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EDWARD ISL

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_ EL _ " I Vol-11L] CHARLOTTETOWN, SATURDAY,.FEBRUARY29, 1840. [No. 1"35.

NEW YORK, JANUARY 24. CANTON.

Late and important from Canton-«Blockade of Canton-#- Protest of American Merchmtstevocation of the Blockade, tscc.

The ship Robert Fulton, Capt. M‘Michaels, from Hong Kong, Sept. 25th, arrived on Monday, bringing accounts 45 days later than by the last preceding arrivals.

The British, with their families, had been obliged to leave Macao, and go ‘on ‘board of the English ships at Ilong Kong, 35 miles eastward of Macao. Capt. Elliott, chief superintendent of the English'trade, had hoisted his flag on board the British Country ship Fort William. The opium trade, however, under the British flag, was very brisk, and at high prices, on the eastern coast of China; this will prevent the renewal of the English trade with Canton, and may lead to a suspension of all foreign trade. The English had fired into several junks, and made an attackunder the command of Captain Elliott, on the forts and junks at Kow Loore,-a few miles to the eastward ofHong Kong; it was reported that several Chinese had been killed, amongst whom there was a Mandarin of rank. A very severe edict against the English had been issued by the High CommiSSioner, in consequence of this attack, and the blockade of Canton by the British. The latter, however, has since been revoked,,the Arne- ricans having protested against the blockade, and notified the British authorities that they and their government

_ would be held responsible for all the damage to American

persons or property. The American trade continued without molestation from the Chinese. Several vessels under the American, Spanish, and Danish flags, were employed in bringing India Cotton and British Manufac- tures to Canton, from Hong Kong, at high rates of freight. The British ship Mermaid had been purchased at Hong Kong, and was employed in the freighting business under the American flag between there and Canton.

An additional export duty oti teas and silk‘s was to be laid by the Chinese, to meet the expenses incurred by difficultieswith the British. New forts have been hiiilt at the entrance of the river, and rafts and chains thrown across it. An arrival at St. Helena, from Singapore, reports that several vessels, fully armed, were about sailing for the coast ofChina, with a determination of carrying on the opium trade. ' I

There were 80 sail of British ‘ships in the harbour of Hong Kong, forbidden by Mr. Elliott’s orders to leave their station—the greatest part of them loaded with from fourteen to fifteen hundred tons of cotton.

ST. JOHN, N. B. FEBRUARY 15, 1840.

The Western Mail, last evening, brought us'New York 'evening papers of the 7th inst. at which time the Liverpool steamer, then out 18 days, had not arrived.

'We are informed, on good authority, that the erection ofBarracks, at Woodstock, in this Province, for the ac- commodation of a large military force, has been deter- mined upon, and the work is to commence immediately.

These precautions, we presume, are taken: in accord- ance with the views expressed in the communication of the British Minister at Washington to the American Secretary of State, under the date of26th January. The continued persistence of Governor Fairfield in acts of aggression on the disputed territory, contrary to existing arrangements (while the British authorities have scru- pulously adhered to them both in letter and spirit,) and the repeated threats of his determination to take posses- sion of the territory, could not fail to arouse our authorities to a. sense of their duty, and have no doubt caused the present warlike demonstrations. We sincerely trust, however, that the United States Government will perceive the difiiculties int which the refractory Government of Maine. is about p unging the two nations, and at once interpose to prevent the awful‘ealamities of either a border or a general war.

Woons'rocx, Feb. 8.--High-handed proceedings of the Americans—We can state on the best authority, that Mr. Paul Beardsley, one of her Majesty’s subjects in this Pro- vince,'was arrested at a lumber camp near Presque Isle, bythe Maine authorities, and thence conveyed to Houl- ton, and there committed to custody, to take his trial ( a billgofindictment having been previously found against him) for having participated in 'the‘arrest of the land Agent of Maine last winter—an act which was sanctioned

by the Provincial Magistrates and Government at the time. '

mas it .is well known that the Land Agent was only released on parole. We have just heard that Mr. Beards- ley has given bail for his appearance next Session at Houlton. I - ‘ V

We look with the fullest confidence to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor’s taking the most active steps to have our fellow subject discharged from his bonds, and having ample redress afforded him.-- Woodstock Times.

