POSTSCRI PT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
It WOS announced last Licht, by Lord MeLeornse in the House of Peers and Lord Jolt>: Russet in the Commons, that Parliament is to reassemble on the kith of JOIllialy, instead of the 1st February as before ii tended. The disastrous news from Canada caused the tiltera- tion. Being questioned liy Lord .iii.OUG11331, Lord MLLeoutteE said that 3Iinisters had received no edicial information respectire; the dis- turbances in Canada, but they had received information of " reports or rumours having arrived, whisk he feared established the fact that open insurrection or rebellion had broken out in Lower Canada.
ll'hen Parliament should meet uu the 16th of January, " it would be put distinctly to bath Houses, whether they intended to suppert hei Majesty's Governinent in ell the measures they considered :iecTFFaiy he would odd, that this quessien weeld be put not doubting the sneeest he should receive."
In the Commoes, the debate was very animated. Lord Jolts, Ressme emitted that the information received from Lord Gosford bad been for some time ef an elarmiug character. That intermation would be laid before Parliament next day; and he recommended that discussion should be po,t;:coled till the reassembling of Ptah:mient after the holydays. He then moved that the House shculd go into Committee of Supply ; giving Mr. Leader an opporttmicy of moving-, as an amendment, an ad ire to the elOW11 for copies ut LoniGosferdoe despatches. The ds hate then commenced. Z1Ir. LI; ADEn, Ir. \- Ir'a'n, :LA Sir MI LIAM MOLEMORTH, strong language, denounced the cenduct of the present A dinit.istratiee towards Canada. They dieadt on the series of oppres-ive nets by whiet the colonists have been driven into rebellion. They reminded the House of the numerous petitions of the colonists; for the redress of grievances—erievances that still renmin unredressed. They tauntee Lord John Russell, and the supporters of his resolutions, wiihi theis sneering and contemptuous manumit of the " small kite: of rune:: demagogues"—now converted into a nation in arms; and took no pair., to conceal their own wishes, that if there was to be a war, the people struggling for independence might suceeed esmblishine 'F.. most important tact' stated by Mr. Leanen, and coutirtnel by Sit WILLIAM MOT.L5WORTII, from private sources of information. was tl of the desertion of whole companies of British soldiers, wit!: their ser- geants. One regiment had been almost entirely renewed during tbe short period it had been statioe, d in Canada. The " rich meadews" r. the Canada Land Corripeny, and illiapproiniated millions of acres, sup- ply the insurgents with tempting Inibes to soldiers cello pence a day for the privilege ui being dogged." Mr. WA:t1:::....ZON. Mr. GROTE, Mr. HARVEY, Mr. I-Irsuu.r:v, and Mr. WANI.1:11, with earnestness, but with less vehemeuce than Mr. Leader twat William 3iolesworth, in justification of the Canadians. Mr. WA3- BrliTON made several judicious end practical remarks on the -Ad- vantages which would accrue to this country from an err:iv:dile separa lion ; which he looked forward to as the only happy termination of tld: present quarrel. Mr. Gem: delivered a clear and innwessive stedeme-e'. of the manifold wrongs the colonists sustained,—injuries not mcrei,. theoretical or the offspring of reeklcss agitation. He venni; kc,1 that 3 single act drove the Americans hit° relnalion—the usetileuel th. right to tax the colonists ; whereas the dirtot violation cf the Caae- dian constitution, by the seizure of foe money in the U'i;lattli:tn exche- quer, was only (ena of a long list ie. g:ievances ct :d- ot. Lower Cniad:1 comFlained.
