AL

PAPERS BY THE ACADIA. THE BRlTlSII FISHERIES AND COLONIAL MISRULE.

- - (From the flrbrcalh Guide.)

We beg to call the attention of our readers to a few obser- vations we purpose Inaking on the British fisheries, as also on the system ofinisrule pursued in the British colonies. The great importance of our fisheries, as a nursery for sea- men of the hardiest class, has often been talked of, and, for— merly, great expense was incurred in the way of encoura- ging this description of seamen; but a system of misrule, common to all our colonies, has thwarted these intentions, and generally discouraged that most important and national object. It will be observed that the Americans, who, by the treaty of 1783, were admitted to share in the fishing grounds on the shores of Newfoundland, actually derive ten times

. more benefit from their participation in the advantage than

Great Britain derives from the whole of her extensiye coasts. The Americans are not more hardy nor more enterprising than British seamen ; and our British merchants have, assuredly, capital far exceeding that ofthe merchants of New England; btit, true as all this is, the Americans very far exceed us in the profits they derive, and in the seamen they raisehliy the fishing. To what is this owing? It is worthy the itiquiry ofthe representatives ofthe people ; and We are persuaded they will find the cause in the long exxstence of monopoly continuous in the colonies, and misrule and Jobbing In Downing Street. Surely it is time to look to these matters.

We have seen a report, dated 28th March, l8“, from the committee appointed by the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia, to consider and report the best means of promoting the deep sea fishery of that colony. The committee com- plain of the frequent encroachment of foreigners on the limits of the reserved right ofthe fishery, and call on the British Government to afford them protection. Captain Milne, ofll. M.S. Crocodile, had lately reported on the fish-

'ery ofNewfoundland, and pointed out the necessity ot the limits being better defined, to prevent collISIon With the American and Frencl: fishermen ; and it appears to be wor- thy ofatteution at this time, when other matters in dispute with the United States are in progress ofsettlement, that nO new cause of collision should exist, to be left to produce future dispute.

The report states, that an illicit trade between the French islands and Newfoundland is carried on, by which New. foondland has many articles of provision smuggled into it by these fishermen. We approve of the act of thecolony in this case, as we hope to see free trade, for all articles of supply, allowed to all our colonies, except such duties only as the Assemblies of these islands shall impose for the ex— pense of Government. We believe that the British North American fishery has not been prosecuted with that spirit nor with the advantage which other branches of British trade "have been carried on, and we consider it a subject worthy of more attention than it has hitherto received by the British Government. We regret to state that the British colonies, which, underawi'se and free Government, ought to be one of the greatest blessings to this populous country, have gene— rally been 'misgoverned aml oppressed. They have been Overwhelmed by monopolies and Inisrule at home, and treat- pil with perfect indifi'ercnce by the British Parliament, so that the colonies become a cause of great expense to the mother country, and of comparatively little advantage to her and her children. The reasons are evident. The Parlia- ment pay little attention to the interests Of the settlers in our colonies, which are lett to the tender mercies of the colonial Minister or Governor. We offer, in proof. the case ofiujus-

tics done to Newfoundland in this session of Parliament. The Newfoundland fishery has hitherto been, and we fear stil‘l is,chiefiy a monopoly in the hands oi u very limited number of merchants, trom the ports of Poole, Dartmouth, Bristol, and Liverpool, and that they have generally derived

large profits on their employed capital, at the expense ofthe inhabitants ofthe colony, its well as to the loss of the mother country, is generally mitted. We are too well aware that the cyilsofthe colonia system have been extended to all our fishing stations, and that restriction and monopoly have borne hard on their inhabitants and, working classes, the hardy fishermen of these parts. We hays it on clear and distinct evidence, that the merchants enjoying the fishery of

