The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-30
THE EVENTS IN CANADA.
s>oNoON>NNo.NN.0|>NJ~NNNNy
The Details Of the Outbreak
Destruction OF the Parliament Building.
&c. sc. &c.
Our Canadian Correspondence.
MONTREAL, CANADA, o

Wcuucsudy 4NlSHt, hPIH Aofo
The Destruction ofthe Parliament House, &c.
Never in my life have / witnessed such scene
as took place about two hours ago, in the Legisla
tive Assembly of Canada. Having been present IN
the Parliament House when the following event
occurred, lose no time in giving you an account
oft, it may reach you previous to the departure
of the Europa for England.
AT about O'Clock this afternoon, Lord Elgin re-
paired to the hall OF the Legislative Assembly, to
give his assent TO the famous Rebellion Losses bill,
and on his leaving the House, understand (for /
| was not presently, that he was saluted by the exas
perated mob with rotten eggs, and every missile
that could be laid hold Of; he left amid the groans
and the hootlngs of the populace, that had been
cidentally assembled for there nothing said IN
the morning papers of his intention to sanction the
bill. This, however, was only the prelude to what
afterwards occurred At about a quarter past nine
O'Clock tonight, while the members were debating
on the Judicature bill for Lower Canada, was sit
of the Assembly, when suddenly tremendous
crash was heard and every window in the spacious
room was broken to atoms, from stones hurled by
the infurated mob outside into the Hall. Then
shall forget as long as live the members were
running for their lives in every direction of the
House, and sought every spot where they thought
their lives would be free from danger: some went
into the library, others hid themselves under tho
seats, some observed crossing the hall behind the
Speakers chair, while others escaped from the
lobby through the door out Of the house: During
brief period of intermission of the hurting of the
stones, crept out OF the recess and went up into
the library. which had hardly reached when the
mob, rushing and hallooing, came into the Hall,
chopped everything, tables, desks chairs &c. &C.,
to pieces-one running away with the golden mace
before the Speakers chair, others serving hold of
whatever came in their way, and leaving their
work OF destruction to save their own precious
lives, tor the Parliament House of Canada was in
flames !!
1t is now nearly two hours since left, and from
this elevation see the fire raging as ercelyas ever
burning the build ing which cost over .eS0000, and
the public records and documents, the bills, which
were IN various stages In their progress through
the House, and with them TIE most valuable library
| on American history to be found on the continent,
or in the world. Your patience may be exhausted
to know by whom these proceedings were adopted
| | answer, by the high-spirited and intelligent
Brtons by men Of education, of worth, OF nie-
gence! Oh God to what pitch will party spirit
by, the il-advised measures of their politi.
cal opponents meeting had been held
at eight o'clock tonight, on the, Champs de
Mars, which was, ] hear, attended by about
5000 people and it was from them the people
came who committed this wanton destruction of
property. Where it will end, or what will be the
result, God only knows. stepped out, a few mo-
ments ago, to hear further accounts, but CLEAN
nothing but rnmors of injuries done to the mem
bers. hope they are not as serious as what they
are now represented, and trust that men prone
(whllst IN state OF excitemenD to exaggeration,
has been done. l met a few persons near the Hay
market, whs were shouting for vengeance against
the Governor, and not wishing to place myself in
| further danger, after the miraculous escape had
about two hours ago from the Parliament house, |
retured home, and shall not again go out tonight.
Whatever hear Tomorrow, shall communi-
cate to you by the next days mail. In the inter-
val, you may imagine into what state of confu-
| sion this will throw every department of public
| afairs-the Tariff bill, Judicature bill, Assess
ment bill, and thousand others destroyed by fire.
and valuable public records, geological surveys,
reports of commissioners, various matters of the
greatest importance, all committed to the flames
suppose Parliament will meet in another build
| ing tomorrow, or perhaps be ,prorogued. shall
| apprise you of whatever may take place:
p. S. HALF-PAsT TwELvE-P. M.-Whilst the
Parliament House is yet in flames advise the
| British ministry to recall Lord Elgn or else they
will lose these colonies-yes, lose them for ever
x. z.
INCIDENTS, ETC, CONNECTED WITH THE EMEUTE.
From the Montreal Gazette April 81
The 10Th Of April, 1S49 will be looked upon hence
forth as black day for Canada. Our children will
holding the commission Of his sovereign Governor
General Of the province sanctioned in the of her
tory of the world and which, in principle strikes at the
root of all government 1t is but humanity in 60
vernment to forgive the msdeeds of individuals who
may have risen in rebellion against it,
is positive destruction to repay them for the losses
their rebellion had brought upon them.
We have, then, to apprisc readers that in the
course of Wednesday the 25th inst it became whis-
pered without any person seeming know from what
source that the Governor General would to the
Parliament House. at three o'clock afternoon to give
his sanction to several bills which had been passed
These and other considerations tended to
throw doubt on the affair until about three o'clock
the usual hour which governors had fixed, in all time
before for proceeding to give the royal bills
passed by the Legislature few persons went down
to the Parliament Buildings at that hour but no
still Governor At length about five o'clock the
carriage OF his ordship was seen approaching the Par
Lament House but there not $50 or 800 peo-
pie in the galleries. and none outside.
HIS L9rdshp having seated himself on the throne.
and the Legislative Assembly having been summoned
sent to various bills The Clerk Of the Crown in
hancery had read the titles of several of them and
the Clerk OF the Legislative Council had declared the
Queens assent, with all due formaty when the clerk
took hold Of the Rebellion Losses BILL and read with
sufficient dstinctness the abom BILE title An act
to provide for the Naturalization parties Lower
Canada whose property was destroyed during the
thiryscven and one thousand eight hundred and thir
ty-egbt.n
A dead silence ensued for moment or two People
held their breaths in perfect surprise At length
by magic, a move took place among the audience, a
stamping Of feet heard and groans and Kisses NUT
tered as the parties made for the door which
yells and hootings as they descended the stairs
The remaining bills having been speedily assented to-
maze ms appearance in the street attended
py MS suite, on his return to Monklands But still
there crowd.
-. Immediately he was seen several rotten eggs were
thrown ut him, Of which inform ed struck
him, and some most unfortunately hit also the gentle
men OF his suite This attended by loud hootings
yels, and groans, in the midst Of which the position
on his lordshp getting into the carriage drove
rapid rate Rotton eggs continued to be thrown at
the carriage. so long they could take effect and a
dirty sight the machine exhibited
Tremendous excitement ensued. The city turned
out its Thousands into the streets and at eight clock
they assembled on the Cham ps de Mars to the number
OF five or six thousand But all perfectly regular
and peaceable. The chair was taken by A. Howard,
Esq and the following resolutions moved and
carried
Resolved lst That this meeting desires to reiterato
the opinions Of the meeting held in the Bonsecours
Market the evening Of the 18th Feb last relative
to the Rebellion Losses bl' considering the princi-
pie Of the designed to reward the dis
Affected and to punish the loyal and therefore alto
gether UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Resolved 2d-1bat this meeting deeply deplores tho
outrage which has this day been committed against
their feelings British subjects by the act Of the Le
gisoturc in passing the said bill without aforng the
people an opportunity Of expressing their opinions
thereon Mt the hustngs and in total disregard of their
retHt ctful petItiOnh and anainat l.