CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO LOWER CANADA.

THE Papers presented to the House of Commons "by her Majesty's command," and ordered to be printed on the 23d of December, have at length been delivered. They consist of despatches and extracts of despatches from Lord Glenelf and Lord Gosford, fifty-one in number, with enclosures of various kinds, relative to the proceedings of the tfovernment and of the Papineau party in Lower Canada. The first

despatch is from Lord Glenelg, in Downing Street, to Lord Gosford, at Quebec, on the subject of Lord John Russell's Resolutions. It is important to mark the date of this document,—namely, 11th March 1837; for it appears that it was only subsequent to the passing of the Resolutions and their publication in Canada, that any movements were made calculated to alarm Lord Gosford. On the 8th of March, Lord Gosford wrote to Lord Glenelg, that a feeling of "dissatisfaction with the Assembly was spreading ;" and that he was sure, upon a dissolution, the majority in the Assembly " would experience a diminution in their ranks :" and he disapproved of coercion except as "a last resource, after all attempts of a constitutional character shall have failed." On the 18th of April, Lord Gosford wrote as follows— *I see no chance whatever of any serious commotion here in consequence of y our proceedings: hooever, you may rely on my taking every precaution. As to armed eesistance, I see no ground for apprehending any thins of the kind. I shall act with all possible vigilance, at the same time avoid all demonstration of alarm."

Again, on the 6th of May, Lord Gosford addressed his Downing Street superior— I shall retain your letter to Sir Collo Campbell, seeing no sort of necessity at pre- sent for augmenting the military force of this province. I have communicated to Sir John Colborne my wish to have a regiment always stationed at Montreal ; but I have sot the least expectation or any thing serious. If a dissolution of the present Paella- t ond were to take place, there might be some broken heads, but nothing in the shape wr general or combined commotion. 1 shall write to Sir Francis Head, and mention the military arrangements about to take place."

The mention of the military arrangements in the above refers to an order of Lord Glenelg to withdraw troops from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for service in Lower Canada; whence it appears, that Lord Glenelg had reasonable apprehension that the measures of Go- vernment might have more serious consequences than a few " broken beads." A despatch from Lord Gosford, dated 25th May, informs Lord Glenelg of meetings in the county of Montreal, at which the House of Commons Resolutions were denounced in the strongest language. Still, Lord Gosford was not alarmed: he represents the meetings as failures, and expresses an opinion that the Canadians were beginning to discover" the real views of the Ultras." He adds, how- ever, that " the feeling against the Imperial Parliament authorizing the taking of the money out of the chest was very strong, and even those who reprobate the withholding of the supplies by the Assembly cannot re- frain from on expression of disapprobation at this part of Lord John Ihtssell's Resolutions." In the same important despatch, Lord Gosford bears testimony to the general loyalty of the French Canadians- -Nothing is more erroneous, in my opinion, than the supposition that the French Canadians are a disloyal body. I have every reason to believe the contrary. I have not the slightest apprehension of any serious commotion conning out of these meeting. • which. as far as regards the district of Montreal, are planned and concocted, and resolutiona framed by the same individuate, few in number, who it is tinder-at

desirous of enhetitutiug a Republican for the existing form of goverulneut."

A fortnight afterwerds, Lord Gosford became aware that Mr. Pa- pioeau's proceedings were of a more serious character still he was cot much alarmed. On the 10th of June he wrote-

' la consegnence of meetings held and about to be held in different parts of the ravines., I cannot conceal hom you my impression, that a system of orgaulsution, anise the ineuence and guidance of Mr. Papineau and a few desigutug individuals ready to execute his purposes, is at this moment going on.

The primary and ostensible object of Mr. Papinean's plan seems to be, to procure a public expermion of indignation against the Mioisterial measures, and eventually to *Rolm a hostile feeling against the Government, and to establish a couveutiou, which he expects ail, overawe the constituted authorities, and thus carry all his destructive views it to execution.

- Under this conviction. I am prepared to adopt prompt measures, should they be necessary, to check the evil in its infancy. I contemplate therelore in.sitig a prude. station, warning the people against the mistepresentations and machinations of the designing, and exercising the discretion you confident to me, for increasing the military force here, by despatchitig your letter to Sir Colin Campbell, with u request for one of the regiments now stationed at Halifax.

