The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-28

are called esHSiaires; who held under perpet
ua line which they could dispose OF, sui iect how
ever, to the right Of pr,smption on the part Of
the seignior, who, whenever property changed
hands, received oue-twelf,h Of the purchase
money, as lord Of the soil and this was the case.
however often such transfers might be made.
Bot not satisfied with this the seignior fire.
quently steps in where sale has been effected
that is peculiarly advantageous to the purchaser
takes the property from him, by repaying him the
amount he had paid, and, in some instances. dis
posing Of it TO the highest bidder to the exclusion
Of the original purchaser Is il to be wondered
at that the French Canadisns are the inert race
Of beings they are represented TO be. when. in adj
dition to their natural want Of energy. thew are
never permitted to enjoy, in reality, the rights
aud privileges Of freemen.
The object Of the bill which has been brought
in by MIR Drummond, who is himself a seignior.
Is to give the superior courts Of law the same
oognizance OF the seigniors, as the Governor and
lntendant possessed previous to the conquest Of
the Province 10 fix the rent at four sous Der acre
just double what it was in I'LL, when wheat, in
which 1t was sometimes paid, was worth about
half what It is at present 10 limit the time which
ceRSuaueS may be in arrear for rent TO FIVE years
the practice at present being 10 permit il TO ex-
tend to twenty-nine years, by which the creditor
Of the latter is frequently deprived of the means
Of payment; and it also provides that seipnior
will not, in future, be compelled to bring separate
suits for rent.
OF course the seigniors of Lower Canada, as
body, are opposed to the bill, which has retro
grade action-that is, making the maximum of
rent four sous per acre on all existing contracts
and they are TO be heard, by counsel. at the bar
of the House Of Assembly, on Saturday next
There is little probability, however Of any effect
being produced on the minds Of the members by
this appeal, It being agreed on all hands, that il
is absolutely necessary for the preservation Of
public tranquility in Lower Canada, that the
subject should be set at rest and the members,
on Tuesday, voting almost unanimously in favor
of the bill.
This must be followed by a Communication act,
by which the present shall be diverted into the
free aud common sooage tenure-in effeoung
which believe the real difficulty will be found
Ii is not conceive, that the censtares have much
prospect Of improving their condition by becom-
ing the actual owners Of the land they occupy,
which, for the most part, they have exhausted by
improvident cultivation, and for which they will
be called upon TO pay reasonable remuneration
to the seignor. And it was observed, in debate,
that those who have been most active in getting
up the present mOVement-one of whom is re-
cent importation from old France who has no sort
OF interest 10 the country-have never, in any
one instance, submitted plan Of Communication.
This Communication, however, must have bene-
fetal effect upon society large, and will induce
many persons TO settle ia Lower Canada who
would Otherwise proceed TO rne Upper Province
- Z ~ Sr.s-E ., 20 ~
regret to state that the number Of lives lOsS
by the upsetting of 3 boat near Kingston, last
week, exceeded what was reported at the time
wrOte-fOurteen females and FIVE males having
thus been suddenly snatched from time into
eternity There were sixteen saved, but among
whom was not solitary female, which is attrib-
uted by one Of the witnesses before the coroner's
inquest to their beingjn the cock pit at the time
the yacht filled, which, it would seem, was caused
by the shifting Of a quantity Of gravel, which
was put ON board for ballast Six or seven OF
those who were saved chung to that portion of the
mast which remained above water when the boat
sunk, and the remainder we're picked up by boats
which put of from the shore
All the bodies, except two, have been recovered
and inferred at Kingston, where they were, for
the most part respectfully connected There was
one young lady, however, from this place, where
she kept very respectable school, and in this
way provided for an aged mother and helpless:
brother. The body was brought to Toronto, and
on Sunday last was followed TO the tomb by
numerous assemblage Of friends-snd even stran
gers who sympathiEed with her surviving rela
lives, anu Nert the mousse OF mourning
by her melancholy fate, dropped tear at hei
grave.
The Legislature is making every effort to re-
store the library, far as is practicable and have
voted within the present year $4,000 for that
purpose; besides which, they have received many
valuable donations Of books, among others there is
a complete set OF the Journal Of the House OF
Lords, from 1909 to 1919 inclusive Congress
has also contributed literally, as have several
States Of the Union and the committee of the
! Legislative Council and House of Assembly, In
report whica they recently made, speak in thu
highest terms Of the courtesy Of the Collector o
Customs at New York, who, upon the arIivs
Of several cases of books at that port, on theil
way to Toronto, gave directions that they shoulC
be Immediately forwarded to their destination
without the usual formality Of placing them il
bond.
An attempt Is being made to abolish imprison
ment for debt in the Upper as well as Lower
Province. The returns that have been furnished
are OF very gratifying character, as il appears
there are but thirty-two persons confined in jai
for debt in Upper Canada-one Of whom is a fe.
male for f725, and another father, at the in
stance of his son, for Col The total amount o.
debts for which these parties are confined is but
f2 ,23S, and there are only seyenty-three persons
on the Jail limits in q population of upwards Of
eight hundred thousand souls SENEX.