A gentleman of Philadelphia arrived last night [the 12th of
August] from the Canadas ; and being connected both by business and relation-
ship with many inhabitants in the Lower Province, where he remained for several weeks, I have deemed his remarks on the state of public feeling. there worthy of a place in your columns. He states in effect, that the greatest real ground of contention has been a difference of race, and the violent prejudices with which the minds of the habitans were poisoned by the demagogues who misled them. Still he is of opinion that several salutary reforms are requisite ; and says that ra- tional and unprejudiced Canadians, of all races, favour the chief features of Lord Durham's plan. Ile insists upon it that the majority of the French Canadians are not disaffected, except in the insurrectionary districts, which, after all, formed only a very small portion of the pro- vince; and he adds, in proof of his remark, that in Montreal numbers of them are embodied in the new Police of that city, and other parts. Indeed he remarks, that several respectable agricultural and com- mereial habitans with whom he conversed, denounced the rebellion as injuring trade and destroying happiness, and said the great bulk of the French race would rather have been let alone to till their Anus in peace. lie declares that the British army in Canada is the finest body of military that has been seen together from Eng- land since the Peninsular war and the battle of Waterloo—so strong, well-appointed, and beautifully-disciplined, that any opposition to them is too absurd to be thought of. And yet there are rumours in Montreal "that another rising is in progress, or another invasion." But, adds my friend, " I state positively, that these rumours are chiefly got up by Militia messengers, officers, and employiss, who are receiving pay from Government, and would therefore be sorry to see an end of the present state of things. Money tiles about in great abundance in Canada; and although my friend has known Montreal for many years, he says that he never knew it so prosperous as now—chiefly (it is but fair to say) from military and courtly expenditure. Sir John Colborne
reviews the troops almost Correspondent of the Morning Chronicle.
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