CANADIAN POLITICS.

I . I 7 ‘ (From the British Colonist.). , WEIR the late Lord' Sydenham assumed the Government

, ofUppor Canada, he, found the nfliiirs ofthe Province in ‘ great. confusion, the. country sunk in debt,. without the ne- - secsary credit to obtain relief, and-the people divided into yiolom opposing parties. The attention ofthe Government

to msidirectedlto remedy these evils, the Union ofthe Pro~ vincoiuwas effected, and the credit oftheHome Governmcntl proc’l If‘ed’fora loan of money in England, for the benefit of tho. ,rovin’ce, on advantageous terms. It was the wish of; tho ’Gov'or'n'uiout, and of every inhabitant who desired for: poacsflnvgl‘tespe the country pi‘bsper, that with the Union 0:"

the Provinces there shbuld he an union ofthe people,———that '

furgetting. past. differences, animosities and heart-burnings, allshoiild. unite, and the only rivalry be, who should do the most to advance those practical measures for the improve- mlmtof the Colony which were so mnch required. Unfor- tunately the spirit of discord did not (Iisuppcar from amongst ; us', and the firslfirm' and decided intimation that was given by S'rtr Charles Rage: ,of the determination of the Govern- ment to discountenunce all proceedings that tended to en- courage, and promoto strife and ill-fooling among~ the couple, was inbis reply to an address from the Johnstown District, iniwhic'h address objections had been made to the Treasurer that had beenippointod by Sir R. D. Jackson during his short administration of ‘afi‘hirs. 'I‘bese objections did not orisnout ofany not committed by the Treasurer, in his 0f- 5ch capacity, but had reference to ‘some charges ofdisloy- nilytsbfi had been preferred against him previous to his up- p‘ointfnébt, liar which, had he been tried and found guilty, it waspnrely the prerogative of the Crown to punish or to ‘ pardontlio Ofl’ender. The charges wersqaite general,notlliug specific, :n'othing accusing him ofoflicinl misconduct, and Sir Charles Bagel declined to entertain the complaint, stating that, in the absencerofsnch a charge, he could never consent to pubject to the general and retrospective investigation rwhiothey requested the conduct of any public officer in this country. He called on them to lay aside by—gone dis- motions and party distinctions, to turn their minds to the practical measures necessary for the improvement of the country, and to prove their loyalty and earn the gratitude of their fellow—subjects by making this Province what by na- tureit‘was intended to b0, the most Valuable dependency of tho British Crown—an source of wealth in‘peaco,aud a means ‘ of strength in war. An address has now been presented from the same quarter, to His Excellency Sir C. Metcalfe, in Which they offer to His Excellency assurances of support, irLell Constitutional‘efi‘oi'ts which he may deem necessary for promoting the peace, prosperity and enterprise of the country,for‘securing'the happiness of the people, and for V ’ Ibinding'them in indissoluble bonds to the Parent State,— with other sentiments of loyalty and devition, which His -‘Excelleucy in his reply declares to be entirely in unison L (with his ibelings. But there is one paragraph in' this Ad- dressflvith reference to the prevailing distress in the country, in which they desire his Excellency to suggest a remedy for ’ ' athofeyilszthat afllict‘them, and to restore them to in stng of prosperity, contentment and happiness; to which His Ex- cellency replies, that he deeply lammts the general distress; that he has not the presumption to suppose he can suggest a remedy for such an evil,——but that no endeavour on his part shall be wanting to promote prosperity, contentment, and happiness, to obtain which, he» anxiously hopes all will unite in one harmonious effort; and, in replying to another Addrefl, His Excellency truly says, that “more depends upo'n'the inhabitants themselves than upon the Government.” Iii! obvious from this and what follows, that Sir C. Metcalfe ishot less anxious than Sir C. Bagot has been to promote good feelingin the community, and to unite the energies of the people in one general effort to advance practical mea- sures ofg'enornl utility to the province. ' Wozfind, no matter from what party proceeding, that Sir Charles Metcalfe condemns the practice of assailing their opponents, or imputing to them unworthy motives. We have, ‘ in the first place, an instance ofthis in His Excellency’s re- ply-t9 tho-West Gwillimbu_ry,Address, adopted, at a public meetinggthe members composing which recorded their ap- proval ofthe policy pursued by Sir Charles Bagot. In their Address ot'congratulation to Sir Charles Metcalfc, the fol- lowing paragraph occurs :—

l“ The unprecedented peace that prevails throughout United Canada, happily'efllcctod by the constitutional'and conc‘ilintory policy of your revered predecessor, though opposed by afew dis- cardedfrom, or disappointed i'n aflice or power, can never weigh against the mighty strength ofthe verdict of the Province, not otily'expressed‘by a'largo majority in the House ofAsssmblv, but by Addresses ma greater extent than were ever yet preseniad to n,Governor on his departure."

