The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-12 00:00:00

NEWS FROM CANADA.

• (From the Standard of Wednesday Evening.)
The packet-ship Westminster, of London, which left
New York on the 20th ult., and reached Falmouth yes-
terday, brings intelligence from Upper Canada to the
date of the 11th, and from Montreal to the date of th
13th ult. Ail the information from both provinces is
highly satisfactory, except in its- details of individual
murders committed by the rebels.
Our invaluable correspondent, "a Canada merchant,"
was perfectly correct in his judgment as to the temporary
occupation of Toronto by the traitor party, asserted in
the United States journals. To use our correspondents
words, now fully verified, the rebels never were within
three miles of "Toronto"—they approached within little
more than that distance of the town on the sth, waited a
day, during which they committed. some murders and
made some prisoners by their marauding parties, and
fled upon the first appearance of opposition on the fol-
lowing day—M'Kenzie and the principal leaders into
the United States..
The news from Lower Canada is equally promising of
the restoration of permanent tranquility. On the 13th
the districts of Montreal and Quebec enjoyed undisturbed
repose. Some broken bands of rebels in the neighbour-
hood of Grand Brule, north-west of Montreal, and sepa-
rated from that city by. the princip.d trunk of tire St.
Lawrence, anti by the Ottowa•river, alone remaining in
arms—if, indeed, they did remain in arms, for as no
troops were-sent to look for them at any time, even this
is doubtful—probably they are only fugitives or robbers.
The New York journals supply some very interesting
documents—the official report of the defeat of the rebels
by Colonel Knowlton and a hurried levy of British far-
mers and agricultural labourers in the Missisquoi terriY
tory on the sixth—the account of his escape given by the
rebel General Brown—and a similar account of the
escape of M'Kenzie.
The affair of the Missisquoi gives gratifying proof of
the valour and fidelity, as well as of the prudence, of the
British settlers. The scene of operations is about fifty
miles south of Montreal, on the frontier of the state of
Vermont, part, as all know, of the commonwealth union.
On the day named the rebels, abundantly suppli6d with
arms and ammunition, provided with two pieces of can-
non, and reinforced by adventurers from the states, were
preparing to make an attack upon the village of Philips-
burgh, when they found themselves opposed by a firm
but tumultuary force, under the command of Colonel
Knowlton, at a distance of about two miles anti a half from
the village. The engagement did not last a quarter of
an hour, and was managed of course without the least
regard to discipline by the loyalists. Their courage was,
however, irresistible ; and in about the time mentioned
the rebels made a rapid retreat, leaving one man dead,
sotne'Wounded, and some prisoners, their two pieces of
artillery, all their ammunition, and nearly all their arms.
Colonel Knowlton and his gallant Britons followed the
fugitives to the United States frontier, but there they
most wisely discontinued the pursuit, so as to leave the
,States government without a pretext for complaint.
The accounts given of their several escapes by Browne
and M'Kenzie bear a most pleasing testimony to the
loyal zeal of the general population. The traitors would
scarcely have had to encounter more of danger and diffi-
culty in stealing their way through the best affected
county of Great Britain, than they represent to have
obstructed their flight—through Canada. French, low
Irish. and United States American squatters, were the
only persons of whom they dared to seek relief. Even
within the United States lines, and in the populous town
of Buffaloe, M'Kenzie was not considered safe from the
Royalists, and, accordin4ly, a body guard of six stout
young republicans was appointed to wait upon his person.
A very great number of arrests had been made in
Lower Canada—among others Dr. Woolfred Nelson;
Papineates principal colleague. was in custody, and most
of the prisoners were persons above the lower rank. Pa-
pineau's papers had been seized, and, if we may trust the
Montreal correspondent of the New York Inquirer,
these papers may lead to arrests at this side of the At-
lantic. In a matter of so much delicacy we shall not
use any words of our own :
" The statements of our correspondent in reference to Mr.
Joseph Hume and Mr. Roebuck are highly important: It is
not unlikely these gentlemen have used strong language in
their correspondence with Papineau, but we should presume
that they would have taken good care to keep on the safe side
of the law. No mention is made of the seizure of this corres-
pondence in the Montreal papers."
So far the editor of the New York Inquirer—now let
us have his correspondent : _

" The papers of Papineau, which hays been seized, are said
to implicate deeply Mr. Joseph Hume, and Mr. Roebuck. The
letters of the former are all tackeled on his own hand, to be and
nut to he made public. It is said that they recommend the very •
line of proceedings which have taken place, and that they are
highly treasonable. However, they will be sent home, and the
matter will not be so easily hushed. up. Should the assertions
prove true, Mr. Hume and Mr. Roebuck will have to answer
to the peg ple of England."
Mr. Hume, if not invited to explain his conduct else-
where in the meantime, will have an opportunity of
throwing some light on this paragraph on Tuesday next
in the House of Commons. The Canada Portfolio will
be anxiously looked for, in order to learn what Mr. Roe-
buck has to say upon the facts alleged against him: The
Governor of Vermont has issued a proclamation, enfor-
cing upon the citizens of the United S:ates the duty of
observing a strict neutrality.
We now submit to our readers the American journals,
from which we have, perhaps, too long detained them.
( Frum the New York Inquirer, ut the 20th.)

