere to it. That it will fail, as it has done in America,
I am quite confident, and on that account, and for many others,
I object to it. My reasons are the following ; —l. Because the
ballot will necessarily reduce the general scale of morality, by
making the vice of hypocrisy a seeming virtue. 2. Because it
must widen the distinction between rich and poor, as the rich
man can have no occasion to disguise his political opinions,
while the poor elector must do so, or be subject to the same
persecution as under the present system. 3. Because it-inevi-
tably must lead to wholesale bribery, without the possibility of
detection. 4. Because it will not put an end to canvass, feast-
ing, or treating. 5. Because its tendency is to lower an indi-
vidual in his own opinion; for if there is one thing a Briton
ought to be more proud of than another, it is his power of openly
expressing. his political opinions, and the power ought to be se-
cured to him without fear of injury or expectation of benefit.
6. Because in a short time it will cease, as in America, to en-
sure secresy. 7. Because it will be no safeguard against in-
timidation, for few will then be able to conceanlowth)etior political
opinions, that they will not be known by their employers or
landlords; and if they are base enough (as punish a
man for a conscientious vote, they will he equally base—per-
haps more so—and punish a person for entertaining opinions
contrary to their own. 8. Because, as ill America, the ballot
will have a tendency to form electors into clubs, or parties, go-
verned by a few clever individuals; and all who belong to such
a club—or, to use the American phrase, a caucus—must vote
as they are directed. It may be said that, as the ballot is secret,
this cannot he; but so strong is the spirit of partizanship and
the bond of union among them, that, although the ballot box
is supposed to conceal their votes, the result of an election can
he known before it is commenced. Thus the great object of
• freedom of opinion' will be as completely set at naught under
the ballot as it is at present. I concede, that it is possible many
of my objections, particularly the last, may not be fully develo-
ped or felt for some years; but it behoves us to reflect and con-
sider what may be the consequence to our posterity of a measure
which may so vitally affect all our social and moral habits, before
we resort to it; and we should be careful, least in the endeavour
to relieve ourselves we should entail upon them worse evils than
those we now suffer. My second objection may require a few
words of explanation. I affirm that 'it would lead to wholesale
bribery;' and it will be effected in this way :_An agent (the
tories may have many, perfectly ready for the work) may say
to a certaitrnumber of electors, ` If my friend is returned, you
shall receive a certain sum, on a certain day after the election.'
The agent is safe; as no money- is •to be paid till the work is
done; and detection is impossible; because, granting that the
offer becomes .public, what proof can be adduced that the man
has voted? And surely, any one has right to offer money to
another when the intention is so completely concealed."

PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEPARTURE OF LORD DURHAM.—
Great expedition is making, at Sheerness, in fitting out the
Hastings, 74, the late flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Sir William
Gall Gage, tLe late Commander-in-Chief in the Tagus, that
vessel having been ordered to convey the Earl and Countess of
Durham, family and suite,-to Quebec. The Hastings, com-
manded by Captain Luck, is expected to be ready fur sea in
five weeks.

MORE Prcrunn NEGnoks.,—Early yesterday morning a bar-
rel was found placed amongst several barrels of provisions in
front of the store of •Mr Buckley, 88;--south.-street. The dogs
began to smell round it, and it was opened, and found to con-
tain two more negro women in pickle, intended for the southerra
market. Doubtless the trade in pickled negroes will soon be-
come a very extensive affair.—New York papas.:
GRAND PEDESTRIAN UN DERTA EING.—The great match
against time to walk, fair toe and heel walking, ten miles in
one hour and a half, came off on Wednesday, and drew an im-
mense concourse of spectators. Time had been
,backed from
£`2s. to £15.; and. when the difficulties of such an undertaking
are considered, there could be little difficulty in getting money
laid out to that extent. The pedestrian had not only the bad
weather to contend against, but the greater part of the match
was done on a rough road, and through a populous neighbour-
hood. Betting was two to one-on. lime, and the takers were
very shy. The start took place at ten minutes past three, front
the-White Swan; Ray-street, Clerken well, and two miles and a
half were done right out, and the saute distance back again.
"ivuit minutes,sut Sutton, the man backed for this
The first five miles were done in forty-two minutes, and the next
thnS leaving the pedestrian
ibnyfoonrtey
usiie,e' e.
task, dal, not appear to suffer particularly from fatigue,
fivethe wteesr
THE CHURCH.—The society for promoting the employment
of addional co.-ates in populous places,- is, it appears, takint,
very active, and judicious proceedings for the purpose of carry-
ing into effect the very important and truly christian object for
which they have associated themselves, under the patrolage of
her most gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria. The society has
issued a circular, directed trt the different bishops of the dif-
ferent diocesses, stating the terms and• conditions upon which
the additional curates are to he appointed; anti it is acco""
nied by a paper of queries to be fully and particularly ans%v
by the incumbent applying for their aid. The society "I •
il eed
not
take into consideration any application for assistance
approbation (if the diocesan has been obtained; the thereforeutitil the
y
cotrfine their operations to granting money to
incumbents for
the employment of curates appointed by the bishop, and duly
licensed.
UNION OF THE ATLANTIC AND PAClFlC.—Letters
re-
ceived from Guatemala. in New Spain, say that the t just
works
fiot
proceeding:
the long-proposed can,tls for uniting the Ail.
ut c Oceans are- still actively prand I
that this vast enter-
prise, which is calculated
create a commercial revolution
throughout the, word, will be COMPieted towards the end of next
year. The line of,. route for the commut • • ncation extends from
the mouth of the river St. Jean de Nicarag la, following its
course to the great lake of the saute name, a 'distance of 130
miles; the line proceeds across the lake to the coast and town
Nicaragua, 97 wiles: fro in this .attei it extends to Bor-
rette, in the Gulf of Poyaya, a distance of 16 wiles, tasking
the total length of the line 243 miles