SPECKS or Warn—A friend in Portland, in whose sa- gacity. and good sense we have much confidence, adds in a postscript to a letter, which we received yesterday-a “ We shall have war with England. All the elements of «such an explosion are silently but surely gathering. _The speck, upon the political horizon may not yet be bigger than a lady’s fan, but it holds in its volumed folds the

‘ germpfithe tempest, and will soon unrol and spread its

black banners over the whole zenith.” . ' V

I: it credible, is it possible, we exclaimed, on reading thishthat inflthiscivilized age, a war-betweenth such, powers as England and the United States. could grow out

fikk‘disputo, so trifling, in comparison wirh‘other great. ' interests at stake, as the North Eastern Boundary Ques-v -

tior‘t! And yet the wary observer may discover many portentous tokens which threaten the consummation which 001‘ correspondent perdicts. v ' ' nova sco'm. . . ‘ KLMAK‘, Febrlfi—T-n: New Connection—The past week was one worthy of rentembrance'in 'the Legis-

lative history of this Province. The debates, which com- menced on Monday, continued down to Wednesday night, by which time it was admitted on all hands that the exist- ing system of Government was utterly indefensible—that the Despatch of Lord John Russell, as interpreted by the Governor General and Sir John Harvey, did give a new and improved constitution to the Colonies—and that Nova Scotia ought to claim her right, participate in the advan- tages of the Constitution wit t delay. Not only were these views sustained by the majority of 30 to 12, who voted for the passage of the R‘é‘solutions, but were frankly admitted to be just, by the Hon. Mr. Uniacke, who with. drew from the division, and by Mr. Fairbanks, who voted against them. The debate throughout, was remarkable for moderation and firmness, and the division was of a character not to be misunderstood.

On Monday, at one o’clock, the time appointed by the Governor, the whole House went up with the Resolutions, and a short Address, recommending them to the favoura- ble consideration of His Excellency; and received from Sir Colin Campbell the following answer :—

Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly ,-

. The subject you have presented to my consideration in this Address, has, rn all essential respects, been already brought under the notice of Her Ma- jesty’s Government, in Resolurions of the House of Assembly passed in its last Session.

Her Majesty’s Ministers, after full consideration of the subject, and per- sonal conference with Delegates from your bod authorized to advocate your Views, have expressed, in the Despatch whic , by Her Majesty’s com: mand, I recently laid before you, the judgment to which they had come on the matters of your complaints. '

Having no reason to believe that any alteration has taken place in the sentiments of Her Majesty’s Government in this respect, I do not feel my- self at liberty to adopt any other course, than to refer you to the Despatch already alluded to. as containing their decision. Justice, however, to the Executive Council, leads me to sa , that] have every reason to be satisfied With the advice and assistance which they have at all times afforded mc.

__ lthas ever been, and shall continue to be, my earnest desire to concur in every measure which appears to me to be conducive to the best interests ofthis Province.

On the return of the House to their own chamber, the hon. Mr. Uniacke rose and stated, that yielding to the ex- pressed opinion of the Representative branch, and being desirous of facilitating the introduction of a better system, he had thought it his duty to the House and to Sir Colin Campbell, to tender his resignation of the seat he held as an Executive Councillor, and that his resignation had been accepted. H referred to the attacks which had been made u' 'm. by his enemies and by his friends, for his frank mission, in the debate, of the absurdity of the present system, #sity for a change; but declared that iieithe ' e er him from giving efficacy to what he believe to e the intention of Her Majesty’s Government, nor frotn giving his support to the principles'of Lord John Russell’s Despatch, and establishing a local Government that should be respon- sible to, and work harmoniously with, the Representative branch. He then traced back his conduct as a public man, vindicating its consistency, but declaring that, as he had supported the government against the Assembly when he believed the latter were wrong, he would not continue to deny to the people what the Government had evidently yielded, nor contend Further against the House, when he was convinced that in principle they were right.

