The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-18

Our Canada Correspondence.
QUnBsC, Dee Is, 1854.
II Sigaorial Tenure Bill 1hs Qssbsc osd Rich
~sad Rssisrsy-Tas NsD TasiG Sill MD.sas.
Tie Legislature Il retained in session much longer
nan was anticipated owing to the delay In the
Legislative Council on the 6igporil Tenure bill
M nensen Of our Canadian House OF Lords nHm-
Der among tosm many seigniors, than wnom'Sone
ssan 10 more tenacious Of rights or moro jealous
q hterfsSsnce. In 1863, bill, passed by she A.
senbly On the subject, was rejected with scarcely
- lsmAlity Of dlscuss,n; and alsnOugh the res
sus from Sishout, and desire 10 retrieve their
character and leave liberal act thsir last viii
I'D Testament, may secure for the present measure
. better reception, 1t IL doubted II the Assembly,
nan viii BE- able to recognise the Dill they passed
- the one that with be returned - tnsm. Inc
ssisaiorial tenure Ia remnant Of ihs fsudal'sm Ct
IL sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, which, ~
smdlss - its original terms, gave 70 tbs ssgnior
- slnrs, unconditional OF tae'and,
he Oh " restriction beng that he mus settle that
pur,son celed 70 him. Bat the precise chsrae
ter Of the settlement required was 30 vey
a many years was ooosid~ red rs falflnent o, the
sGsai1i.n. He WAS invested With m st iaiquitous--
70 we vev them nov--privileges, saon as have ST.
kssually prevented the advancement or improve
nsnA q the country. Among tnem. and perhaps
ne mast burdensome, Is the iOds 1t centes, which
Gvss 70 the seignor one-twelfth Of the purchase
neney, neA only on the lsnd, bat on all improve
nsats that may have been made upon every trans-
~ ID -
hnd for 81 O0O $40 of that amount has to 10 paid
- the esigaior. II he invest $4,000 IN Building
upsn or improving The lsnd, and 10 compelled from
uaisrsseen circumstances 70 sell at the end Of Ave
years, preesniDg that he eseivss the value OF his
improvements as well aa the original price Of tho
hnd, he must hand over to the ssignior the sum Of
$600. In addition 70 this the ssigSiOr iJaims the
st~s It septss, IN annual rent, which vas for
merry only nominal, seldom exceeding one penny
par acre, and sometimes very much less, but which
has III teIly, in aome districts, become quite for
Eidabls rent the right Of banali.e, compelling
HE essasitars or tenant 70 bring his grain to be
ground At tie seianior's mill, and the r.ghs Of
sesraif, giving the landlord tie privilege
Of purchasing anything oYsrad for sale by
the csnsuGne AZ tie price offered by any
ether intending pu; chaser. fhs sffsst Of such
. system in checking the spirit Of ia
dussry and Improve nsrt must be Apparent
t. avery o. al the call for abolition mas oecoGs
very general. The OILY real relief - % afforded 50
the eessitaire immsdissaiy, by ira proyisions
Of TIE present bill, Is The reduction Of the
etss 1t Tenss t. the uat Jrm rate II penny Per
Asye, AID the abclttin of ths banalte ard yetra.f
and TO DO this $500 600 il Appropriated from TIE &C.
nelsl revenue OF she province, In sddi ion 10 CERTAIN
excise aSd otter Lower Canadian son .ces Of revs-
nue., sweiiog the 70 Ab,ut 81 600 000 This II is
be<v<d by those bsst quail juds, Is just about
haifthe tat will actually be required for she pu
pese. Mr. DuEkia, lawyer from aloltrsal-than
vhem There is pos an ADLER in toe profession has
been n tsirtd by the seisniofs anu has lately adj
lsesss the Legislative Cou0cil 10 their behalf.
Meanwhile tho little sorid OF Quebec, and more
lastculsrIy those who ase very much Interested in
bean coal lstey taken aosck by the appearances Of
psDphlGt up0n .hs question Of the s@igEnrial 10
mare, generally imputed 70 the pen OF MIR. HICKS,
yhica completely oemoshes the scheme of that gea-
GeMahe late colleague, Attorney Gsnexal Drum
mend. IL a1v0cates tho appropriation Of tho sum
alfes6y named by the Assembly ~ tie extinction
Il the iOds ct Csnses, thus removing ~ once the
odas scs s o.
themselves Of the other dues. TINS scheme 10 de-
aedls she most feasible, and likely 20 'dnoo the
moss immsdiste good Its adapsoa BY tae Assem.
akout; AID en- ui it BE- adopted ths resignation Of
Mr.. DrunDop6, and the reconstruction OF tho Co
btses, must fellow. More Of this again.
RE completion Of me Qa s and Richmond
new era in the history # this country. Tia care-
n0py OF opening took pla on the 27ta ut, ami
many IF tee citizens OF Quebec and Montreal psr.
took Of The hospitality Of the directors OF ths un
0srskins i Richmond, and viewed the works Oh
tAe iae Very general satissaction n expressed ~
he character Of the work. and increased condolences
continues to he felt In the company: This road
aoss Lover Cansd. in close relationship with the
DATED 6tates. Hitherto 1t has been found al
NEST impossible even for passengers TO ira vel
= Montreal or ~ any part Of the uaion In
he winter season, in conseqaerce Of the lack
a comfortable means Of conveyance. The oid
Stages which occupied the read between thw
city and Montreal w0re - cold and tedious
thas bOsinsss Rust BE- very pressing wnics induced
4oa The rip; and ~ 10 freight, tba4 hiss been per
lastly oat Of sbe question: Now, passengers travel
~ ne rate Of thirty or forty miles an hour, and
owing TO the construction OF The oars, wnich are
huit on The American plan, and contaia the luxury
e stove. they can be a. comfortable a. II thsy
we1e BY their own Ares;des. Freaglt, too can be
hioug. : from any Of Tho American cities with the
esrly spriDg impsrtAticns for Quebec. which have
hitherto como by the 81. Lawrencs, and tn mar In
sasnces fearfully beled their title Of early i'm.
lsrtasions, VIII come through the United States.
eal manfest1es niserably failed in eHs sting, aud
<he time 10 not FAR distant when these metal bands
vnl join in ono people who we're never destined
The Ili FOR the settlement Of the Clergy Reserves
question has received the sanction Of the Legislative
Council. It p, DIVIDES for the seculsrizatOn OF the
lads and TIE distribution Of the psoceeds afer the
stipxnds OF present incumbents are paid, among
Ne different municipalities. Tne iacumbents are
permitted TO commute, and receive immediately .
sln equal 70 tAe value Of their nuites but they
are NOS pc, United TO invest the fun ds In lands The
I'LL 10 popular with the great majority OF tho Upper
CsuaAisn reformers.
NJ. Cayleys new tariff has been passed in the
Assembly, after considerable discussion. 1t sub
prcpoees reduction Of about 800 900. shis is sot
e0nsisered sufficient; and when it u remembered
tbat We have surplus revenue Of 81 600 00O it IN
Aoshtsdly is very paltry and Insignificant relief.
The adoption Of specific duties 1t tune when every
other country Is trying to get rid Of the system,
eoes not tavor Of that commercial hberality which
ought TO characterize the government OF Canada.
Assfard, So. 60. AID raw, "a. Cd Ca roasted ,ofse,
- duty In ID, and on raw coffee, Id.
The total revenue Of the province for the year