The Fenian invasion of Canada was a bubble which broke
at the first prick of the sword,—to the great disappointment of the disaffected Irish papers, which broke out into premature raptures, though the Fenian Generals were at that very moment in prison, and the disbanded volunteers creeping back starved and crestfallen to their homes. The American Government has acted with perfect good faith and with considerable promptitude in the matter. Generals O'Neill and Gleeson have been arrested and are in prison, awaiting their trial for the breach of the Neutrality Laws. The English General Lindsay has thanked the Canadian troops for their gallant services,—they did all that was necessary well enough, but that was next to nothing,—and with rather bad taste has told them that what the American Government did was of no use ; that "they did not prevent the Feniaus from entering your country, and gallantly your Militia alone did the work." That, begging General Lindsay's pardon, is nonsense. What the Ame- rican proclamation and the American troops and the action of the Executive did do, was to convince the Fenian invaders that they would receive no support or food or countenance from the American side of the border, and this, under the circumstances, was everything. To whatever cause it may be due, the American Government certainly seems to be able to execute the Neutrality Laws nore promptly and efficiently than our own.
