O O In 0 N I A. I. . Colonial ﬁddre’sses.-—- Colonial Oﬂice. —

We have often wondered at the etl'ects ofthat state of society in the mother country, which induces men endowed with all the gills otlor- tune, and the advantages of afmishcd educa. tion and cultivated socmty, to abandon the en- joyments which they bestow, and throw them- selves into the arena of public life, and uncens- ing contention. Be it a sense ct duty, patri- otism, a love ofdistinction. or ambition, it is still admirable, as a denial of self, or that pas- sion by which providence often etl'ccts bcneti. cent ends, through means which to us are in- comprehensible.

We think that there must be few public situ- ations more exposed to the vexations of ofﬁce than that ofllis Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies; no one in which a mild, well-educated.sensible, and benevolent English Gentleman. can be more shocked in his feelings and counteracted in his views.

We think that the address of the Legislative Councilof Upper Canada is as good a thing in the way of Colonial addresses as any we have seen. It is in the right slaveholding spirit,— minds corrupted with the long enjoyment of unbridled power over their fellow-men, which the Colonial Minister has endeavored to biing within the limits ofjustice and unconstitution- al right. How their dignity is offended at Lord Goderich having even listened to any com- plaints against them!

But we have addresses nearer home. My Lord Goderich . if, as it must be supposed, he is acquainted with the contents of addresses and petitions of record in his ofﬁce, must rub his eyes when he comes to read the last address of our Assembly, which was manufactured at the close ofa session, out of a Report ofe Commit- tee which had kept its labors to itself for two months, and then concocted, digested, and ﬁ- nally disgored—a new Constitution for Lower Canada! which the maiority swallowed with- out any extraordinary wry £aces.although they had never tasted any thing ofthe kind before.

And then we have the counter address ofour Legislative Council. Here my Lord Goderich will learn that it is all over with the Colony. In looking through this glass, he may see some- thing as horrible as what the astronomer disco- vered in the moon, but which fortunately hap— pened to be in the glass. Here his Lordship will see the ‘ alarming posture’ of our affairs,— the ‘cabals of party,’-—‘ combined faction,’_ ‘ wicked intention,’-—a ‘ Crisis,’—-a ‘ violent and reckless party,’—-‘ drench the country with blood,'—‘and a French Republic.’

His Lordship on reading this address, will no

the convinced that the prayrrof the ad-

s, for “ such measures as in your wisdom will tend to tranquilize the tninds” is well founded ; and we dare say will think that the operation ought to commence with the minds of the addressers.

We fancy there is a large library connected with the Ofﬁces in Downing street: but really we are afraid the gentlemen of the Colonial 0f- ﬁce have no time to read any thing but address- es, petitions, and remonstranccs. There is, however, one book, which besides being the united labors ofSwift and Pope, has the unusu- al merit of being short. It ought to be on every desk: a sort of wade met-um, or guide- me, (as the French call it) on Colonial atlairs. We think it is entitled, “ Memoirs of P. P., clerk of this Parish : or, the importance‘of a. man to i.imelf.”—Nsiloon’i Gazette.

THE BRITISH AMERICAN

Legislative Council—Provincial Politic:.-— There are few persons, we believe, who are a- ware of the change which has taken place in the composition of the Legislative ‘ouncil, since the Report of the Canada Committee of the House ofCommons, in 18°23.

In 1827, the majority of the inhabitants of [lower Canada complained to the King and ParliamenLof the Legislative Council:

These complaints were referred by order of His Majesty, to the House of Commons, who, on motion of the Colonial Minister, appointed a Committee to make the enquiry prayed for: this Committee diligently pursued the enquiry from the 8th May to the 29nd July, 1823, when it reported its opinions and observations, after, in reality, hearing all parties in the country or connected with it, by their agents or repre- sentatives.

In respect to the Legislative Council; the Committee recommended :

1. That a more independent character should be given it, particularly that the majority should not be composed of placemen.

2. That it ought to have acloser connexion of interest, with the country.

3. That the Judges, with the exception of the Chief Justice, ought to take no part in the political business of the Council.

Let us now see what has been done since :—

Almost every one of the Bills upon the fail. ure ot‘which objections were taken to the com position of the Council, have been passed'by it.

