15 OCTOBER 1842, Page 5

Miscellaneous.

The Morning Post remarks, that the prevailing unhealthiness of the season has reached the higher classes : the Dutchess of Kent, the Arch- duke Ferdinand of Austria, the French Ambassador, Prince Esterhazy, and the Russian Ambassador, have been among the invalids.

The Archduke Ferdinand has been staying at Wynyard Park, on a visit to the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry.

Lord Morpeth has returned to England by the Great Western.

The vacancy in the Order of the Garter, occasioned by the death of the Marquis Wellesley, will, we are assured, be supplied by the nomi- nation of the Earl de Grey, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.—Times.

In pursuance of an invitation, Mr. Litton, M.P., paid a visit at the Viceregal Lodge, Phcenix Park, on Saturday last, when his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant most graciously intimated that the vacant Master- ship in Chancery was at the service of the learned gentleman, if deemed worthy of his acceptance. The interview was of considerable duration, and it terminated in the assent of the honourable and learned gentle- man, who is now the successor of the late Master Curry.—Dublin Evening Packet.

Sergeant Green has been appointed Solicitor-General in the room of Mr. Smith, raised to the Attorney-Generalship.

The Queen has been pleased to constitute and appoint the Reverend Thomas Turton, Doctor in Divinity, to be Dean of the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter, Westminster, void by the death of Doctor John Ireland, late Dean thereof.—London Gazette, Oct. 11.

The Globe says, that the lately. published list of new Bankrupt Com- missioners is incorrect, at least in so far as it includes the name of Mr. Horace Twiss.

The Great Western steam-ship, which left New York on the 29th, arrived at Bristol on Wednesday night.

The intelligence from Canada is of great importance. By the last accounts, we learned that Sir Charles Begot bad made offers to Mr. Baldwin, a leading Upper Canada Reformer, and Mr. Lafontaine, a leading French Canadian, that they should join the Administration ; but that the offer was rejected. It is now said, that Mr. Draper, an " Anti-Liberal " member of the Government, actuated by a desire not to obstruct a conciliatory policy, thrice tendered his resignation within forty-eight hours before the opening of the Provincial Parliament ; and it was at the same time presumed that Mr. Ogden would also retire. The offer was made in haste, just as the Parliament was opened, and, as we have said, refused. In speaking upon the address in answer to the Governor-General's speech, Mr. Baldwin moved a vote of no-confi- dence in the Colonial Ministry. Mr. Neilson moved a Committee of the whole House to deliberate on the question : the motion was carried into effect ; and the House adjourned at a late hour without coming to any vote. This seems to have been on Monday the 12th September. The upshot appears in the following correspondence—

Sin CIIARLES RAGOT TO MR. LAFONTAINE.

" Government House, Kingston, 11th September 1842. " Sir—Having taken into my most earnest and anxious consideration the conversations which have passed between us, I find my desire to unite to the aid of and cordial cooperation with my Government the population of French origin of this Province unabated. I have therefore not waited for the result of your deliberation, but, on the contrary, have been considering how far I can possibly meet the views of those who have the confidence of that part of the population, so as to make their accession to this Government satisfactory to themselves and at the same time accompanied by that mutual confidence which can alone make it beneficial to the country. "1 have accordingly come, not without difficulty, to the conclusion, that, for such an object, I will consent to the retirement of the Attorney-General, Mr. Ogden, from the office which he now holds, upon its being distinctly understood that a provision will be made for him commensurate with his long and faithful services.

"Upon this retirement, I am prepared to offer to you the situation of Attor- ney-General of Lower Canada, with a seat in my Executive Council. "The office of Solicitor-General in Lower Canada has long been kept vacant,

in the hope of some arrangement by which the object that I have always bad in view might have been assisted ; and I shall be happy to listen to your sug- gestion of the name of any gentleman of British origin whose cooperation with the Government will aid us in the attainment of one common object.

" I have reverted carefully and anxiously to your expressed wish, of being joined in your adherence to my Government, by a sufficient number of sup- porters to insure the confidence of those whose interests you represent. " I find that one of my own plans for the advantage of Lower Canada, viz. the distribution of the too crowded population of your frontier settlements over a larger extent of territory, may be made to coincide with your views. " Mr. Girouard has been represented to me as a gentleman possessing admi- nistrative faculties of a high order, and at the same time the confidence of his countrymen.