To this His Excellency replies— ‘_‘ My shtisfkction at the receipt ofyour Address would have been unllloyed, had it not contained an imputation of unworthy . motives against some of your fallow-countryman." ~ Again, nnvAddress from the opposite party- from the op- . ponentsv of Sir Charles Bugot’s Government in the Talbot ; District, to SirCharlcs Metcalfo, contains'a number ofgcn'e- fttl‘ charges ,of'disloynlty against parties who have recontly been‘sppointed to subordinate offices under Government throughout the country. This party met, with no greater encouragement from His Excellency, in following such a course, than he affordedto the inhabitants of \Vest Gwilliui- ,b’ury. We quote the following from their Address, as it contains the pith ofthe whole:—

. u.\Ve feel it to be due both to Your Excellency and to our- selves, thus early to express our deep dissatisfactihn at the'mnn- norm which the government of this Colony has been adminis- tered,during the last-two years. \‘Ve have ~found men notorious for disaffectiun called to high oilich in the Colony; we have sécn ope person, an Officer of Militia, who abscomlcd from the Pro- vtnce at the outbreak ofthe rebellion, and returned after it was over, appointed to the oflice of’I‘reasnrer ofa District; another, 9 Post Master, dismissed by Sir Francis‘liead on account ofhis Intimate connexion with the rebel leaders, appointed to another 'lroasurership; and a third, who was the first . prisoner taken by

the loyalists on the march from Toronto to Gallows IIiIl, appoint ed to the responsible and important office ofShcriif; some have beenhlppointed Magistrates, who were arrested on charges oftrea— ID“, and. edition, or who privately countenancerl the insurréction; I‘nd eve some ofthe present members of Her Mnjestv‘s liexcru- tlvo Council refused to take up arms in defence ofthe Crown,and none ofthess persons have expressed regret for the course theii liken by them; we have witnessed a systotn of terrorism towards office holders of all ranks, which has prevented the expression of them opinions, and the exercise of the elective franchise; ‘wo olso'fi'nd that the system called" Responsible Government” lias‘ been introduced contrary to the enactments of the Union Bill, qnd contrary to the instructions ofHer Majesty’s Secretary of Stale for the Colonies, _Lord John Russell." ' These statements may be true or false, but they refer to

~ times gone by,—-to what had occurred years before His Ex- cellency’s arrival in this Province,—the recital of which Sir Charles Metcslfo does not seem at all disposed to encourage the reVIval of. There is'not in this address a single charge

5

a

made against any ofthe parties ‘alludod/to, fbr malversation {

x of oflico, and accordingly Sir Charles Motoalfe, in his reply, “Y':_ . .

“As the representative ofour most gracious Sovereign, I am bound to listen with attention to your complaints, and to do all in m: owsr'to remove tiny cause for Well grounded dissatisfaction. But q deprecatethat spirit which leads to reproachful and often‘ unjust .imputations against folfow countrymen, whom we'are hen-ad by Christian duty to love and cherile It is my anxious. desire that all parties should forget and forgive past injuries and offence}; and that no recollection shunld‘remain of by-‘gone troubles, jexcepttha gratitude due to those who stood forth for their Queen and Country in the hour of need, a sentiment which I shall never cease to feel, whatevor‘mcasures it'may be my du- gto adopt for the general welfare, aided by the advice ofthe

, .xecutii’c Council, anttga'ctjngin «manna-once with the Legisla- tive Bodies; Hli'yi‘dill anxious attention'to the wants'and wishes of th-e'people,evinced through their Representatives; by which course your loyolfspiratlons {or the perpetuation ofthe connec- tion pftbtsgroat Lolony with the Mother Country, will not “I trust . be dissppomte‘d.” ‘ l' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' i ,

shall onlyfurtber allude, on this head, to the reply- ,g‘o’lvveredlby-Sir Charles Metcallo to Ithe address ofthe chi-i Zens~ ot‘Montreal. He says, with reference to Sir Charles Bogot— , ,- .,. . . » . _ “I join, you in deploringfihe effecting circumstaan which dew Priced you bf aGovernor,justly endeared" to you. . [shall re-