.Newfoundland had the power, until of late years, ofprcvent-

ingztlie land from being cultivated in that colony; nor could any man build a hut or a house without special license from the Governor, who was always ready to act according to the wishes of the nwrconlile mouopolists of Poole, &c., his only supporters; and by that most iinpolitic, and we will call it barbarous proceeding, -ontiniied from the settlement ofthe colony to a very later ate, the population Oftliat colony was kept in a state of vagrancy, ignorance, and dependence, which was much to the disgrace ofany, but especially to that ofthe British Government. We see by petitions to the House of Commons that there was not one good road, or one school, in the island ofNewfonndland, until it obtained, in 1832, a representative constitution, and since then the re- presentatives of the people have exerted themselves to civi- lizs the colony. in 1840 there were fourteen schools in dif- ferent parts ofthe island, besides roads and other internal Improvements made. The fishermen, who formerly were .ontirely dependent Oil the British merchants’ stores for food and clothing during the winter, at such prices as the mer- chants thought proper, have, since 1832, gradually become settlers iii huts, with patches of gardens attached, to a cer- tain extent dependent on other sources. They have, in fact, 'become civdized men, and have directed their attention to improve the state of that society, as well as the fishery, by which alone they can support themselves. These Newaund- landers were thus becoming quickly in a situation to shake ofi'rthe tliraldom oftheir opprcssors, the colonial monopo- lisla, and to enjoy the benefits of their industry by free cori- stitutional:government, when the merchants of Liverpool, Poole, Bristol, and other parts of this country (who began .to_ find the profits oftheir long misused monopolies to di- minish), by private and false representatives to the Colonial (mice in Downing Street, poisoned the ear of Lord Stanley, and induced him to bring in a bill in the late session to de- prive the colony of Newfoundland ofthe popular branch of their constitution, by abolishing the Legislative Assembly, and nominating ten persons by the Colonial Oflice to sit in the people’s Assembly offifteen representatives of the inha- bitants ofthat island. Such an act ol injustice has been per- petrated by the reformed House of Commons, without any remonstrance from the people ot'England-—without the iii- habitants being allowed to be’heard in their defence—rind the popular rights of80,000 or 90,000 British inhabitants thus swamped by the agents of the Crown. The extent of this -Violation ofthe popular rights ofthe colonists of New- foundland will be understood, if we suppose the House of Lords in England to be abolished, and that the Crown took the right of sending 434 Peers or nominees into our House .ofCommons of658 representatives. The united assembly MYODId thus-consist of 1092 persons; and, with that propor- tion of nominees ofthe Ministers thrown in upon the repre- sentatives of the people, what vestige of popular indepen— dence would remain in the British Assembly? Such is the proportion that the united assembly of Newfoundland will now consist of; and we submit that the power and influence pfaDown'ing Street and ofthe Poole merchants will be, as in former times, supreme, and the interests of the people neg- lected and overpowered. . But to return to the report on the fishery of Nova Scotia, it appears that in the year ending 5th January. 1841, the value ofthe fishery exports from that colony alone exceeded £500,000, and bad employed 60,000 tons of shipping and 20,- 000 seamen, and consequently the value of the whole fish- .ories at British North America, if properly encouraged—i. c. iflet alone, and not interfered with by monopoly and bad le- gislation—swould be of great 'value and importance to the over populous country in which we live. "Ibo half million pt exports from Nova Scoria consisted of l I 327,026 qlrintals of dry fis‘h. 71,676 boxes 1,137 tierces 3,643 kits 27,788 boxes ofsmoked fish. 2,553 barrrels . V 2 of oil.

of pickled fish,

4,661 ranks

on cutouts! nitrate.

17,735 seal skins; aml 2 casks ofseal skins.

When we consider the great number of hardy seamen that that fishery affords, and might further supply——lhe mine of wealth in which they labour being inexhaustible—— its lying contiguous to their home for ‘450 miles of 008%" along the rugged shores ofNewfoundland, which are the la- vourite resort ofthe cod-fish, its importance is at once ob- vious. The clear waters ofthe lower provinces are also the favourite habitation of mackercland herringa; and it afi'ords a nursery for seamen ofthe greatest value to a naval power like Great Britain. We have not room to state further the great importance ot'that fishery to Great Britain ; but our acts, we regret to say, instead of promoting, actually check the enterprise and limit the products ofthOse hardy BrIIISh sailors. We harm and injure them by monopoly, and the narrow and selfish restrictions of colonial misrule.