" Ile can mutually assist us in forwarding my object in this respect ; and I have therefore determined, if I should be successful in inducing you to accept my proposition, in offering to him the situation at present held by Mr. Davidson, with a seat in the Council; on the understanding that the latter gentleman shall also be provided for in a manner suitable to his just pretensions, and that Mr. Girouard shall be elected, by some constituency, member of the Assembly. " I have further determined to offer the confilential post of Clerk of the Council to some gentleman of your recommendation ; and I would suggest that the reputation enjoyed by Mr. Morin or Mr. Parent designates them as perhaps among the fittest persons for your recommendation. " Mr. Baldwin's differences with the Government have arisen chiefly from his desire to act in concert with the representatives of the French portion of the population ; and as I hope these differences are now happily removed, I shall be willing to avail myself of his services. "Mr. Draper has tendered to me the resignation of his office. I shall always

regret the loss of such assistance as be has uniformly afforded me ; and I shall feel the imperative obligation of considering his claims upon the Government, whenever an opportunity may offer of adequately acknowledging them. This will place the office of Attorney-General with a seat in the Cabinet at my dis- posal, and I am prepared to offer it to Mr. Baldwin.

" The absence of Mr. Sherwood deprives me of the opportunity of ascertaining

how far he might be willing to accede to the arrangement, and of knowing whether he is ready to fulfil one of the conditions of his appointment, by ob- taining a seat in the Assembly. The disposal of his office must therefore be left a matter for future consideration.

"From my knowledge of the sentiments entertained by all the gentlemen who now compose my constitutional advisers, I see no reasons to doubt that a strong and united Council might be formed on the basis of this proposition.

"In this persuasion, I have gone to the utmost length to meet and even to surpass your demands ; and if, after such an overture, I shall find my efforts to secure the political tranquillity of the country unsuccessful, I shall at least have the satisfaction of feeling, that I have exhausted all the means which the most anxious desire to accomplish this great object has enabled me to devise.

I have the honour to be, &C. C. BAGOT."

MR. LAFONTAINE TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

•• Kingston, 17th September 1842.

"Mr. Lafontaine, having respectful reference to the letter which his Excel-

lency the Governor-General addressed to him on the 13th September instant, and to the several audiences to which he was invited by his Excellency yester- day, has the honour to communicate to his Excellency, that he accepts his Excellency's proposal to come into office on the arrangement to which he under- stands his Exellency to have assented ; that is to say, as contained in his Ex- cellency's letter modified as follows-

" Firstly, Mr. Lafontaine respectfully conceives it to be understood that the offices of Attorney-General of Lower Canada and Solicitor-General of Upper Canada are immediately to become vacant. "Secondly, that the proposition to make provision for the retiring officers, Mr. Ogden and Mr. Davidson, is to be considered an open question." MEMORANDUM OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

"The Governor-General has received Mr. Lafontaine's communication of this day's date, by which he accepts office upon the terms offered in the Go- vernor-General's letter of the 13th instant, subject to the modifications stated in the communication.

"The Governor-General concurs in these modifications."

A list of Gazette appointments appear. Mr. Louis Hypolite La-

fontaine is to be Attorney-General for that part of the Province for- merly Lower Canada, and also a Member of the Executive Council of the Province of Canada ; and the like appointment is conferred on Mr. Robert Baldwin in respect of Upper Canada, with a seat in the Council. These appointments were dated September 16th. On the 15th, Mr. Draper, Mr. Boulton, and Mr. Robert Baldwin were appointed Queen's Counsel in Upper Canada, to take precedence in the above order next after the Solicitor-General for the time being ; and Mr. Ogden and Mr. Lafontaine were appointed Queen's Counsel in Lower Canada.

Sir Charles Bagot appears to have given great satisfaction in the course he has pursued. Resolutions have passed the House by 54 to 5, voting thanks to the Governor for his conduct, and declaring it to be the opinion of the members that an equal proportion of Canadians should be admitted to office.

It was reported in Canada, that a general Amnesty Act would pro- bably in a few days be passed, and that the Legislature would then most likely be immediately prorogued in order to give time for the prepara- tion of all necessary measures.

The Honourable Joseph Howe, the late editor and proprietor of the Novascotian, had been appointed Collector of Colonial Duties of Impost and Excise within the port and district of Halifax.

In common with others, we entertain a strong opinion as to the right of Great Britain to the territory which she claimed, and which she has lost through the blundering of those to whom her interests were for- merly intrusted : but, now that the question has been settled upon terms honourable to both countries and advantageous to this, we cheerfully join in those expressions of feeling which we are happy to perceive have been manifested by the public press of St. John. That which by our correspondent has very properly been termed a 'peace tura ' has now commenced. The settlement of the boundary question will open up a most splendid country for settlement. In the valley of the Aroostook alone there are ninety townships of six miles square each, and capable of supporting a population of 100,000 souls. The river St. John is navigable by boats up to its source, a distance of 360 miles from its mouth American enterprise and capital, as the 'country in the vicinity improves and becomes populous, will overcome those few obstructions that at present impede its navigation ; and it is for the people of this part of the province in particular to set about laying the foundation of that social and commercial intercourse which otherwise may be diverted through some other channel.—Fredericton Sentinel, New Brunswick paper.

