The Government at Washington has heartily and fully responded to
the opening of our Navigation-law, by entirely opening the American navigation to British shipping. This will not only tend to compensate our shipowners for loss, but will help to smooth over many differences between the two empires.
The declaratory document in favour of " annexation " to the United States, just issued at Montreal, is an ugly symptom, but it has perhaps created undue apprehension here. Its list of signatures does not com- prise any real notables of Montreal, and it appears that the declaration emanates from a very sectional and exceptional party : it originates with the Papineau clique, and receives, of course, support from the Mackenzie class—the two outlaw sections of French and English politicians. Those factions are, in truth, trying for their own purposes to trade on " British" discontent : but they have overacted their part. It is remarked that there is no organized influence to counteract them ; but such is not lite- rally the case : a counter-declaration, not to be less numerously or re- spectably signed, was in preparation when the mail came away ; and it was understood that " the British League " was about to declare against Annexation. The worst of it is, that this Annexationist manifesto, how- ever delusive in its professions and promises, is a sign of an unallayed spirit of rebellion ; while the Government had managed so maladroitly, that the very concessions to public opinion had successively exasperated public opinion against the Government; and it did not appear that the Government had, even in prospect, any policy to counteract the disaffec- tion and unite the colonists to itself. After all allowances, it is still a bad sign that such documents as this declaration should receive any attention.
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