The Americans, our neighbours there, make the best of the privilege they have in having a portion ofonr fishipg grounds, which they do by treaty. The following Ofliclal statement of the products of the fishing in the state at Massa— chusetts will show the magnitude the British fisheries might arrive at, if we would allow our colonists to enjoy the a - vantage offree institutions, such as would best 'promote the industry of our valuable poesessions there :—

EXTENT OF THE FISHING INTEREST IN MASSACHUSETTS-

Statement, compiled from the statistical tables published by order ofthe Legislature of Massachusetts, indicating the extent of the fishing interest of the commonwealth, for the year ending lst April, 1837. The whale fishery not included.

Vessels employed in the Cod and Mackerel

Fishery, - — - - 1,290 Tonnage or the same, - - - 76089 Number of Quiiitals of Codfish caught, 510.554 Value ofthe samein dollars, - - 1,569.517 Number of Barrels of Mackerel caught, - 934.059 Value ofthe same in dollars, - - 1,639,042 Number ofBushels, ofSalt used in Cod and

Mackerel Fishery, - - - 837.141 Hands employed, - - - - 11.146 Capital invested in dollars, - - 2,683,176

Our possessions, which are annually a drain upon the taxes oftliis country for the maintenance of governors and other useless and overpaid oflicers, might be productive of much wealth, and all expenses be paid by the colonists. We know that the colonists would willingly pay every expense connected with their government, if we would withdraw the meddling and pernicious interference of Downing Street.

The fisheries would be the source ofgrcat wealth, :indvan outlet to our unemployed people, if we would govern them on enlightened and liberal principles. But when we see the constitution of Newfoundland taken away without no- tice, and Without a hearing, we ask, with what confidence, and with what security, can Englishmen settle in any of our colonies or apply their capitals and industry in their products, when such signal and arbitrary proceedings are allowed by a reformed Parliament? The fault lies in the House of Commons. and sadly do we Want a better house for that and other useful purposes.

(From the London Slander/l.)

lMpon'rAN'r NEws FROM Poa'r NATAL.—A Government Gazette Extraordinary reached town this morning from the Cape ofGood Hope, dated July l5, bringing advices from Port Natal of the third ofthe same month. They announce the junction ofthe reinforcements sent fi'om Cape Town, with Captain Smith’s gallant little band, who, with twenty six wounded within his closely confined camp. and no other food than horseflesli for upwards of a fortnight, and a most desperate and vigliant foe around him, had managed to main- tain his pOst. Aided by the Southampton frigate, Capt. Ogle, and the Conch schooner, commanded by Mr. Bull, Colonel Cloete landed his troops, althouin the headlands at the entrance ofthe harbour were armed with guns, and the Boers had collected in force to oppose him, with very, few casualties. Immediately after his disembarkatiéu, Colonel Cloete marched with detachments ofhis force, and only two days’ provisions, upon Congella, the Boers taking flight with the utmost precipitation. In this place were found their stores and a foundry for shot. The“ Boers had retired front their encampment, 12 miles off, where they had mustered to the number of400, Colonel Cloete having had“ no time to land‘his stores from the Southampton, was unablelto make

any forward movement, but in the event of the Boers not ac- cepting his terms would lose no time in so doing. The conduct of Captain Smith and his devoted little band appears to have been most praisewm-thy. Notwithstanding the ex- tremity to which they were reduced, they persisted in re- fusing thc proffered services of Panda and his hordes.

