The Great Western arrived at Bristol on Saturday morning ;
having made the voyage from New York in thirteen days and a few hours. She brings accounts from Montreal to the 13th of November.
• -Governor Thomson had convened the Special Council of Lower Canada on the 11th. His Eiceellency laid before the Council three ordinances for renewal,—one relating to the seizure and detention of arms and ammunition ; the second respecting the treatment of persons charged with high treason ; and the third for the management of the seminary of Saint Sulpice. A communication on the subject of the union of the two Provinces was also made to the Council by the Gover- nor-General; who then withdrew—having appointed Chief Justice Stuart to preside in the Council during his absence in Upper Canada. Mr. Thomson was expected to arrive in Toronto on the lath of Novem- ber. The residence of Chief Justice Robinson, now in Europe, had been prepared for him.
Sir George Arthur, who had returned from Montreal to Toronto, had issued an Ext,•a Gazette convening the Parliament of Upper Canada for the despatch of business on the 3d of December.
;nA. proclamation was issued by Sir George Arthur on the 21st of October, appointing a Commission to " investigate the business, con- duct, and organization of the several public departments." The Upper Canada Assembly had addressed the Governor to appoint " sonic fit and disinterested person or persons" to perform the duty. No step was taken in compliance with this address till it was ascertained that the Assembly would speedily meet again ; and then the proclamation above-meatiacd appeared, naming as Commissioners the following persons—Rol,ert Baldwin Sullivan, William Allen, Augustus Baldwin, William Henry Draper, Richard Alexander Tucker, Robert Simpson
Jameson, John Henry- Dunn, John Macaulay, Simcoe Macaulay, Levius Peters Sherwood, James Buchman Macaulay, Jonas Jones, 'Archibald Maclean, Christopher Alexander Hagerman, Charles Chi- chester, Henry Sherwood, John M'Call, Henry J. Grassett, Samuel B. Harrison, William Hepburn. liefbrring to this list of names, the Hamilton Journal exelailus—" What next, indeed ! Well may this question be asked when an insulted people are daily called upon to be- hold fresh awl more bitter proofs tif the profligacy of the Canadian Go- vormuent. The House of Assembly prays his Excellency would be 'pleased to eniiiloy some fit and disinterested person or persons to investi- gate the business, conduct, and organization of the several public de- partments of this Province; and, in answer to this prayer, this inquiry is graciously referred—to whom p—to the parties presiding over such public departntents—to the public defaulters themselves, assisted by the whole Compact crew—to the Governor of Upper Canada—to those -who have so long usurped the duties of the Government, so long have been accustomed to set at defiance the will of the people as expressed 'through their representatives, that truth, reason, and justice are at length ;openly mocked by them. Peaple of Upper Canada, above is the docu- ment : peruse it —comment upon it as von will; it needs note from us."
The Montreal Courier supplies an analysis of Sir George Arthur's commission-
' a It does certainly seem it little singular that Sir George should have made .snclf a selection; but of what use would the Family Compact he, (at least to 'themselves,) if they could not contrive to be nominated for such investiga- tiOns: 'None whatever. We recognize aiming the number of investigators, a goodly assortment of the Family Compact—hut, no doubt, it was accidental. There are three Mae:inlays, two Sherwoods, and some other names, of which one on a list is 'quantum soft'. • No doubt, it was accidental. '
"The Commissioners appointed are—live members of theRsecutive Council, the Tice-Chancellor, the Receiver-General, the Inspector-General, one Legis- lative Councillor, four Judges of the Queen's Bench, the Attorney-Generai, a Colonel of the Army, one of the Queen's counsel, the Principal of Upper -Canada College, the Citrate of St. James, the Civil Secretary, the Registrar of the Court of Chancery, and Mr. Ilopkirk, a private gentleman unconnected with the Government, who is also appointed Secretary to the Commission."
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