The only news of interest from the United States is the report, which now begins to assume a definite shape, that Mr. Tyler will be the Democratic candidate for the Presidency, and Mr. Henry Clay the Whig candidate.

Mr. Clay has written a letter to a friend, who represents "the young men of Philadelphia," stating, to use his own wards, "sonic of the principal objects which, I suppose, engage the common desire and the common exertion of the Whig party to bring about in the Govern- ment of the United States "—

" A sound national currency, regulated by the will and authority of the nation.

"Au adequate revenue, with fair protection to American industry.

" Just restraints on the Executive Power, embracing a further restriction on the exercise of the veto.1

" A faithful administration of the public domains, with an equitable distri- bution of the proceeds of sales of it among all the States. " An honest and economical administration of the General Government, leaving public officers perfect freedom of thought, and of the right of suffrage; but with suitable restraints against improper interference in elections. " An amendment of the Constitution, limiting the incatnbent of the Presi- dential office to a single term."

The following letter of our own correspondent furnishes the current gossip of the day—

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.

'New York, 29th September 1842.

" Sir—Since my last, there has been no occurrence of much interest in poli- tics. Congress having adjourned, the President and his Cabinet have taken rest from the cares of government. Mr. Webster has proceeded to Boston ; where, it is said, he is preparing a manifesto in the shape of a speech, in which he is to explain his motives for separating himself, as he has done, from his party, and to announce whether he is to continue a member of President Tyler's Cabinet or to retire. He is unquestionably a very able man, and his secession from the Cabinet would be a public calamity. The emolument of office, moreover, is of consequence to him, for he is far from rich; although I do not believe that would much influence him, or cause him to swerve from what he thought the line of duty.

" The Whigs are already actively engaged upon the Presidential election of 1844. All their strength will be concentrated for Henry Clay; while their opponents seem at present to be divided between Van Buren, Calhoun, and General Scott: but they are excellent tactitians, and I expect will come to some compromise. If they run more than one candidate, Clay will come in; but if they do not, and select one wisely, the general opinion is. that Clay will be beaten. Opinions among the Locofocos are chiefly divided between Van Buren and Calhoun. The latter is probably the most able man ; but there would be greater difficulty in uniting the party for him than for Van Buren; and I expect, after all, Van Buren will be the candidate.

"The Ashburton treaty has been attacked by the Whig papers, but with the sole view of heaping odium on the President. The more reflection I give to the matter, the more I am convinced the settlement is a very fair one. Both parties have, in fact, gained all they wanted : Great Britain has secured a communication between Canada and New Brunswick, and the United States have obtained the free passage of the river ; and these were the only essential points at issue. "The account brought by the British Queen, of the advance in the London market of 2s. per quarter on wheat, has checked the decline in prices here. The present rate for Western flour is 4 dollars 60 cents per barrel ; but, unless a very unexpected change takes place in your prices, I have not much doubt we shall see it at 4 dollars by Christmas; fluctuations doubtless taking place in the mean time. The harvest has been very abundant ; and as supplies come in, nothing but an extraordinary and unexpected demand for export can pre- vent a fall.

"The fall demand for goods continues very light, although rather more has been doing. The imports, too, are quite insignificant, and the revenue must be very deficient : it is said the Collector of Customs is sometimes put to his shifts ' to pay the daily demand for drawbacks on goods reexported. So much for 'protection.' Exchange on London stands at n to Si premium; Paris, 5 31i ; Hamburg, 35A to 35i. "Lord Morpeth goes home in the Western : he has won golden opinions here for his unobtrusive good sense and unpretending manners. A safe voyage to him.

"Very faithfully yours, A NEW YORK MERCHANT."

The Morning Post denies in the most positive terms that a retreat of the troops outside the Indus ever was ordered by the Governor General-