On motion of Mr. Howe, the answer of His Excellency

the Lieutenant Governor to the Address and Resolutions

of this House, relative to the Executive Council, was read, and thereupon Mr. Howe moved, that the following Address do pass, viz :— “ To His Excellency Lieutenant General Sir COLIN CAMPBELL, doc. doc. doc.

“ The humble Address ofthe House ofRepresentatives,in Gene- ral Assembly.

“ Jllay it please your Excellency ;

“ We, Her Majesty’s dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Re- presentatives of the. Province of Nova Scotia, cannot but express our unfeigned regret at the tenor of the reply made by your Excellency to the Resolutions passed, by a large majority of this House, on the 5th instant.

“ It is true that some of the complaints urged in those Resolutions had been pressed upon the attention of Her

Majesty’s Government in former communications,——but .

we humbly conceive thatthe Despatch of Lord John Russ sell, dated lfithOctober, and not that of his predecessor in oflice, dated 3lst of August, to which your Excellency refers, is the one by which all parties in the Colonies now, and hereafter, are to be governed. We believe that that Despatch not only gives to your Excellency the power to_ remodel the Executive Council, but makes such changes as are required to ensure harmony between the Executive and Legislative Branches of the Government imperative.

.“ This House are at a loss to conceive any “ Motivesof Public Policy” more, “sufficient” to render an application of the principles Of that Despatch to. this Province advisae ble, than the fact that a majority of thirty to twelve ofthe Members of the Representative Branch have avowed their

want of confidence in'officers, expressly referred to by the ’ ' COlonial Secretary,—that they have declared it impossible

todeal wisely with measures of great importance to the Government and the Country, until confidence between the Executive and the Legislature be established, and that

while the only eflicient' Representative of the Local Go- ,

vernment in this House has resigned his seat, no man of

any influence in this Assembly can be found to devote his .

talents to the service of the Government while a majority of the Executive Council persist in retaining their seats,

and your Excellency declines to exercise'the powers confi- -

dedby Lord John Russell’s Despatch.

“his to this House a subject ofdeep'mortification, that .

while, in a neighbouring Province, His Excellency Sir

John Harvey recognizes the Despatch of the 16th Octo-'

ber, as'conferring a new and improved Constitution on the Colonies, and has expressed his determination to act upon it.'—-while in. Canada the Governor General declares that “ he has received -Her,',Majesty’s commands to administer

wel

the overnm'entfoflthese Proyinces in accordance with the 'V lgunderstoodivVishes and interests of the People. and to ~ pay to their feelings; as expressed through their Represen:

tatives, the deference that is justly due to them,” that the people of Nova Scotia are to be treated worse than the people of New Brunswick, and that under cover of 3. Des- patch written before the New Policy was adopted, by a Nobleman who no longer presides over the Colonies, prin- ciples are to be applied to Nova Scotia, whose allegiance is unsullied, less in accordance with the spirit and practice of the British Constitution, than those which have-been promulgated for the Government of a Province but recent- ly agitated by Disafi'ection and Rebellion. - -

” Should your Excellency, upon reconsidering this sub- ject, upon referring to the Governor General’s Message of the 14th January, in which he declares “ his earnest and anxious desire to discharge the trust committed to him in accordance with the principles announced,” still feel corn- pelled to disappoint the just hopes of the people of Nova Scotia,,thisllouse will feel unfei'gned sorrow ; but, in the meantime, they trust they need not assure your Eitoellen- cy of their desire to preserve the tranquillity of the Pro- vince, and to ensure the harmonious action ofthe different branches of the Government.” ' '

The last clause of the address threatened an application to the Governor General to remove their grievances, but was altered to the words we have inserted in italics—The whole of this afternoon was occupied in discussing the sub-‘3 ' ject matter of the address—which passed, 31 against 10.