• I meet repent, that these steps would not be dictated by the apprehension of any serious commotion,, for I have every reason to believe that the mass of the Canadians are loyal and contented ; hnt ham the peculation that the presence of a larger military Arm in this province might of itself prevent the occurrence of any disturbance. by deterring the ill•dieposed, securing the wavering. aud giving coofidence to the timid."

On the 4th of July, Lord Gosford assured the Government at home that there was no ground for apprehending any thing like serious com- motion ; and on the 11th of the same' month, he refers with satisfac- tion to a loyal meeting in Montreal. The session of the Parliament of Lower Canada was opened on the 18th of August ; and Lord Gosford formally communicated Lord John Russell's Resolutions to the House of Assembly. The follow. ins passage from the address of the Assembly shows a determined spirit of resistance, which; might have opened the eyes Of the Pro- vincial Government-

.. It is our duty to tell the Mother Country , that if she carries the spirit of these Re- solutions ludo effect in the government of British America, and of this province in par. ticular, her euptemacy therein will nu longer depend %ten the feelings of affectien, of duty, outlet' mutual interest, which would best secure it, bat on physical and material Jerce,—•ii clement dangerous to the governing party, at filename time that it subjects the goverued to a degree of uncertainty as to their future existence and their dearest Interests. which is scarcely to kr round wader the moat absolute governmeuts of el.'. liged Europe. Aud we had humbly believed it impossible that this state of permanent jeopardy. of hatred, and of division, amid he knowingly perpetuated by England on lire American continent ; and that the liberty and welfare of every portion of the em• spire were too dear to the independent body of the English people, to allow them to pre. it mairitaioing, in favour of the Monk:native accused by the people of this province, the system which has been hitherto its bane. - 11, even, before the opening of the present session, we had been individually unde- wined iu Ups fond hope by public report.--if we had little expectation that a sudden damage in the councils of the empire should plain mat once in poneasion of the bene- fits of the constitutive reforms which we had declared to be essential, and such as ovoid alone be sufficient, —it was stilt natant that we should most anxiously look for- ward to our being called together in Parliament ; because it was at least to be sup- posed that most important reforms had been effected in the admiiiistretion of the government, and that others were speedily to follow them. We have learned, with freak, regret, from y our Excellency's speech, that so such reform has been effected, or will be so at arty near and determinate period."

Lord Gosford immediately prorogued the session. In his long letter to Lord Glenelg, dated the 30th August, be gives no intimation

" It is evident that the Papineau radio° are not to be satisfied with any concession that dues not place them in a more favourable position to early into effect their ulterior objects,—namely, the separation of this country from England, and the establishment of a Repubtioas form of gommument. Mr. Pertinent' has gone such 'cygnet that lie must now persevere iu t he course he has taken, or submit to a defeat which would annihilate all his power and influence: the plan he mimes clearly shows that he Is determined to do all he cam to obtain his ends. The violent and unjustifiable attacks which have been mad. by the Ultra Tory party upon the French Canadians yennully, hare caused an animosity. which Mr. Papineau does not fail to turn to account ; and I attribute much of his In- fluence over so many members In the Assembly to this cause. Mr. Papineau has emls• miles in various directions ; and though I do not conceive there is any ground for alarm, still great caution and vigilance is required to guard against the evils that might follow from the attempts making to excite discontent among the people by the most nbomitiable mierepresentntions. The Executive requires more power ; and, under my present impression. I am disposed to think that you may be mulct the necessity of sus. pending the enlist ittition. It is with feelings of deep regret I state this, but duty com- pb me to communicate it to you," It will be seen that the French- Canadians were subject to the viru. lent attacks of the Official party. Lord Gosford again refers to this subject, in his despatch of the 8th September- .. The two extremes are doing incalculable mischief, and must disgust every friend to liberal measures. The feelings of the great body of the French Canadians erodes cidedly loyal, and favourable to peace and order ; and it now rests a ith the Govern. ment, by wise and judicious measures, to protect them from the designs of those who are now working upon their credulity by the most gross misrepresentations and con- trivances. The jealousy that existed between the two races, I found upon my arrival here, had reached such a height, that from the first I considered it one of the principal obstacles to a satisfactory adjustment of difficulties I must, however, observe, that this has greatly diminished ; nod 1 can reckon as friends to my administration a large proportion of the reasonable and liberal men of the province. The Ultras on both sisjsa are struggling for ascendancy ; and my determined opposition to the views of both is this respect, perhaps may in some measure account for their hostility to we but 1 con- not relinquish my principles on this point."

