The American soul Canada papers brought by the Royal William,
which arrived at Liverpool on Monday, at ter a fifteen days' vuyage, afford some items of miscellaneous news worth quoting. Lord Durham, on the 16th of October, received an m address from the inhabitants of Kingston. In the course of his leply, his lordship ob- served— " You have justly appreciated the principles of that policy which has go- verned every act id* my administration, and which you will bud fully, aud, I lope, clearly explained in my proclamation of this day's date. You hate, also, correctly described the nature and object of the Ordinatice which has been an- nulled. It was ona of mercy and forgiveness, not of tyranny awl oppressien. I cannot admit its illrgalitiy. It is strictly in accordance with the powers and provisions of the Act of Parliament unikr which I administer the offairs of this prorince. I may also remark, that tronsportution to Bermuda has been the constant practice in both 1/re Canada& As for its policy, recent events have, 1 think, demonstrated its soundness. The late verdict on the trial a the murderers of Chartrand, shows how fearful is the rinuger of exposing the sacred institution oh' trial by jury to the chances of its being abused, under circumstance* in which the uldinaly considerations of justice, truth, and con- science are superseded by the all-alwor Ling power of party feeling." The Quebec Gazette of the 13th of September contains a " Special Report to his Excellency the Governor-General from the Commis. &joiners of Crown Lands and Emigration." This document gives a history of the perversion of grants of land to soldiers who served in the militia during the last war with the United States. It appears that the individuals for whom the grants were intended have but in few in- stances benefited by them. Owing to the neglect of the Government, their land-orders became of little value, as the land itself was not allotted. The holders of the orders, in numerous instances, sold them to parties who obtained the land, but did not occupy it ; thus creating large quantities of waste ground in the heart of the country. Lord Durham had issued a proclamation assuring the claimants that the injustice should be remedied, and instructions to the Commissioners of Militia Claims, to determine and satisfy all unsettled claims with des- patch.
The Montreal Herald protests against that part of Lord Durham's proclamation "which attempts to prove that the banished and refugee traitors may return unmolested under the authority of the amnesty." The same paper complains bittelly, that "tire Canadas are neither more nor less than a low ball between the Government here (in Que- bec) und the Government in England."
We observe with pleasure, that the St. George's Society of Quebec have resolved to proceed in procession to the place of embarkation at the time of his Lordship's departure; and we have no doubt that the other societies will also gladly embrace so favourable an opportunity for testifying respect for his Lordship, and regret for the causes which have led to an abrupt termination to his government.__ Quebec Paper.
The Theatre opened at Montreal on the night of Friday week (the 12th October.) Not a soul visited it, either in boxes, pit, or gallery; therefore, the doors were quietly closed again. There is too much of real life just now in Lower Canada for the mimic pageantry of the stage to claim even the smallest attention. Louis Perrault, one of the proscribed, has returned from the United States to Montreal.—Letter in the Chronicle, dated 20th October.
The numbers at the meeting at Quebec, who passed resolutions of thaeks to Lord Brougham and Mr. Leader, are now said to have been nearer 300 than 3,000, as stated last week in most of the papers.
The Quebec Mercury states, that the Malabar, 74, sailed for Pictou, leaving only her Majesty's frigate Inconstant in port. The Inconstant is to convey his Excellency the Governor-General, family, and suite, to England ; and the present arrangement is understood to be, that she will sail for the Chesapeake on the 1st November, with the Countess of Durham and family and part of the suite; and that his Excellency will leave Quebec on the 27th October, and proceed to Montreal, thence to Washington, and afterwards to such place as may be fixed on for his final embarkation.—Montreal Herald.
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