The Judges have withdrawn altogether, from the Legislative Council, excepting the ChiefJustice, and all of them from the Execu. tive Council. .

The following statement which may be de- pended upon, shews how far the recommenda- tions of the Committee have been complied with that there should not be a majority of l’lacemen in the Council, and that it should have a closer connexion of interest with the country. If reterence is had to the native country, national origin and religion of mem bers, the blame and the shame must fall upon those who have raised objections, appealed to prejudices, and endeavored to establish politi- cal parties. on these most unjustiﬁable and il- Iiberalgrounds, at a time when every pretext for such conduct wasfast diminishing.

In 1833: the independent members have a majority of twenty, while in 1898 they were in a minority of six. In respect to natural origin and place of birth, those of the British Isles are in a minority in 1833, oflwenty-one .- they were equal in 1828. In respect to religion, the Church of England which had formerly a majority of the whole House. is fallen into a minority. being only two more than the Catho- lics. There being however six Presbyterians —as Protestants and Catholics, the Protestants have still a majority ofetght. In 18%, it was l2. It ought to be observed, however, that the Colonial Legislature can pass no enact- ment, in any way concerning the frt’e exercise of religiom/ and the right: thereunto appertaining, without its being first submitted to the Parlia- ment of the United Kingdom.

It would be curious to compare the composi- tion of the assembly, under the same heads, with the presont composition ofthe Legislative Council, as showing the comparative liberali- ty of the recent exercise of the Royal'Preroga- tive, and the right of popular election.

At present we can state for certain, that of cightywight members ofthe Assembly, [‘2 vac.] there are twenty of all the Protestant denomi~ nations, giving the Catholics a majority of 68 in that body.

Only seven members of the Assembly are na-

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lives of the United Kin dom m and Ireland, all of theta, persons rgisiilirrim'n the country from 10 to 40 years. There i553: one person who receive: a salary out of the pub lic money. There are 65 members of Frencl. extraction, and 71 natives ofCanada. l The population may be estimated as follow on the Census of 1831, viz :-—natives of Prone}: extraction, about 490 000 Natives ofall other extractions {30,000 Natives ofall other Countries, 50:000 '0 Catholics, 430,000——ali other denominbaatidoti:0 100,0oo.— lb. 1

Captain Back—This gentleman was en. tertained at a public dinner at the British American Hotel, on the 023rd inst. which was attended by lfO of the most respecta- ble citizens. On the 25th inst. he took his departure from this city on his hazardous

expedition, and carries with him the earn.

est wishes of all for ultimate success.-_. .Montrcal Courant.

Rise oflmkc Erie—For the last several years, says the \ hi0 Atlas, the rise of wa- ter in the Lake, has made serious encroach- ments On its southern shores. For a con. siderable distance above the mouth of Black River, the bank of the Lake is low, without rocks. Twelve years ago, the bank was generally sloping, with a wide breach. Now the waves beat against a perpendicu- lar bank, which, from continual abrasion, is frequently falling off. From one to three rods in width are worn away annually. The phenomenan of this rise of water remain unexplained.

From the St. ﬂndrews’ Couranl. Jlfay 6.

Tan wxnnenmo Puma—The streets of our small town were enlivened during two days of the last week by the perambulations of this eccentric character, of whom and of his extraordinary wager, several notices have oflate been copied from English pa- pers.

On his arrival here from St. John last Tuesday evening, he applied, [as is his custom] to the senior resident Magistrate for a written permission to follow his men- dicant avocation on the two succeeding days, which was readily granted, and lie was each day accompanied in his walk, by a crowd of children of all sizes and ages, for whom be exerted his musical talents to the utmost, (and he certainly plays well,) to win, not golden opinions, but silver and cop- per coins, for which be tendered histhanks in the most humble and characteristic style; intimating frequently. less by words than action, “ that the smallest favors would be gratefully received and thankfully acknow— ledged.” We cannot state exactly the a- mount of his receipts, but know that be disbursed as follows : To a widow in very indigent and distressed circumstances, Qt. ; to the Sunday School Fund, ll ; Lending Library, 103.; Roman Catholic Chapelts poor box,” ll. ; and to four other poor Wt- tlows, 2L;—making in all 6!. 105. Ant

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