In the same letter, Lord Gosford announces the necessity of putting down Mn, Papineau, and getting rid of the existing constitution- ". We can now make no terms with Mr. Papineau: you must either put him down,. or submit to let him put you down : there Is no halting between two opinions. By at once increasing the power of the Executive and suspending the Constitution, you at once paralyze the designs of these mischievous men : It would establish confidence in the minds of those disposed to peace and good government ; and at no dietant period yam rnight be solicited to restore the Constitution to the province, under arrangements better calculated to ("lord satisfaction thau could be areotnplialied by any effort or proposal its the present stale of things; for, until you nullify Papineates power, you can never bo in a position to treat un any thing like fair and liberal terms with a man of his extra- vagant, uncompromising, deatructive vies., exercising, as lie does, complete control over the minds of many who have been too long necustomed to he under ins yoke."

But Lord Gosford felt that he was riot the man to cope with Papi. neau- " My situation now is not an enviable oue ; awl, on every private consideration, I shall gladly relinquish it. It is probable, and indeed reasonable.that if matters here should come to extremities, you would prefer to have a man in my place who had not so avowedly declared his wish to carry on his government on the principle of concilia- tion. In statiug this, be assured at the same time, that I do not shriek from the diffi- culties which sgrrouud me, nor would 1 wish in auy way to embarrass the Administra- tion."

Matters soon became more serious. Lord Gosford found that he could neither depend on the Magistrates, nor on the Militia officers : so he dismissed twenty-seven of the former, and thirty-five of the latter,

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among whom wits Papineau. The lying corres ondence took place Ten Mr. Walcott, the Ciril Mug, and. Papineau : the

tier of. Papineau, as Lord Tosfo sai.s,lrequirea comment— - .. Castle St Louis, Quebe% liith August 1837.

• " Sir — The attention of the Governor•in•Chief having lately been called to a report, eontained in the Vindicator newspaper of the 16th May last. of the proceedings of a meeting hehl on the previous day at St. Laurent in which you are stated to have takea an active part, and where resolutions were passed, some of which distinctly recom- mend a violation of the laws, I am directed by 116 Excellency to call upon you, as owe holding 4 commission from the Crown, to state a Nether you were present at that meet- ing, suit conentred iu the resolutions there passed ; and if so, I am to twine whether ,

you have any explanation to offer in this matter. " I have. Ste. " The Honourable I, J. Papineau, " S.Wateorr, Civil Secretary." Major3v1 Battalion Montreal Militia." " Montreal, 14th Aufit 1837.

" Monsieur—Lapretension du Gouverneur de m'interroger sur ma conduite i St, Laurent. le It de Mai dernier, est nue impertinence que je repousse par he militia at par he silence. " Jo n' prends done la plume que pour dire au Gouverneur, gull eat faux, common dues sou ignorance il le pettt mire, on comme du mains it le lit par voice Mitre du It de se mole, que rptelques tines des iesolutions adopters dans l'Assemblee du Comte do Montreal, tenue a St. latuteut le lb do Mai dernier. reemumentleut la violation de lob.

" %%tire obeiesant servitem, • S. Walcott, Secrete's° Civil." . L. J. Parrott/iv."

The state of a part of Lower Canada at this time is described in an official communication from Mr. Ogden, the Attorney-General of the province, to Lord Gosford-