Friday, Feb. l4.-—Mr. Howe moved for the appoints ment of a Committee to wait on his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, to know at what time he would be ready to receive the Address of the House, which passed on Wednesday.

Mr. S. Sargent moved an amendment for an Address to Her Majesty, praying that an act of parliament might be passed, giving a constitution to the colony—such act not to take effect unless approved of by the Legislature of Nova Scotia. The amendment was negatived by a majo-- rity of 18. ~ ' . it

The Committee was then appointed to inquire what time his Excellency would receive the Address. ‘

Saturday, Feb. 5.—-'I‘he House waited on his Excellency.

the Lieutenant Governor with their Address, passed on' Wednesday last, to which His Excellency made the follow. ing reply :—

“ Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the House of Assembly ;

“I have given to this Address the deep consideration to which the opinion of the Representatives of the people is justly entitled. » '

“ By adopting the course you suggest, I should prac‘ tically recognize a fundamental change in the Colonial Constitution, which I cannot certainly discover to have been designed by the Despatch of the Right Him. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, of the 16th October, in the manner and to the extent supposed by you.

“ In examining the solemn trust committed to me by. my Sovereign, I feel it to be my duty not to establish a principle involving consequences of deep moment, on which any uncertainty rests, until Her Majesty’s Minis- ters shall have been consulted, and the judgment of the Queen ascertained.

“It is therefore my intention immediately to bring to, the notice of Her Majesty’s Government the Addressatu‘l Resolutions you have lately passed on the subject.

“ In the meantime, I shall be constantly ready to yield my concurrence to any measures you may adopt, which, in my judgment, are calculated to promote the welfare of Her Majesty’s loyal subjects, the people of this Province, whom you represent.” . r r

The House having returned, Mr. Howe and othersspoke in terms of strong disapprobation of the course pursued by His Excellency, and Mr. Huntington gave. notice, that- whcn the Revenue Bills had passad—in order that the legislative bearing might not be destroyed, and that the supplies might not be stopped by collision With the other branches—he would move a couple of Resolutions, the import of which it is generally understood will be a vote of censure upon his Excellency, and an appeal to the Home Government. A. Resolution was, then moved by Mr. Doyle, for a Committee to wait upon his Excellency, to ascertain if his Excellency had given any instructions to the Hon. Alexander Stewart, for . his guidance at the Colonial Office, or any other ofthe public offices. Messrs, : Doyle. Goudge, Armand, M‘Kim and Lewis were appoint,- ed a Committee, and proceeded to Government House. When they returned they informed the House that His , Excellency had been pleased to state that he gave no instructions to the Delegates from the Legislative Conn-U cil, nor was be aware of the cause of Mr. Stewart’s deteno « tion in England. . . , ~ - .___._——'—__-__——"——-——_=

COLONIAL LEGISLATURE.

TUESDAY, February 18th.

Mr. W.’Dingwoll presented a Petition, very numerous- ly signed, from the~ Inhabitants of Grand River, (King’s County) and the adjacent Settlements; setting forth the . advantages which would accrue. were the presentroad from Dingwell’s Mill to the Northern branch. of-Grand River continued from thence to the head of Cardigan.“ River. : , 7 .T

.The Petition was, by leave,'withdrawn, for the purpose .. of being presented to the Lie‘ut. Governor in Council—the... Members for King’s County stating that they would aC'._ company it with a petition from themselves, praying that. ‘ his Excellency would cause the said roads tube opened underthe provisions oftbe Roadlcompensatmn Arm: _ ,.

.Mr. Macintosh presented a Petition from the: Inhabitants, . of Bay Fortune, praying an aid “£25, to purchase a right, . of way through . the farms of William Dingwell and William MacKenzie.-—Laid on the‘table.‘ . _ .., 1

Four Petitions were presentedby Mr._Yeo, two by Fraser. and three Mr. German,‘frorri difi'erentpartshggd Prince County, praying pecuniary aid to improvevtbcir Rica 2, communications. ‘