The New York herald., 1851-11-16

,sDeusgs-vhich provision, however, has since
b. se rsscndsd; and that increase IN the rsprs-
ssntation should take place, uniess there were
%sSSs9. %s0S Of the Lssisi.t1. Council and Hou.. Of
When the union Of the two provinces was effect
cd, the population Of Upper and Lower Canada
number of members 10 the ASeably ly-sishty-fo
in all. Stree that period, the number Of inhAbi-
tants In Upper Canada has about doubled, and Is
still rapidly increasing. Attempts were made in
the House, during the two last sessions, by MI
Lsfontaine, to increase the number Of representa-
tives, preserving to each province an equality;
therefore, not basing the representation, ss II
with an increases mum Der Of French Canadians in
the House. would retain that ascendancy which,
owing to their voting en- HCc, and the division
among the British party, they at present possess
But two thirds vote could IT, in either instance,
be obtained.
Aside from the scramble for office, the chief bone
Of contention, at present, in Upper Canada, Is the
clergy reserves, and, in Lower Canada, the seig-
nories. The agitation Of the former question Is
principally on the part of the Free Church of Scot
land, and the Congregationalists, numbering, In
the aggregate, probably one-ffth Of the popula-
tion OF the former province. For Q number of
years, the Church Of England, for whose benefit
the reserves were doubtless intended, enjoyed
the exclusive use Of these appropriations; bu.
the Church of Scotland having claimed portion to
which it was entitled under the aN Of union of the
two kingdoms, it has Of late years been divided be-
tween both nents and the other religious
denominations in the province ; the former retain
ing tie lions share.
This does not suit the ultra notions Of the bgoted
opponents of church patronage, who are conse-
quently incessant in their clanorou, appeals 10 ia
or Of the seculazza,ion of these reserves and their
appropriation TO educational purposes. The move
ment, doubtless, has its origin in jealousy of the
Church Of England. for the Roman Catholic clergy
have moro ample funds at their disposal, against
which no objection has been advanced. The funds
rsafa fadf ba
ready mere than equivalent for the requirement.,
of education, large portion OF shca IS squAnderei
away, and the reserves are not as the Term
blocks of land i'm pervious to settlement, for they
IRE in the market, and sold rhsnever purchas-
ers can be obtained Their secularization opposed
BY the Churches OF England and Scotland. and also
by the Roman Catholics because, were the prinoi
pie for which the free church party contend oncs
conceded they feel assured that the desire for spo
lation would extend TO the princely revenues OF
their clergy in Lower Canada. And the Freach
members, who are highly conservative, both IN the
Legislative Council and House o Assembly, mani
tested during the last session, unmstakeable indica
tions that they would not distu;b the grant which
has been confirmed by an at of the Imperial Par
lament. There is h.tle probability, therefore,
OF those reserves being applied to any other
purpose than that for which they were originally
intendsd-the maintenance OF the Protestant re-
Egion.
Connect cd with the reserves, is the establishment
of sixty two rectories, by Sir John Colborne, who
administered the government, after the departure OF
this measure Illegal and last session the govern
neDt introduced a resolution, which PASSED ths
Assembly, authorizing the institution OF suit TO
Try the validity Of the titles. The possession OF
these rectories confers no power on their encum-
bents TO interfere with other denominations, or be-
yopd tie precincts Of their churches snd church
yards. The sutcsy against them, therefore, may
be referred 10 the same petty Jealousy, which is the
fouscation Of the a.tack upon the clergy reserves
Ii must be admitted, however, that the prefer
ence given to one religion over another, by invest
ing il with provincial funis, as was the case with
reference the Trinity church grant here, has been
the cause Of much Of the re sious bitterness that
peryades Upper Canada; and which has been fos-
tered by those minister's VIII )se Office is peace-the
Bishop Of Toronto, with fe~ of his clergy men,
taking the lead one side, aud three or toU- trou-
blesome Scotch persons on the other.
As TO the seignoriai, they are an anomaly, un-
suited to the present state OF society, and which re-
tards the settlement Of the eastern portion Of
Canada. There were concessions made by the
kings Of France, before the couques. Of the country
by Great Britain; by the terms Of which, the seig-
reur is bound to cJncede lands for actual settle
uent, to any person applying for that purpose,
upon sn annual pay nent OF aoou: two pence
Per acre, rent, by the co,sI'atre or tenant. Il
the party attaining land in this way is desirous Of
selling the perpetual lease, the segneur Is entitled
10 q poi ton Of the proceeds; and wheu there ap
Pears to be any misrepresentation as 20 the price az
which the land has been disposed Of he can take |,
at that rae, and afterwards dispose OF 1t himself
On the o. aer hard. be Is compelled 70 open roads
end erect mills, at which the tenaat must have the
wheat ground that he requires COR the use Of hii
family.
4. Is oontended that the ce,,'d1ires have mad.
reservations, and imposed conditions and burtheal
on suoi lands, which we're unau horned; aud tha.
they have exscted from the osstia,'es rents ex
ceediDg the rate allowed by iaw: and a bill was
brought In last session 10 cOs rel ttem 10 comply
With the conditions under waic1 the segnories were
granted.
Another bill was also introduced, embracing q
plan Of communication, and afor ling q great pro
- -. q L H.. . -
al lands, held sHOiHr,, may be converted into a
free tenure without material injury TO the interests
Of either party concerned. It - not p.obabe no
ever, that this arrangement will satisfy popula-
feelings the object Of the cfisi,ates is to attain
free grants Of the land from the crown. G. w
Affairs In Washington.
Correspondence Of the Baltimore sun