If equalprotcctinn to all classes'. OfIIer Ll'Injcsly’s subjects Will make:you happy—loan gladly ‘y assure Vou, llnatlnu exertion (in my part shall be wanting to se-V cnrc thdt result; for 51 should not faithfully discharge the duty 3 entrusted to me by our Gracious Sovereigq,_ifI did not make justice and equal regard to all Classes the guiding stars of my ad- ministration." . - . r.

Butwhen specific charges are made, in such tangible , form, in reference to local affairs, as to render them so plau- { siblc,tbat inquiry intotho circumstances is decuicdadwsablrfi and that some good is likely to flow from such Inquiry, \vc‘ find that’Sir ‘harles Metcal 'o listens to, them with attention. Oi'this we have evidence, in the proceedings of a meeting held at Barrie, by the opponents of the Government ofSir‘ Charles Bagot. The parties composing this meeting, in cer- tain resolutions, which were afterwards embodied in an ad- dress tu Sir Charles Metcalfe, prefer various complaints in reference to the management ofthe local afiiiirs ofthe dis- trict: to this His Excellency replies——“ With respect to thel matters of which you complain, enquiry shall be made, with n view'to apply such ren‘iadics as may be practicable, toany defects that may be found to exist.” y

We presume we have said enough to show that the aim and object ofSir Charles Mctcslto is, to unite all parties in the pursuit of one common object, for the general good; to rule with impartiality andjustice for the benefit ofall clas- ses oftl‘ie'comnrninity, without distinction; and to advance,| by every means in his power, the weltitrevand prosperity of this important appendage ofthe Britisb'Crown, committed to his care. . ' ' ’

We would beg, however, to'rsmark, on the other hand, that it would be just as wall to avoid making appointments,

ing of afl‘cction in your hearts.

even to minor ofiices, ofporsons who'may'have been impli- {

,cated in the unfortunate disturbances about which so much noise is made by certain parties. The Government can, with— out dil’iiculty, find, in chry district in the Provinco, men at least equally capable of filling these olfices, whose charac- ter: cannot be impeached, who have always held moderate views in politics, and against whom, if appointed, no valid objection could be fairly advanced by any party. Hy fol- lowing‘this course, they would win the respect and tho con- fidence of many who now look upon them with suspicion and distrust; they would strengthen their position in all‘ parts ofthe province, and they could with greater confidence' meet the Assembly, by whom all these matters will be fully enquired into. In saying so much, we but speak the senti- ments ofmany who have addressed us on this subject, not office-seekers, but those whose object is to see the present Government of Canada prosper.

. a!” walnut“

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stubble in October, and the other half in Spring, part ofit on strong clay, and part on light loam. .Tbe dung was vcry'dry

in spring, the land not well worked, and tlicplanting finveh-

cd in May. The braird was regular, and the crop fine,

although there was a general failure throughoutjhe country, In 1836, the seed potato \‘Vas obtained from the neighbour-, hood of Edinburgh. They were buffs, and treated in the, manner as described above. The land, a fine dry light Soil,

was in oat stubble after old gross, and full of wire worm.| The dung was very dry, the land well worked, the braird regular, and the crop fine. There Were none planted with- out the liuic this season. In 1837, the seed potato was ob- tained from Leader \aner, dons and blues. A fine limiti loam was well worked, and (lunged with Well made dung.

The crop was planted in the second week in May, and prov-l ed a fine one. No one planted without the lime this seasend In 1838, the s‘eed potatoes came from Gala Water, dons andl blues, which were planted in the last Week in May, on land , not well worked and the dung very dry; but the brnird was , without a blank, and the crop fine. Two- bolls of seed pota-' toes from Peelrlcs—shire Were tried without lime, and provod, a complete failure, the insects having eaten the sets to a

shell. Theso were planted in the first week of May. In , 1830, the Seed potatoes were from Gala Water, buffs, and

which were planted in the last Wonk of April, in strong clay

soil, not well worked, and the dung very dry; but the brntrd

was Very regular and the crop fine. 'I‘here‘were none plant-

ed without lime this season. In 18-10, again the seed pota— toes were from Gala Water, dons and blues, which were

planted in the end of May, in a light loam, full of wire-worm, but well worked, and the dung very dry. The crop Was fine. ‘A few drills were tried, as an experiment, without the lime, and they were so complete a failure that they were ploughed down.

