Year: 1869

advance cash to Canada or become response
BILE for Canadian loan. How will the colony
be ruled when the last instalment would fall
due? John Bright knows ''frst class paper"
and never deals in deprecated securities.


Ominous of war-British Naval Muster nt


the Bahamas.


The letter of our special correspondent in
the Bahamas, under date of the 18th of May,
which appeared in the HERALD yesterday, con-
tains matter calculated to attract the serious
attention of the nation, as well as excite
very general patriotic apprehension in view of
the present muster and movements OF the
British West India squadron in the harbor of
Nassau New Providence, and in remembrance
of the vast injuries inflicted, both against the
integrity of the Union and the cause Of the
war for its restoration, by English pirate
blockade runners armed and freighted to
strike our shore from this point during the re-
belion at the vital lttoral centres of Charleston,
Wilmington and Key West. After recapitu-
lating the efforts which were lately made by the
Receiver General of the Queen of England to
arrest and detain the steamship Salvador,
suspected of serving in the cause of the Cuban
patriots, and noticing the alacrity with which
British war steamer was manned and de-
spatched in pursuit-an Intellectual chase, as
we know-the writer proceeds to state the i'm
portant fact that New Providence has been
suddenly named and effectually occupied as a
general rendezvous for the English feet serv-
ing in the waters of the West Indies. Within
few days the flagship of Commodore Philli-
more, Royal Navy, entered Nassau harbor
from Halifax, and this commissioned centre
was Immediately surrounded by the Eclipse and
other war vessels, while the inhabitants of the
city, comparatively desolate and slightly pow
erty stricken since the close of the American
war, were gladdened by the semi-oficial,
perhaps official news that the command would
be Immediately supported by several English
war rams and iron-clads, and French feet,
and that the military quarters, from the land
ing to Berbice, would be made joyous and re-
sonant almost Immediately with the drillings
and bugle calls of regiment, at least, OF
soldiers of the line ordered either from Canada
or the home depots.


Movements of this character produced,
very naturally, profound sensation among
the people of the Bahamas, and the questions
of the day were to the effect: What is the
present government preparing for? Where is
England going to strike? What Power will
she damage, or-the colonial penultimate it
may be called-is she about to assist or uphold
people? In reply we present the opinion
that Britain is about to aid the cause of
repression with one hand and strike, should
she find an opportunity, against the executive
attestation of mans ability and right to self
government with the other. She is preparing
to menace the United States, should our peo-
pie so regard it, by the assumption Of war
attitude on this side of the ocean. In all
this we observe much more than the almost
stereotyped "speck of war" of which we
have 80 frequently heard. England is
hard pushed in the matter of colonial
rule and restraint from Queensland, at the
antipodes, to Quebec, in North America. Her
home population has imbibed spirit of inde-
pendence-slow in assertion, but certain of
fruition-from their communication with the
United States We have revolutionized the
current of her trade with Asia and diverted its
flow. with the profits of its commercial distri-
button, to our own territory from San Fran
cisco to New York. We populate and cultivate
our virgin soil with the healthiest blood of the
United Kingdom and sustain an unprecedented
load of home taxation on her native and Irish
muscle, supported and directed by American
capital and intelligence, while the daily ex-
hibit of our wonderful capacity for war forces
our people to continual contrast of her ma
tional decrepitude with the gigantic develop
men: of the republic.


Rich in wealth accumulated by any means
from almost every quarter Of the globe, and
fertile in the governmental expedients and
policy Of an oligarchy educated to Cabinet rule
and evasion England has become irritable and
sore with the knowledge of our progress In
such condition she received the stimulants
conveyed in Senator Summers mastery expo
sition of the Alabama question-his statement
of the items Of our bill Of damages. with his
utrum horum Of pay, make restitution, or take
the consequences. Alarmed at the tone of
Congress she has reused herself to q survey
of the position and canvassed all her means of
safety. Political economy assures her that
peace will prove fatal to her interests, perhaps
her existence, and that her last and latest hope
is in war-war in the cause Of royalism,
feudality and the money power against the
United States, Spain or even the Canadians,
should they declare for independence. Such
resolution once taken she will endeavor to
maintain H. Hence the naval rnuster nj Mas