" A correspondent at Calcutta, who has access to the best sources of politi- cal information, has favoured us with a communication which enables us to assert in the most unqualified terms, that the Governor-General of India never gave an order, either to General Pollock or to any other officer, for the evacua- tion of Afghanistan by the British troops; and to assert, moreover, that Lord Ellenborough, from the moment of his arrival in India to the date of our cor- respondent's letter, never used any language privately or officially—no single word by tongue or pen—importing that his Lordship contemplated the with- drawal of the British force from Afghanistan, until every thing had been done that the honour of Great Britain and the maintenance of her character, au- thority, and prefiminence in India, could be supposed to require. "We learn from the correspondent above referred to, upon whose informa- tion we implicitly rely, that whatever military movements may recently have taken place at Candabar and Jellalabad, and whatever may be their object, those movements are not the result of immediate instructions from London, but of the deliberate, coherent, and unvacillating system of policy adopted by the present Governor-General, and pursued without the slightest deviation, even for a moment, since his Lordship's arrival in India—a policy always in harmony with the wishes and the determination of the British Cabinet, with which his Lordship's mind was so fully imbued, before he left England, that he could feel no difficulty, and incur little risk of error, in giving to those wishes and that determination their due application and proper force in every con- ceivable emergency. " We also assert, with perfect confidence that we shall be justified by the tuture course of events, that the British Government of India will not make any further attempt to conquer Afghanistan, with a view to the permanent oc- cupation of that country. It is universally felt, both in Great Britain and in India, that no military operations ought to be undertaken in Afghanistan, beyond what may be needful for obtaining the prisoners and rescuing the

Midrib name from the disgrace which the mad enterprise of the Whig Go- vernment has brought upon it."

The Calcutta Star tells an affecting anecdote of the retreat from Ghnznee- " The death of Lieutenant Lumsden and his young wife is confirmed, and the details of their fate as now narrated are of a most melancholy and painful character. It is stated, that when he fell desperately wounded, his young wife threw herself upon his body, and implored him not to leave her to fall into the hands of the enemy ; when he, with a last effort, drew his pistols from his belt and put an end first to her sufferings and then to his own."

The Times makes the following strange announcement. It does not say whether the proposition was entertained or not-

" On dit that overtures have been made by an influential party in China to the British authorities in that country, the objects of which are to depose the Emperor, to establish another form of government, and to enter, should the revolution succeed, into terms of amity with Great Britain, both political and commercial."

The Paris Commerce states, that the Prince de Joinville and the Duke d'Aumale left St. Cloud in the night of the 8th instant, for Brest, where they were to embark for Lisbon. According to the same journal, a grand review of the garrison of Paris was shortly to be held by the Duke de Nemours and King Leopold.

Lablache is said to be dangerously ill at Paris, of inflammation of the chest.

The National gives instances of the extreme distress in Paris. Dur- ing the first eight days of the present month, more than sixty sales uuder decrees issued from the courts of law had taken place in Paris among the commercial classes. "In this avalanche of commercial disasters is comprised the celebrated Café Anglais, one of the oldest and most cele- brated establishments of the metropolis. The extensive as well as small establishments fall. Affairs in general are under the influence of an alarming crisis. Every day are seen new shops closed on account of bankruptcy, particularly in the fashionable quarters."

Alluding to the postage negotiations between France and England, now nearly concluded, the Post says this morning—" We have reason to believe the rate of postage between London and Paris will be reduced to about 8d. for such letters as are now charged Is. 8d. ; the rates be- tween more distant parts of the two kingdoms being reduced in the same ratio, viz, from five to two."

The Globe's Paris correspondent gives a slightly different account of the change-

" The French Government consents to reduce its charge to the same rate as its present internal postage ; and the English Government to reduce its uni- form rate of postage for French letters, which is now tenpence, to threepence. Thus, a letter weighing less than a quarter of an ounce, between France and England, which now costs two francs, or Is. 8d. English, will, under the new tariff, cost only 90 centimes, or 9d. English. The reduction is to apply to all letters in transit through France for India, the Mediterranean, &c."

The Prussian State Gazette announces the marriage of the Princess Mary, daughter of Prince William of Prussia, with the Prince Royal of Bavaria, on the 5th instant, in the chapel of the Palace at Berlin. The Prince of Bavaria was represented by the Prince of Prussia.

The nuptials of the Princess Sophia of Orange with the Duke of Saxe Weimar were celebrated, at the Hague, on the 8th instant.

The Frankfort Journal states that the Saxon manufacturers are well satisfied with the result of the Michaelmas fair at Leipsic : the first stock of goods offered for sale being all disposed of, they found it ne- cessary to send a second supply. Complaints of the high price of meat and bread were made among the operatives ; and although the last crop of potatoes was most abundant, they were principally bought up by the distillers, to the great dissatisfaction of the labouring classes, who on more than one occasion were about to pull the distilleries to the ground.

' The Emperor of Russia has issued an ukase authorizing a foreign loan of 8,000,000 silver roubles, to begin the construction of a railroad from St. Petersburg to Moscow ; the total cost of which is estimated at forty or fifty millions. The correspondent of the Augsburg Gazette, in Servia, writes on the 27th of September, that an opposition against the new order of things in that province had been already organized, although the Government had established a system of terror in order to stifle any resistance.