The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-30 00:00:00

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

( From the Orford Herald.)
It has been generally believed in the political circles, for
the last week or ten days, that ministers had proposed to
meet parliament on the 4th of next, month, to which day it
stands adjourned, and that the arrangements would be made.
at the first Cabinet Council, but that the unexpected resolu-
tion of Lord Durham to return without delay caused them
to waver.

The Cabinet Council met on Thursday. Its decision is of
course unknown to any not in the inmost confidence of the
administration, and we are, therefore, left to guess whether
ministers adhere to their first intention, or have abandoned
it. The public service, indeed, requires that not an hour
shall be lost in assembling the legislature, as too much time
has been lost atready ; but considerations of the public ser-
vice, indeed, requites that not an hour shall be lost in assem-
bling the legislature, as too much time has been lost already;
but considerations of the public service form no element in
the calculations of the men now in office. If we would trace
the course of conduct in any important case before them, we
must take self-interest—we mean that low and short-sighted
self interest which makes up the motive and policy of "hand
to mouth" politicians—as our guide. But first it may be well
to put the reader in possession of the really important intelli-
gence from America, which is to exercise an influence upon
the determination of the Cabinet,

The Garrick, packet-ship, which left New Ynik on the 25th
ult., and made Dunoarvon, in the south of Ireland, on Satur-
day last, brings this intelligence. The Garrick landed most
of her passengers at Dung,arvon,—among the rest, Mr. Ed-
ward Gibbon Wakefield, and aunt her adjoint of the governor-
genoral of the British American colonies.

These gentlemen state that Lord Durham would follow
them at a week's interval, having abandoned his design of
visiting the United States and resolved to embark for Eng-
land direct, on board the Inconstant frigate, lying at Quebec.
The New York papers confirm this statement, which is also
said by the ministerial journals to be verified by the official
despatches.
Ail the several informants concur in ascribing Lord Dur-
ham's abandonment of his visit to the States to the discovery
of a conspiracy of formidable extent, resources, and maturity,
the purpose of which is the renewal of the rebellion as soon
as the winter shall close Lower Canada against reinforce-
ments from the mother country, or her loyal dependencies.
Subjects of the United States, if it is not an abuse of lan-
guage to call the lawless cornplunicants in that anarchy by
the name of subjects, forkn axt eat proportion of the conspi-
rators; and some of these pirate Itepublizans are rich men,
and some of them holders of offices. It is.' however, no more
than justice to Mr. Van Bnren to say, that he is free of the
guilt of countenancing the villany of his countrymen—he
was, in fact, among the first to denounce the plot to Lord
Durham. The wealthier French Canadians, and many of
them possess considerable wealth, are also implicated in the
treason; so that one, and that the chief, of the requisites for
war is forthcoming to the rebels. The scheme is supposed to
be a simultaneous eruption of a rebellion along the whole
frontier line.

Lord Durham, having resigned the de facto government
into the hands of Sir John Colborne and Sir Geo. Arthur, to-
gether with the most ample powers that it was in the author-
ity confided to him to bestow, powers of which the two gallant
officers were promptly making the best use, returns to Eng-
land, to lay the true state of her North American dominions
before the Queen and here begins the difficulty of her Ma-
jesty's ministers. While there was an expectation that the
insulted and incensed governor would loiter a mouth or two
in the United States, an early meeting of parliament held
out a promise of come advantages—facts might be brought
forward to condemn the absent peer unheard—parliament
would have disposed of the affairs of Canada—and the peo-
ple, a little wearied with the subject, might not be in a tem-
per to inquire very narrowly whether the terms upon which
the quarrel should be accommodated were altogether honour-
able or consistent ‘l, ith the interests of justice and other pub-
lic interests.

Lord Durham's precipitate return, though, undoubtedly,
what his duty and honour demand, must, however, very seri-
ously embarrass the chances either of condemning or conci-
liating him, should parliament be sitting at the time. The
parties will stand face to face; the matter unexplained be-
tween them will be fresh, and of full intetest ; time and op-
portunity for mediation, collusion, and compromise will be
wanting; and they, whose part it is to procure justice for the
public, will have the political accountants submitted to them,
with all advantage to the cause of truth. Now, these are
considerations strongly urging upon ministers to delay, as
long as possible, the meeting of parliament; but they can
scarcely dare to delay it. According to the concurrent tes-
timony of all witnesses, Canada is on the eve of a tremendous
convulsion; according to Lord Durham, the present state of
the law is not adequate to the meeting of such a crisis ; ac-
cordine. to ministers themselves, the present state of the law
is unintelligible; surely, then, they cannot dare to lose more
time in providing the necessary legal guards against the press-
ing danger. A few days will tell; but we are bound to avow
our own impression, which is, that ministers will dare do
anything in preference to meeting Lord Dyrham unappeased.
"We see that their newspapers are already at work, ►abouring
to mollify his lordship: the very newspapers which, but a few
days ago, stigmatized him as something little better than a
mischievous madman, are now all courtesy and compliment
to his lordship.