On the Ministerial side, theeiicfmcikers were Mr. Citent 7= INGION, Mr. W. Uha PSTONE, Sir GE011ilE GI.EY, Mr. 0. F. l'et-e Sir Romer Notes, and Lord Jon N Ilessid.L. Mr. T.7-,7'Z was very indignant at the tone of Mr. Leader-s speeeh :lie Leader seemed to rejoice at the successes of the C hoped the Governmeht would state'. Ili! !.I and
the menaces of the rebels. Sir Groeee Gees spa L. e es; much at his ease. It was true that Camele was in a • tion—borderisy out insurrection : there had been a c.'. t :
was no reason to believe that mc.:::; tiooes t ..• as far as "hi: iLformation" Weill. he " ::, man had fall." The British interests and influential " minority," whom the 11:•::;s1: iii justice to protect. Mr. (home. Ye''" party man." leis declared his reed:Ness in this affair port the Alivisters: surely Lord .1 lit iussei must of anxiety as to the issue of the contest has been tA, • : Mr. Young dw,:lt on the value of the shipping trot r( is it worth now ? Sir Item iir I:cal is del tel the exist, no, Ili:111i in any man or set of tuctt ; and as .or the onlya right to sae:, a cens;itmieil m1.11, he its • • iinering power : el goads... Sir 1.‘.1.0 toliytt r a 1.4.(1.1- 1,•; 01, Lord Jong RUSSELL is evidently alarmed. The " impression on his mind was not one of apprehension, though he could not at the same time speak with confidence." But it would never do to yield now. They must protect the British minority in Canada. To give .way would excite the scorn and contempt of other powers. " It would be said " that this great nation submitted to her own colonies. He deeply regretted the language used by several Members in the debate : it would stimulate the disaffected, and it was calculated to injure the best interests of this country. He denied that the Canadians had the Jame cause of revolt that the Americans bad. This country 4, never pretended to tax the Canadians or dispose of their taxes." So said Lord JOHN RUSSELL; but the Canadians did not revolt till the British Parliament passed resolutions to rot, their treasury. If this is not " dis- posing" of the Canadian taxes, it would be difficult to say how the act ;amid be performed. In the course of the debate, several allusions were made to the state of Upper Canada; and the appointment of Sir George Arthur to the ;averment of that province was strongly reprobated, especially by Sir Wraalast idOLESWORTII, referring to appalling evidence given before :he Transportation Committee of last session, of which Sir William vas chairman.
Nr. Leader's motion, which was merely an excuse for a discussion, lvas withdrawn. Soon afterwards, the House .adjourned, at twelve o'clock, to a quarter before twelve this day. Even from this hasty and brief sketch of the proceedings in Par- :lament, it will be seen that there is an extreme reluctance on the part of the Government and its supporters to admit the analogy between ,die Canadian revolt and the insurrection of the American Colonies in 1774. The analogy may not be perfect : no two events in the history of the world are characterized by exactly the same circumstances : - -sat there is nevertheless a striking resemblance between those under aunsideration. The cause of quarrel is essentially the same—only that le provocation in the Canadian case is much stronger than in the American. The Americans were three millions—the Canadians are :role one million ; but the latter have the example of successful re- 3italICC to encourage them. They will receive comfort and assistance aiom a mighty nation of freemen ; a place of refuge in defeat is at :land for their armies; and the greater rigour of their climate gives them an advantage over regular troops despatched from the Mediterranean or ?he Cane, than the Americans possessed in the war of the Revolution. itc inotivss of the Canadians to fight to the last man are obvious : rut why should England go to war ? What can we gain even by sue- .7ess ? To retain Canada, the people of this country are already.
:axed, directly and indirectly, to an immense amount. But the cost of keeping that colony in subjection—that is, of maintaining twenty or • lirty thousand soldiers in positions beyond which the authority of the British Government could extend but for a few miles—will hencefor-
ward be incalculable. And for who:n is so much wretchedness to be ..taieted, and so much expense incurred ? Avowedly fur a " minority '
.—really for the disreputable and misgoverning officials in the province;
F01 some British shipowners, and jobbers in Canadian lands, at home. pparently, the experience of the causes and result of the American Revolution has no effect on Ministers or the Legislature. Will the
f';aate suffer themselves to be deluded ? A real test of the sup- uaoset1 advance of the ruble mind within the last half. century is about au be applied.
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