.. Meetiegs had been held in milieus counties under the snperinterulence of those who are styled the leaden of the Patriotic or Canadian party.at which banners and symbols and other paraphernalia of political incendiarient had leen exhibited. Speeches of an inflammatory nature,eppeallug to the passions and to national prejudices, had bee. addressed to a large sectiou of the 'Limitation of tide province; certain Pleasures of the Impetial Parliament had been misrepresented and prejudged ; the iuteutioos of her Majesty's Administration calumutated ; a system of resistance or evasion of the laws indicated anti strenuously recommended; and. indeed, every eapedieut adopted which aotild create alarm rind distrust, or infuse a spirit at insubordination and disloyalty tats the breasts on the otherwise peaceably.dispueell inhebilatits of that district. "'These machinations were but partially successful. In the county of Two Moon. Mina, however, where many settlers of British origin are interspersed among the Canso diau population. an attempt a as made to dairy t he intrigues of the Patriotic leaders into practical effect. A system of proscription, bused upon national distinctions and political prejwlices was adopted 81:141 pursued. The British inhabitauls. awl those loyal Canadians alio adhered to the political principles of their British fellowsup jects. perceived on a sudden that all intercourse betwecu them and those of their ceighbours *Ito professed a different petit ice' opinion was studiously denied ; all interchange of the orditiary offices or the common necessaries of life bad abruptly terminated ; they bad incurred the penvity of social excummunicatien. Nor was this process of political. propegandism of a urgative character only : depesitions which were tranami ted to as in my official capacity, copies of which I have the harmer herewith to forward for your Eleeheney's perusal, will sufficiently show how soon this vexatious estrangement was succeeded by ',Maid unequivocal aggression. Mob. assembled by night.and with:shouts of iutimiaatiou end 'lamas of personal violence endeavoured to terrify the loyal inhabl• tants tutu an adoption of their priuciples. The houaeof oue Jean Baptiste Cleval a Cap- tain of Militia, and a man distinguished for his triyalty in that part of the district, was tired into. to the imndoeut dimmer of the lives of his family. Another person or the mom name, one Toussaiut Cisrval, who from his opposition to the political principles of the couspaatura had rendered himself equaily triennium, was assaulted in his own hotter, anti compelled to Sy from his home and family, and to secrete dimwit for some (lays in the neighbouring province of Upper Canada 'line British subjects (settlers) were also subjected to a series of hanneaug annoyances; their fences wear brukea down, their cattle driven astray, their horses clopped and otherwise diefigered, and a variety of petty injuries inflicted.* hich it would LW unimportant to advert to, awe it not for the irritate:to they were calculated to inspire, nod the retaliatory spelt they had already provoked; for it will be simnel by the depositions to which I h tie already had the howler to reter your Excellency , t bat the sympathies of the Brit tsli inliabl- tautsiu the ueighlsetring mei lenient. were aroused, a feeling of exasperation had been ' engendered. and they had nominated a determivation. if the wrongs or their fellow cue elf!. nem reamiutel uuredressed by the law, to take the law into their own hands." Some of the offending parties were indicted, but the Grand Jury of Montreal ignored the bills ; and the Attorney-Cieneral proceeded against them by ex officio informations. As might have been expected, increased irritation followed. The city of Montreal was paraded nightly by large and organized bands; there were numerous breaches of the peace ; seditious meetings became more frequent, and the speeches delivered at them more violent ; the families of odious individuals were annoyed by mobs at night, and among them Sir John Colboine's ; tri- Impels were established by the people to supersede the regular courts of justice; the dismissed Militia officers were reelected by the men, who assembled at drills; and threats of attacking the Government forces before the winter • set in were made openly. These facts are mentioned in Lord Gosford's despatch of the 12th October. Another despatch, of the 30th October, calls the attention of Lord Glenelg to the celebrated meeting of the Six Counties, at St. Charles, on the 23d October. At this meeting Wired Nelson took a distinguished part; and resolutions were passed of which this one is a sample— "That instead of honestly reilreseing the said grievance, and abuses, as in duty booed, the British Government and the two Houses of Imperial Parl'ament have ineatenea, and Intend, to annihilate the fundamental rights of this colony. In order

to for the people into a haw and abject submission to the oppressions at kb are pre.

paring for them, recourse is bad to the same system of coercion and tap purism which has already disgraced the history of Health rule in Ireland. Magistrates and Militia

officers, enjo3 iug the confidence of their fellow.citizens, are insolently deprived of office,

because they love their country too well to sanction an unconstitutional aggressiou, or la permit her liberties to be violated with impunity ; and as a climax to our mister- roues, the present Governor.in.chief has recently introduced, in time of profound peace, a large hotly of armed troops into this province, to destroy, by physical force. all consti- tutional resistance. and to complete, by desolation anti death, the work of tyranny already determined upon and authorised beyond the seas." On the 23d October, what was called a " Loyal" meeting was held at Montreal. As an indication of the sort of loyalty professed by these persons, take the following resolution— "That this meeting has seen with alarm that the prerogative of the Croon has been deliberately perverted by the uppointment to offices of trust and responsibility of advo. cites of sedition and of enemies of the existing constitution of the province ; and that the present excited state of public feeling has been promoted and encouraged by the injudicious and ineffectual attempts at conciliation of the Goverumeut."