GOVERNOR lilaTcatFtt.——-When Lord Lake was Com- n'mnder-in-Chiefin India, he, on several occasions, svtnced his wani of confidence in the civil departments at the Com- pany’s service, particularly on the march to Bhurtpore, when he oxprcssed a wish that those who, as he said, only incom- modetl the march, should be left behind, as they ware useless. This remark soon got wind among those for whom it was intended; a regiment was ordered to storm a breach—as ‘I! advanced, a young civxlian, armed only with a walking stick, was seen at its head, accompanied it to the attack, and re— mained Willi it during the. engagement, in order to_ prove to the Commander that civilians were sometimes soldiers. This young man is now Sir Charles Theopltilns Metoalfe, Gover- hor General of Cansda.——Cobou.rg Star.

DEMISE OF A DISTINGUISHED GALLOVIDIAN. (From the Dung/fries Courier.) '

It is with sincere regret We record, on the 26th Febnary last, at his residence, Billies, St. John’s, Newlbundlnnd, the death ofthe Hon. Wm. Carson, long a mcmbcrofthe Legis- lative Assembly, and repeatedly elected to the office of Speakeror President Of the same body, in the land ofbis adoption. The deceased, who had reached his 73d year, was a native ofthe Stcwa'rtry of Kirkcudln'ight, where his a‘n cestors, at one period, held extensive possessions in the direction ofDeebnnk, now called Agreonan. From a tomb~ stone in the old burying-place of 'I‘ongland, it appears that some ofthese flourished in the time Of the Cnratcs; but from changes not easily accounted for, the patrimoninl estate pus- sed into other bands, Whether wholly or in part we are not informed. Still the family remained highly respectable ; and his earlier education completed, the deceased, like his dis- tinguished brother, now retired li'om practice in Liverpool, became a‘mcdioal student, graduated as a physician, and al- most from his first outset in life secured in no ordinary degree the confidence and respect of a discriminating public. In 1808, Dr. Carson removed to Newfoundland, Where he speedily acquired a high name, or, in other words, the status assigned to minds gifted like his own; and for many years, whether as a practitioner or a politician, became admittedly one ofthe most disinterested, patriotic, and, in his sphere, indefatigahly useful men that ever existed. \Vith the best interests ofthat Island, he, at whatever sacrifice of time and money, unweariedly identified himself; and, to the last, ad- vocated the cause of administrative reform, through good report and bad, in many things formerly liiulty, but now happily amended through his exertions. About' five years ago the deceased visited this country on the afiiiirs ofthe colony, had repeated interviews with tin: Executive Govern- ment, and left impressions behind him in the highest places which strengthened not a little his hands on his return to a settlement rapidly improvng around its sea-board, although still exhibiting the phenomenon Ofan interior, from‘its con- tinuous forest or wilderness character, to a great extent term incognito. It was on that occasion we had the honour of being introduced to Dr. Carson; and it is but justice to add, that but rarely, ifever, has it been our fortune to meet, whe- ther mentally or corporally, with what we would call a nobler specimen of immunity.

In Newfoundland, as in Britain, there are different sides ofpolitics, although the classified party distinctions may not be exactly the same as our own. 'I‘hejourlnals, too, naturally take their tone from the prevailing shades ol'local feeling ; and it is from one ofthese, an opponent in politics, that wé copy the following merited tribute to the memory ofthe la- mented deceased :—

“ IIcobiaincd, in his professional clinracter,a confidence which secured an extent nfpractire never before enjoyed in ‘Ncwfnund- land by any member ofthe Faculty—which proofs ofthe cslinln- tion in which his skill and attainments were held Continued until he retired from professional life some years since. From an early period ofhis residence in the colony, the lamented Doctor muni- fostcda warm interest in its political affairs and cundilinn,nml was cunfesacdly the leader in those proceedings which at length led to the ostublishmentofn Representative Government. Since. then he has been no idle or indifi‘ureut actor in our transactions, having held a seat in the Assembly since its institution. He was the only {eprescntntive in the Colony (retaining his elected (-ha- ractcr) ever elevated to the dignity ofCrown adviscr, With which he was clothed some months since.