INDIAN Arrxias.—-Though we think the re-delivery ofonr prisoners by Akhbar Khan a sine qua non for the effectua- tion Of any arrangement, and though we are alsoinclined to consider that, with those prisoners safe in our hands, there would be vary little further reason for carrying on the war, or retaining possession ofone foot ofthe Afl‘ghan territory; yet we cannot agree with a contemporary in arguing as ifit were almost indifferent by what means the captives ware li- berated, so long as that liberation were affected. ,lt is and it is not true that the only or main object ofonr advance would be to save these persons. The main and immediate object it is; but its importance is denied, not from the in- trinsic value of the lives at stake, though God forbid that we should nnderrate that importance, but from the duty which lies on the British Government, for the sake offuture gene- rati f its subjects, to enforce upon the world, savage and, i izcd, the knowledge that a British subject is never deserted by his Government. Take the parallel case of M‘Lcod’s arrest at New York. England would have been bound to go to war in his defence. Why? Not because his life would have been of equal value to those ofthe hundreds, or perhaps thousands, who might have perished in that con- test, but in order that every English subject, in whatever country his lot is cast, may be protected by the conscious- ness, on the part of himself and those around him, that for any indisputable wrong done him he has the power to force redress, though it may require the gigantic powers ofthe British Empire to pursue it with effect. Every great nation is bound to teach the world, that to nialtreat one ofits sub- jects is always, and everywhere, and inevitably, to draw on themselves the whole power of his country. It is for this individual immunity from wrong, that national greatness is principally valuable to an honourable and unambitious peo-‘ ple.. The assertion of this immunity it is, and not the mere anXIety to avert certain bodily evil from M‘Leod, or Shelton, Or Mackenzie, whichjustifies the terrible remedy of War. Is the care exercised by this country over all.her subjects—her unslirinking readiness to assert all their rights and redress all their wrongs, at whatever cost of danger and expense—is this determination evidenced in buying back from the hands ofan enemy, tIiedintely or immediately, the persons ofthose whose detention we consider to have been effected by a trea- cherous violation of all natural and conventional law? Are we not. by such an act, holding out an invitation rathcrthaii a warning to future trausgressors—a prospect of reward iii- stead ofpunishment to wrong~doers—tenching our enemies to fleece, not to respect us? No, it must be by menace, and by performance, if necessary, of that menace, not by ransom —“fiarro non auro”-—-that our countrymen must be regained. And as we are content to risk our armies, to sacrifice our treasure, rather than leave them unvindicated, so must they submit, grieyous as such a thought is, to an extension oftbeir bitter capttvtty, rather than that their country should descend to unworthy concession for their redemption. Heleaow- ever, we must guard ourselves against one possible miscon- ception. The relinquishment of what we at present hold in Afi'ghauistan, we do not count among concessions; In no- cupying Candahar and Jellalabzul, or, ifit so happen, Uabul, we are not appropriating those cities, nor in restoring them should we be making any payment to the Afghan. We hold them as pledges till justice is done us; they are ’vantan'e ground from which we dictate the terms of arrangemefit. Justice satisfied, and our countrymen delivered, we have no

2 further plea for retaining them, and they fall back, ofcourse,

to their old masters—London Times. For ourselves, we are quakerly enough to wish that every

'- British soldier was out of Atfghanistan,—first,and mainly

rosecuted without the

' war cannot be , . because we think the P he certain mam

ertain commission offurther wrong, and It ’ . Sing ofenormous loss in life and money. The guttinglgoy‘; India are much divided in opinion as to the rein in 9 re of Lord Ellenborough, and are fiercely contestingt‘he p0 lry of continuing or abandoning the war. We beliva egog other nation except ourselves look upon the Englis i iiiva:00 of Afi‘ghauistan as a most unwarrantable act, and as a Plln‘s of an insatiable spirit of aggrandizement. Recent eve d prove that the entire nation Of the Affgharis abhor uhs, t spurn our interference. \Ve could _not know_ this in t 1;. Iis instance, when we were supporting a legitimate A Prince who was our enemy; but now at least It .18 clear t'm we Were as wrong in our conduct as _we Were in put-jut g- inent, and that we have put our heads into a hornet s nest.— Leeds .Mercwy.