The letters of our correspond;ut at Montreal contain the
latest intelligence front that city. By these we learn that Dr.
Wootired Nelson has been arrested ; and a line on the outside
of one of them informs us that he was hourly expected at Mon-
treal. TI4 insurgents were still committing depredations in the
neighbourhood of Grand Brule. Qu the 12th instant the stea-
mer Princess Victoria, brought in twenty-five prisoners, who
were taken at or after the affair at Missisquoi, and, had been
lodged for a day or two previous, for safe keeping, at the Isle
aux Noix. Seven of these were men of some note. Amongst
them was Bouchette. late editor of the Quebec Liberal, and an
active agitator, and Kitubert, who was deeply implicated in the
first movement at Longueuil, and who, with Bouchette, is said
to have held a command at Missisquoi. Desrivieres, Mathes-
seault, and Boucher Belleville also among the prisoners, were
active and prominent at St. Charles. Ja.lber was at St. Denis,
having been concerned in the murder of Lieutenant Weir.
Among them also is Roi, who was concerned in the death of
Chartrand, and gave the command to fire upon him. He was
arrested on the wharf at La Prairie, in the act of putting some
oxen on board the steam-boat for the Montreal market. Being
of the by-stander,s, he was forthwith sent off recognised by one
in the same boat with the cattle.
Some twenty of the prisoners taken at St. Charles and else-
where have been liberated, on evidence that they were couipelled
to join the insurgents by force or intimidation.
The Montreal Courier states that General T. S. Brown, leader

_ .
of the insurgents, and for many years the confidential friend
and associate of Papineau, is an American by birth, but a
native of New Brunswick, who has spent some of the earlier
years of his life in Vermont.
Frotn Quebec we learn that entire tranquillity prevails. The
guns are all mounted upon the ramparts of the town and citadel,
and the volunteer org,auisation goes on with great spirit. The
15th regiment remains in the Jesuits' Barracks. The Royal
Quebec Artillery are to occupy quarters that have been fitted
up for them in the wing of the old Parliament-house; and the
Royal Quebec Volunteers, numbering 800 strong, have been
provided with barracks in the stone stores on King's-wharf.
It is stated that Sorel and Chambly will be garrisoned during
the winter by volunteers, and that St. Denis, St. Charles, St.
John's, and the Isle aux Noix,•will be occupied by the regulars,
with the additiOn probably ofsurne volunteers or Upper Canada
militia.
The Provincial Assembly stands prorogued to the 13th of the
next month.
We find in the .11mtreal Transcript the following particulars
of the butchery of Lieutenant Weir :
`•We have received the following horrible account of the mur-
der of Lieutenant Weir. The story is very different from that
put forth by Mr. T. S. Brown, in the Expres* of this morning.
By the way, the Express now avows that its sometime correspon-
dent L. M. N. and Mr. T. S. Brown are one and the same
person.
" After Lieutenant Weir hail been betrayed into the bands
of the rebels, Dr. Woolfred Nelson ordered his removal from
St. Denis to St. Charles. The person intrusted with this duty
was Jalbert, the ex-captain of militia. Mr. Weir's arms were
forced back, and his elbows made fast to each other with ropes.
Thus pinioned,' he was placed in a cart, into which Jalbert and
another man under him, whose name we forget, also mounted,
the former armed with a sword, and the latter with an axe, and
they proceeded towards St. Charles. The roads were in so bad
a state that the horse bacarne fatigued, and with difficulty con-
tinued at a foot-pace. Jalbert first ordered the roan to get out
and walk—he afterwards got out himself—and finally he made
a sign to Mr. Weir, who, although he was in so helpless a con-
dition, descended as best he might. He had just reached the
ground, and was steadying himself with one hand rested on the
kick of the cart, when Jalbert made a rush behind him, and
plunged his sword into Mr. Weir's back with such violence
that it transfixed his body,
" Surprised, writhing with pain, helpless! ! and influenced by
the first impulse of nature, the weapon was no sooner withdrawn
than Mr. Weir got, under the cart, where he lay bleeding and in
agony. After a short conference the two assassins approached
the cart, and commenced a most savage and brutal attack on
their victim, one nu each side; the one stabbing with his sword,
the other striking With his axe, as the wheel and the position of
Mr. Weir gave opportunity. At length, the axemau inflicted
a severe wound on Mr. Weir's lett side, close to the hip. Rous-
ed by the brutal character of the attack, and the reflection, that
to remain where he was would be to (lie by inches, Mr. Weir
crept from under the cart, and regained his legs. Seeing these
wretches again advance upon him, he resorted to the only pos-
sible expedient left, and, weak as by this time he was, he raised
his right leg, and made a kick at Talbert.,
" The man with the axe seized the advantage of the moment,
and aimed a heave blow at the left side of Mr. Weir's head.
He saw the blow coming, and instinctively raised his hand.
The blow took effect across the side of the head and on a line
with the temple. After cutting off all the four fingers of Mr.
Weir's hand the axe laid his skull completely open, nearly
severing. the top of the head. The young man then sunk upon
the ground, a dradful object to behold."
The statements of our correspondent in reference to Mr.
Joseph Hume and Mr. Roebuck are highly important. It is
not unlikely these gentlemen have used strong language in
their correspondence with Papineau, hut we should presume
that they would hare taken good care to keep on the safe side of
the law. No mention is made of the seizure of this correspond-
ence in the' Montreal papers.
(Coriesnondence of the Crrurier and Inquirer.)
MoNTizE t„ WEDNE4TIAI.—WooItied Nelson is taken, and
is now at La Prairie. This I believe to be authentic.
The troops are now on their march. Colonel Dundas, with
his regiment, the 834, and the Rocket Brigade, have just pass-
ed my window. The weather is beautiful. They will proceed
to St. Martin's to-night, and start from thence at eight o'clock
to-morrow morning. when I shall join them, as there will be no
bed or accommodation to be procured at St. Martin's, and I
can be there before they start.