“ However opinion may vary as to thc soundness ofthe politi- cal views ofthe respected individual whose demise we are ru- cortlin2,thnse even to whom he was most \inlently opposed will not deny that. his Conduct was based on a conscientious conviction nfwhnt be deemed mustjust and right. He was a man oflibcral. perhaps Iillrn-tndical principles; but the nnvarying consistency with which he acted in public life—often at the sacrifice ofwlinl

DANGER or EARTHQUAKES.—-Tlle_ great danger of Earth- quakes consxst neither in the shaking of the earth, the dread: ful sounds which accompany it, nor yet in the opening of the ground, for that is a very rare phenomenon, but in the fall of houses, churches,. and other public butldings, and in the dreadful contlagrations wliich'almost invariably follow the overthrow of the buildings. ' 1n the great earthquake at Lisbon, in 1755, not less than 60,000 persons were destroyed in six minutes, of whom more than three-iburths perished from the fall ofruined buildings. In the earthquake at Aleppo, in 1822, 30,000 persons were destroyed from the same cause, and none from any other. In the earthquake at Carraccas, in 1812, 10,000 persons were buried under the ruins of that unfortunate city. In the earthquake at Martinique, only four years ago,_many hundred persons perished under the ruins of Port Royal. In St. Domingo, only two years ago, 10,000 persons were buried at Port Hnytien, or were destroy- ed in the conflagrntion which afterwards broke out amongst its ruins; and at Gnudalonpe, in the earthquake on the 8th ofFebruary, .it is feared that from four to five thousand peo- ple have perished under tine ruins of Point-a-Petre. .

The opiate of Bronte, granted to Lord Nelson by the King of Naples, is now a subject of litigation in the Court of Chancery. The case involves questions in civil, Sicilian, and municipal law, such as never on :urred in any prevxous case. The estate includes a part of Mount Etna.

THE INFANT Parsons—Her Royal Highness is s ro- markahle fine infant, not so delicately formed as her sister, the Princess Royal, and in features more resembling the Prince of Wales. Shc has large light blue eyes, and hair which promises to be fluxcn. ‘ '

Me. BRUNEL.——lt is with deep regret we have to state that the valuable life of this talented engineer has been placed in jeopardy, by tan-accident arismg out ofan amiable wish to amuse the children ofa li‘iend. The father and Mr. Brunel pretended, by a sleight of hand to pass money from the mouth to the ears, and vice versa, when Mr. Brunel, plac- inga half sovereign in his mouth, it unfortunately slipped into the throat, where it stuck, and every effort to remove it proving inefi'cctual, Sir'P. Brodie was called in, and an operation, by making an incision in the thorax, performed, but without success. Mr.‘ Brunei still remains in a very precarious state.

MASSACRE or The Govznnon or TH]: MARQUESAS ls- LiNDs AND Scrum—“Io regretlo state, that very melancho- ly intelligence liasjnst been brought to this country from the new French settlement in the Pacific by a t’nerchant vessel, the Sarah Ann, schooner, which left Otaheite on the 23d of October. It appears that the French Governor of the Mar- quesas, with fourteen attendants, had been on a visit to the native King, Nicahevar, where they had been hospitany entertained, and suspecting: no danger, they left his residence to return to the French station, without, probably, taking proper precaution against the treachery ofthe natiVes. They were attacked on the wsy,nnd the Governor and fourteen )ersons \vere‘killed. This unfortunate event proves the un- friendly disposition of the natives; but what will it avail them? The French Government will instantly send out a snfiicient force to crush all oppositon. '

an GOVERNOR or Duncan—Tho Clare Journal con- tains the following announcement:—~\Ve understand that Sir John Fitzgerald, at present residing at Toonagb, in this county, has been appointed to the distinguished situation of Governor ofthe Presidency ofBombay. We believe this gallant officer has seen much service in India, and the ep- , pointin'ent may he, therefore, looked upon as judicious on ' the part ofthe Ministry. 1 It is generally understood that Her Majesty has been gra- ciously pleased to signify to the Duchess ofInverness that