THE LATE DisrnaBANcss.—A thoughtful and intelligent correspondent, whose position enables him toform an'accu- rate judgment on the subject, gives the followmg opinion on the origin and progress of the recent Outbreaks in the manu- ' tn "ii districts :— ’ n“: that the riots are over, people are puzzling them- selves not a little to discover their cause and origin. The most probable explanation appears to be as follOV'VSI—EOPI; some time past, the Chartists have been negotiating wit the various Trades’ Unions for ajunction With tbem,—_—wliich they have not been able to accomplish before this year. Some plan must have been in agitation for a general cessa- tion of work, at a given period, and for a demand for higher wages. This plan seems to have explod’ed before the time; biit'when it did break out it was a mixture of Chartism and a wages’ question. A band of men, who perfectly undcr- stood their job, went from place to place, turptng out the hands, and putting out the fires by knocking .In the bailer plugs,—and, where they were restated, breaking tl’iewv-in- (lows; but, in every other respectycareftilly abstaining from all injury to person or property. Gradually, the Chartist part ofthe quéstion disappeared,_and it became solely a dispute about wages. As such it still remains, and vast numbers ofpeople continue out ofemploytnentz That Such a result should ensue from what has been goutg on here for the last five years, cannot be a matter ofsurprise to any careful observer.- The pressure upon the master manti- facturers has been so intense and distressing, that they have in their turn been pressed upon the work-people; and re- ductions of wages, or what the people consuier the same thing, exactionsJofiIiore work for the same wages, have eveiiywhere been carried out to the utmost pomt,——until at last the thing has blown up. Nothingr can. remedy this evil but a greater demand for labour, and nothing can produce that but an extension of our commerce. 1 am glad to hear from good authority that our governors are opening their eyes to these truths, and are disposed to adopt our free-trade principles to the utmost extent that the landed interest will allow them.”

THE FIRE IN SAXONY AND BOHEMIA.——A letter from Dresden ofthe 8th inst. saysz—Thc ravages ofthe fire which broke out on the 315t August on the Saxon and Bohemian frontiers, and which still continues, presented a grand and

awful scene, which must make an indelible impression on

every feeling heart. On almost the whole way from VVinter- burg to the. Prebitscher-bischther, where the noblest pine forests, intermixed with the Oak and other timber ofall other

kinds, received the traveller in their refreshing shatlesqnance. The Queen had remmed fro

where flourishing young plantations bounded the path on each side, all nature seems to he plunged into the sleep of death. On the scorched and ash-coloui’ed ground stand thousands of leafless trunks oftrees, ofall ages and sizes, turned to charcoal, from the roots upwards, and stretching out their branches, blackened by the flames and the smoke; in the ravines formerly concealed from the eye ofthe thick foliage ofthe forest, thousands of them stand witnesses of the dreadful confiagration—some still standing, others lying, grille-l up, over each other, an impenetrable chaos. Even the Prebsicthor, which in its proud elevation was blown on by the breezes ofheaveu, and seemed to bid defiance to earthly casualties, has seen apart ofits beautiliil environs fall a sacrifice to the ocean offlame which swept it. , Thus, for the extent ofhall a league, the eye discovers no sign of life; while far to the east the smoke slowly rising above the still green trees, show that the flames still continue to de- vour the abundant prey which they find below. A letter from Dresden, of thc8th September, in the Prussian State Gazette, says, “The fire in the forest, on the ti'ontiers of Saxony and Bohemia, ismsa'flv not to be yet extinguished, but to continue its ravages. ijthe forest of Prince Clei‘y, totvards Tetschen.” 'I‘bé‘irejiarkable circumstance has been observed there, that the firecontinnes to burn under ground, wholly destroying the rootsfso that the tree, which appears uninjured, suddenly falls to the ground. ~ ‘