Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-11

A PROPOSITION IN GREAT BRITAIN FOR A RAIL-
ROAD TO THE PACIFIC, ACROSS CANADA.
We have had put into our hands a copy of a
work just published in London, entitled Britain
redeemed and Canada preserved, by +. A. WILSON,
K. L. H., G.. S. and ALFRED B. RICHARDS, Esq,
barrister at iaV at Lincoln's Inn, II is hand
some octave of 556 pages, with illustrative plates,
and map Of North America down to the 4Oth de-
gree of north latitude, on which is delneated the
project of a railroad, across Nova Scotia and the
Canadas, from Halifax to the Pacific, terminating
at Puges Sound, opposite the Island of Vancouver,
the estimated length being $500 miles, of which
400 miles, from Halifax to Quebec, is already sur
veyed and in course of execution. The remaining
2,400 miles is marked out in nearly straight line
from Quebec to the Pacific terminus, meeting, as
alleged, with no obstacle but the Rocky Mountains,
which, it is claimed, may be passed by detours
through the defles, or tunnelled where it may be
necessary. On the map it certainly looks well,
and the amount and detail OF information de-
monstrate abundant material and great labor of au
thorship. The ability of the work is transcendent,
and the plan bold impressive, and imposing. II
will, no doubt, command the earliest attention Of
British statesmen. The authors speak of our
predecessor in this field, Major Carmichael Smyth
to whom they acknewisdge their bgations but
proposing a grand political modification OF tho
British empire, in the accomplishment of this,
object, they did not consider their work superseded
but the way merely opened.
The following extracts, selected here and there,
will develop their scheme:
We will proceed open the intention Of the work,
already than suggested by the te-viz to show the
feasibility of line of railway the Canadas joining the
Atlantic and Pacific the necessity of this to retain the
most important Of Colonies and to keep pace with the
vast designs Of the United Sates the possibility OF perfect
incorporation of Canada with Great Britain, under the same
laws, government privileges and with fair amount OF ie-
presentation, important integral part OF this kingdom
thus preserve her. with less cramped and fatal cy
might still have preserved the eay and affections OF the
United States the benefits to be derived from the
employment OF convict labor the immense individual advan-
tages emgrants the absorption Of paupersm and its
achynica translation comfort prosperity. and wealth the
relief here the blessing there and finally the opening OF
cprocal commerce with Northeast China and with Japan by
speedy and direct MEANS and by the unlimited OF the
TIE temperate round the uorM All this is to be
done, for hare the means before us; the time has
no,o arriued the necessity is urgent" China Is our
centre Of attraction; it is to Russai it is 10 Amera
but ,De alone hdre get the game Of the tcorid IN our
hands" Our grahdest schems" Cat honey are defunc
and stibon railways from anywhere to nowhere" emo
tlifng measure will do there" (n Canada lose her,
and you lose the world by generous and extended po-
a,rake You possess every thing You act you had
nothing" "Agan we say, people Of England, auake
Preserve the Canadas the means Of salvation " The
land Of promise TO us) s Canada but not Canada under
the present system with its interior still, desert and unfre-
auened its population troubled and dscontented all hudded
up the mixed community its finest portions aban-
doned the savage and its western coast cuf de or
non-thoroughae, without peped port or local ship No
but Canada capable Of becoming closely united member,
or rather portion and parcel Of State intimately
mixed up and connected with Scotland and Heland
pursuing objects and interests under branch nstu
ton and identical government and poy her expansive
bosom peoped from her her western extremity and
the intermediate space constituted the grand round
the worlds circumference, the future channel OF the hoe
Uords general intercourse and commercce and all this
marvellous may appear by easy cheap and se-evdent
means With continental territory Of such vast extent
as our Canaaas lying invngy between and the new
commercial opening in the Pacific together with SO
many Of intervening dependencies scattered over the
Southern seas, to remain passive spectators OF This
grand drama of maritime intercourse, which assembling all
nations upon the Pacific waters without avang ourselves Of
our faculty and Of converting the impulse
to our principal advantage LoCk at the map and see we
are not stupidity obtuse securing the Dement'S
which the opportunity now offers Great Britain and Judge
if were suicidal criminaly, should hesitate any
longer profit by this Cafonia mania, and to assume the
immediate lead and direction of the South Sea movement
thereby those congregaDg interests 70 British
centre For with and undivided tract OF the norh-
of America und sway, stretching from the
pole the very confines Of the spot thus suddenly endowed
with such magnetic influence what excuse have we for re.
fus ng this indirect appeal obvious power Nature
presents with the in the happy position Of Vancou
ves land the Canadian lakes halfway access to this
promising point through the heart Of possessions
only bridge the intermediate space between Lake
Superior and Northwest harbor AT the bare thought
rapid and direct channel betwxt Europe and Asia, what
pictures Of certain prosperity and grandeur, enterprise and
activity crowd upon the mind, with the prospect OF wilder
peopeda remote converted TO immediate and
familiar high road-and regions teemng with countless
myads hitherto only reached by tedious crcumnavgaon Of
the globe brought to intimate connexion, were, at our
very door pictures cannot contemplate without excalm-
ing England, arouse Ministers, atcake :"
The above are extracts taken here and there from the first
seventy six pages Of this workenough, as will probably be
felt to show its character its ability its grand design Ere
quen. refer made Mr. Whineys plan for the United
States which have been the promper OF this move
ment in Great Britain proposed to incorporate Canada
with the domestic empire be part of as much as aes
Scotland and Ireland, to be represented in Parliament and IN
the nobility Canada have the rank and the same
privileges as England and member OF the royaf n'y 10
be at the head Of the Canadian branch Of the Government
Twenty thousand convcts be put at once upon tue
road 10 work the paupers of England be taken there
and made useful II is estimated that fee millions OF people
can be spared from England Scotland, and reland ior ne
reciprocal of all parties to be planted along the line OF
this roai and ha, this way, and in short tme England
NAV be entirely relieved Of her paupersm, which now costs
more than six millions sterling year in parish rates, and
thirty to forty millions in sl forms Of public and private char
w. The esiu for the cost Of the road average OF
5 600 per mile being for the whole work. and
less than half the present annual cost Of paupersm at home
,h ola ar ,bef pa of which burden is expected the