The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-20 00:00:00

TOWN-HALL, SOUTHWARK.-THURSDAY

Henry Dixon, a young man of colour, came before the
sitting magistrates, Sir J. Cowan and Mr. Alderman Lucas,
for the purpose of making the following application.
Dixon commenced by saying that he was a native of Up-
per Canada, and at the time of the Canadian rebellion was a
steward on board one of the passage boats which plied be-
tween Buffalo and the city of Rochester, near the falls of
Niagara ; that in the month of December last he came over
to England in the British Queen under the expectation of ob-
taining employment, but in that he bad failed, and he was
now anxious to return to Upper Canada, but he wanted the

means of doing so.
After some conversation between the magistrate and the
applicant, the latter was requested to get a certificate to the
effect that his name appeared in the list of passengers by the
British Queen. _ _ . .

Dixon accordingly left the office, and returned in the
course of an hour with the necessary document. Upon read-
ing it the worthy alderman desired Ager to draw out a me-
morial for Dixon. _ _ _ .

—..-..-.
Ager accordingly proceeded to act upon the alderman's in-
structions, when Dixon gave the following highly interesting
narrative relative to his connexion with the British forces,
from which it appeared that he played a very impel tant part
during the rebellion. At the time of the outbreak he was
living as waiter at the Eagle Tavern, Buffalo, which enabled
him to be well acquainted with the state of parties, and,
knowing that the English Government had no forces at Fort
Erie, be made up his mind to volunteer. He was induced to
do this in consequence of the manner in which all persons of
colour were treated by the Americans. Upon his first cross-
ing over to Fort Erie he saw Captain Roberts, and after he
had had two or three interviews with that gentleman he got
his fellow-companions to cross over, all of whom took up
arms. He was subsequently employed by Colonel Kirby to
go over to Buffalo, for the purpose of obtaining information
as to what was going on, especially as M`Kenzie was there
beating up for volunteers. From the facilities which he pos-
sessed he was enabled to convey most important information
to Colonel Kirby as to the plans and intentions of the rebels.
Amongst the persons with whom he was acquainted was an
exciseman of the name of Graham, who was a staunch parti-
san of the rebels, and, at the request of Graham, he assisted
him two days before the destruction of the Caroline. He
cut her out of the ice at Blackrock. There were pork, flour,
and other provisions put on board of her ; about three dozen
of muskets and the cannon (of which so much has been said);
and Graham then wanted him to go on board, observing that
as it was known that he was a volunteer the vessel could pro-
ceed in safety. He, however, declined the offer, and as soon
as he could get away from Graham he returned to Fort Erie
and told Colonel Kirby what was intended to be done.
Upon this information the British acted, and two days after-
wards the Caroline was burnt. He afterwards occasionally
went to Buffalo, for it was not known that he had made any
communication to the English respecting the destruction of
the Caroline. In the course of the following summer Capt.
Paget advised him to come over to England, where the gal-
lant captain told him that he could do much better than in
America, and he would assist him as far as it was in his
power to obtain a situation. It was from these observations
of the gallant captain he had been induced to come to Eng-
land, and had it not been for his illness no doubt he would
have been able to obtain a situation before this time. His
intention of returning home arose not from any inclination,
but from necessity, as he was now destitute.
Dixon, who appears to be about 24 or 25 years of age, and
exceedingly intelligent, was informed that if his account was
true, no doubt existed but that he would find some employ-
ment in England, as there were several who would be most
anxious to reward him for the part he had taken during the
rebellion in Canada, and was desired to attend again in the
course of a few days at the office, by which time some in-
formation would be obtained as to the truth of his state-
ment.

Dixon replied that what he had stated woqld bear the
strictest investigation, and by the desire of Mr. Alderman
Lucas he left his address with Kinsey, the chief officer of the
establishment.

DETENTION OF THE FALMOUTH PACKETS AT
RIO DE JANEIRO.

(From the Jornal do C'mmercio, of Feb. 21.)
This morning, at 1I o'clock, it was officially announce(
that the packet Penguin was detained until the 26th instant
and this is not the first time that almost at the last hou
such notice has been given.

We are ignorant of the motives which may exist for hiding
with so much care from the merchants, until the lastest mo-
ment, an intention to postpone the departure of a packet;
but we know that it causes great inconvenience to commerce,
because all operations in the exchanges depend essentially
upon the departure of the packets.
If the packets do not come to the Brazils exclusively for
the benefit of the two nations, if commercial interests were
also contemplated when they were established, we request,
on behalf of the merchants and others, that any alteration
which may be made respecting the day appointed for their
sailing hence may be communicated with the utmost promp-
titude. •
The system of detaining the packets at Rio de Janeiro has
grown to such a height, that the abuse calls loudly for the
interference of the home authorities. Her Majesty's packet
Penguin, instead of retnaining 14 days at Rio, as stipulated
and customary, was actually q 4 days in Rio harbour, and
was then dispatched in the evening, when the tide and sea
breeze rendered it dangerous to pass out of the bay. This state
of things is so common, that the merchants are completely
sickened therewith ; for, it is said, should an underling of
the. Foreign-office be invited out to dinner, the putting off
the sailing of the packet is an easy matter.