Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-10-05

session, the mace, that ancient emblem
, of sovereignty, is placed on the clerks
table, and under it when in committee
Of the whole. This patent emblem is q
long sort of war-club, ornamented with a
crown, appears 10 be under the peculiar
care Of the sergeant-at-arms, very green
parsonage, with sword dangling under
his left arm, and other signs Of official
dignity. Sir Allen McNab is one of the
most active business members of the
House, and has full share of influence
in that body. He is a Canadian, and not
a native of Scotland, as we have suppos-
ed. He is, it is said, lineal descen-
dant of the chief of one of the clans of
Scotland, which one might think pro6a-
Bile enough from his personal appearance.
The "gailanl" Colonel, you know, was
knighled for the services he rendered
his sovereign in the affair Of the Caroline.
No doubt if Mcleod escapes the halter,
he will be made an object Of royal boun-
~ for his services ON the same occasion.
The Parliament usually meets at of
the clock, and seldom adjourns until
midnight or after. These night sessions
are in imitation Of the customs Of the
mother country. The VOID hear! hear!
which has been generally supposed to
be used only to encourage the speaker,
or draw attention TO his remarks, is made,
by little change of tone, 10 silence a
tedious, prOsy, or wordy orator, and an
swers the latter purpose most effectually
in many instances-Few can Withstand
the ridicuIe when the word is generally
and vehemenlly repeated around him.
1t may be generally remarked, that
what of aristocracy is met with in the
Provinces sets easy upon the subjects.
Indeed, the upper classes are more plain
in dress and manners than the would be-
great ones in the United States. In their
intercourse with each other, and with
strangers, they manifest less dread Of
plebian contact than you see with the
successful grapplers for gold in our own
country Should address you again, ]
may hereafter illustrate my meaning by
some example in point.
the mass afthe population are infn.
tely below ours in intelligence and en-
terprjze. Their comparatively degraded
position, especially the French descen.|
dants in the lower province, may fairly be
ascribed to the circumstance, that their
lands are undera system Of servility Pc
culiar 10 the feudal system, usually demo.
minated tenure By knight service. One
of the attendants on this species of ten
ure is a fine to the lprd for every aliena.
ton. This is fixed at IL per cent. upon
The whole purchase money, and the new
purchaser holds it of the lord upon the
same conditions as it was held before
The escUGge, or pecuniary satisfaction, in
lieu of attendance in knightservice, is
three dollars per annum for every hun.
dred aprons, about seven-eighhs of an
hundred acres of land. This, with the
heavy fine for alienation, are the chief
burdens under The Provincial government
upon lands granted before the conquest.
The titles emanating from the British
crown, are exempt from these feudal
burdens, and are granted in free and
common socsge. 1t is supposed that
these exHaOrndary remains of faudal
ssrvitude, as we'll as the general preva-
Isnce Of the Roman Catholic religion,
havs kept so widely apart the French in.
habilanIs and the other British subjects,
and have prevented the former flom Ell
ther acquiring the language OR keeping
up with the Advancement of the latter in
the general improvements Of the age. 1t
may be remarked, that there is not one
to ten of the French descendants who
can speak a word of English.
Fealty and homage are said to be yet
rendered by the seigniors to the repre-
sentative of the sovereign, with all the
ancient fSudal pomp and CEREMONY
THIS state Of vassalage- of lord and teu-
dalitv-SeigAior and habitaat--has led
70 The poverty Of the mass and the
wealth Of the few, which exists at the
resent day in the lower province. 1t
nay be remarked, too, that il has pro
duced those combusibIa materials which
wiil be easily kindIsd in case Of war
with the United States, and which I'M
doubtedly led TO the recent rebellion
The French have less affection for their
own country and government than for
ours, and will revolt the noment they
can be assured Of protection. 1t is hoped.
however, We oh II not soon have occasion
for their aid.
Ifany observations shall be made that
have been less than a thousand times re-
peated, | shall send them to you from
Montreal.
Yours &c.
A. BUCKEYE.
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