Although several despatches, some of them dated as early as the be- ginning of October, describing the dangerous state of the country, had been forwarded to the Colonial Office, it was not till the 27th Novem- ber that Lord Glenelg wrote to Sir John Colborne on the subject, (Lord Gosford having intimated his wish to resign ;) and then only in this vague manner-

s t am deeply conscious that the duties which will devolve on you during your tem- porary administration will be of grave responsibilIty ; but you will not on that account shrink from encountering them with calmness and courage. I am happy to learn from the communications which base reached me from the General commanding iu chief, that you military arrangements have been conducted with that foresight and decision ea which Lord Hill had every reason to calculate. and which I trust will have power- fally contributed to arrest the attempts to which the mere reckless of the leaders in agitation might others ire have resorted. To maintain or restore tranquillity, and to assert the dominion tit the law, is the immediate object to be attained. Without pro- posiag to fetter the discretion which must necessarily be vested in you, I shall, in a few days, address to you such instructions as appear to be required by the existing state of rower Canada. In the teems time,'I will only snare you that your measures will motive the moat favourable construction; and that you will be seconded by the most full anti cordial support which it is in the power of her Majesty's Government to afford you."

The "few days " were nine. Information baying been received of the riot in Montreal, in which the office of the Vindicator newspaper was destroyed by the Loyalists, Lord Glenelg, on the 6th December, authorized Sir John Colborne to proclaim martial law. Recent ac- counts, however, show that Lord Gosford had anticipated the authority of the Colonial Office. The last of Lord Gosford's despatches, dated 22d November, describes the arrest and rescue of the two Magistrates

at Longueuil. Of the subsequent military proceedings no account is given.

In order not to interrupt the above sketch of the progress of the Canadian insurrection, as detailed in the Parliamentary Papers, we have postponed the notice of the manner in which the Resolution of the House of Commons, authorizing the payment of salaries to official persons in Canada, was carried into effect. By a vote passed just before the prorogation of the last Parliament, the Treasury was empowered to advance the money, until the Government should obtain

a bill directing the seizure of the cash in Canada. Lord Gosford raised the necessary sum by selling bills in New York on the British Treasury. A list of the parties to whom the payments were made is given ; and it is a document which illustrates one of the principal Cana-

than grievances. The number of payments is 166; and of these, it would appear from. the names of the recipients, 104 were made to per- sons of British origin, in a country where British population is not one fourth of the whole. Moreover, the largest sums are almost without exception set against English names. Another subject to which the correspondence refers, is that of alter- ing the composition of the Executive and Legislative Councils. It does not appear clearly in what respect the Executive Council has been materially altered ; but the number of French- Canadians in the Legislative Council has been augmented from 8 to 18 by the introduc- tion of 10 new members. The Council now consists of 40 members; of whom 22 are of English, and 18 of French-Canadian origin. Lord Gosford adds, that in consequence of the infirmity or absence of se- veral English members, the numbers will generally be 18 Canadians to 13 English. We presume, however, that the French-Canadians are of those who can be relied on by the Government; as we observe the

following resolutions among those passed at the great meeting of the Six Counties-

6. "That the inhabitauts of the Six Counties of right expected that the province would not be continually deprived of the benefits of a Local Legislature—that the Legislative Conned would be improved in such a manner as to secure its coillieration with the Representative branch of the Legislature, and its respect ror the wants and unties of the man of the people; that so far from these just expectations having been realised, n number of lemons have lately been called to sit in that Council who, with .s..ame an exception, not only do not enjoy public confidence, but have rendered them- selves Ives in every respect unworthy thereof, and who by their conduct and public utdoione have rendered themselves odious to the country. 7. That this meeting declares that the late nominations.to the Executive Council of this punitive are equally unworthy of public confidence with Outset° the Legislative ecilteit that they arc the more scandalous, inasmuch as they continue pluralities in office, use of the abuses which Lord Gosford had himself denounced, both as Governor. loChief and Royal Commissioner, and as they confide to the same bands legislative, eseeetise, and judiciary powers."