The Montreal witness, 29 janvier 1849, lundi 29 janvier 1849

[" MONTREAL WITNESS WEEKLY REVIEW AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER.VOL.IV.\u2014\u2014 TRE NEW CANADA.Mn.Euprr.\u2014In the list of the ngers for home, by the Steamer Europa, will be noticed the names of Mr and Mre.George Elder, of this city.We undestand they will extend their journey much furiber, indeed as far as Adelaide, Australia, where Mr.Elder has connections, and with a view of permanently settling there.During a residence of nearly five years in this city, as the head of one of our most extensive mercantile establishments, ibis gentleman has succeeded personal friends and the gratitude of the community, for his able and enlightened efforts to promote its puMlic and mercantile interests.Few persons, within the same period, have concilisted an equal amount of esteem and regard, and Mr.and Mrs, Elder depart to their new domicile with the best wishes and regrets of all to whom they are known.\u2014 Gazette.Feubar TENURE.\u2014 AL u meeting lately held at St.Joan Chrysostome, a number of resolutions were passed.\u2018These expressed + feelings of unqualified humiliation and shame on_account of the existence of the feudal tenurs amongst us,\u201d in consequence of which, * uur social condition when cora.pured to the citizens of the neighbouring republic, and the people of most of the countries of Europe, is degraded in the extreme.\u201d On the Municipal Law, the resolutions say that the places where the Municipal Councils encet are too distant frum each other, and unjustly divided ; that the School Act now in force is useless to secure a practical, convenient, and popular system of education ; that the former system might be substituted, viz.: that requiring the election of trustees by the people, and the appointment of competent teacher, who were subject to a rigid examination previous to such appointment, togellier with 8 suitable apprap n of Government money 10 each school district, wherein the inhabitanis were obliged to raise a sum equivalent thereto ; and that petitions should be presented, exposing these views to the Legislsture.\u2014 Herald.BENEVOLENT, \u2014AL the miceling of the City Corporation on Friday evening the 19th invtant, à Report was read from the Fire Committee, recumuending a grant of £100 to the Firemen\u2019s Benevolent Associntion.\u2014 Montreal Gazette.Her Excellency the Countess of Elgin will, for the future, receive Ladies on the Friday instead of tho Thursdry afternoon.Sr.Lawrence Canars.\u2014In 1847 there were employed on (hese Canals, rays the Montreal Gazette, 6,637 vomsels, measuring 389,175 tons, and in 1848, 5,648 vemels, measuring 476,875 tons, bing a decrease last year of 9 vemels, and an increase of 87,700 tons.The Governor General's Speech was communicated to almost every part of the Province, un the evening of its dehvery, by the Electric Telegraph.We Lelieve thin is the first time that any public document has been so generally made known in Canada by this new aid to civilization.Raicwar ro Hauirax.\u2014There is in the Quebec papers, a requisition to the Mayor, most respectably signed, inviting him to call a public meeting of the inhabitants, in order to petition Parliament for legialative aid fur the con.etruction of a Rail Road from Hulifax to Quebec.Torat.ABSTINENCE IN Que he second anniversary of the Union Total Abstinence Society of t was held on Monday evening fast, in tho Hall of the Parliament Buildin, The meeting was remarkably weil attended, and the proceedings\u2014such as are usual upon similar oceasions\u2014 ju ing (rom the feeling manifested, were cvery way satisfactory.Jeffery ale, Eaq., introduced a petition to the magistrates, or the subject of tavern licenece, which petition received during the meeting, and at its close, a considerable number of signatures, und will, we underetand, be presented on Monday morning neat, by the committees of the two societies.\u2014 Morning Chronicle.Quesec Corronation.\u2014The City Council, at its last meeting, resolved to reduce the salary of the Road Surveyor to £200, that of the Deputy Surveyor to £150, that of the mayor to £100\u2019 abolish the nice of inepectur of beaches from the 28th June next; sell the revenues of the different markets, and of the St.Paul\u2019s market wharf, from the let May next, to the highest bidder, and lay out £300 in planking the St.Paul's market place.Surely, after such an effort in the way of economy and improvement on the part of the Council, the citizens would be very unreasonable to complain of being too highly taxed by it, or of getting no equivalent for what they pay \u2014 Quebec elle.Dancra iw ravine Tazes.\u2014On the 19th instant an Inquest was held by Dr.Chamberiain, of St.Armand, Missisquoi, on the body of James Carty.\u2018The Jury returned the following verdict:\u2014\" That Lhe said James Carty came to his death while engaged in falling trees, in company with several other persons, by the accidental falling ofa small tree in an unexpected direction ; it having fallen upon his ad fractured his skull, and caused his immediate death.\u201d He has left a widow and six children to lament his sudden death, Raiz-Roap ynoæ Mostagac ro Paescorr.\u2014We are glad to learn that the Ppeliminary survey of this road is going on finely.On Wednesday last, Mr.amilton completed hia portion of the ruute from Hawkesbury to tho Springs.Mr.McLaurin proceeded to bis task the next day, expecting to complete it by Saturday night last; and from his great experience and thorough knowledge of the whole country through which his survey extends, we foel well assured that his work will bu correctly and satisfactorily performed.\u2014 Life at the Springs.Fatal Accioent\u2014One of the Rifles, stationod at Fort Wellington, hed been © over the river\u201d on Saturday, and returning in the evening, took it into his head to separate himself from his companions, with the view of coming direotly to the town, not knowing that in the course of the day a large opening had taken place in the ice.He was found on Sunday morning dead upon the ice, he having fallen into the water, and got out again, but ins pape a state that ho was unable Lo reach the shore.\u2014 Prescott graph OPENING OF A TEMPERANCE HALL, CooksviLLE.\u2014A spacious Tem- perauce Hall was recently opened in Cookaville.The services connected with the opening, we are informed, were highly interesting.\u2014 Guerdian.EMPERANCE SUIREE AT AMIEASTEUROH-\u2014On Thuredar, 28th December, 1846, the friends of Total Abstinence at Amherstburgh had their usunl soires in the Town Hail.The attendance was large an: respectable, and several Gentlemen gave interesting addresses, suituble to the occasion.A Juvenile Soiree was also celebrated on New Year's day on which occasion « number of young recruits joined the already numerous army, who bave pledged thempelves to stand fast to the principles of Total Abstinence.It traly graine Lo see, amid the general apathy of the cause, the faithfulness of the Western friends, in behalf of the Temperance movement ; and we earnestly hope the force of their zeal and example will be felt and appre- Slated, both among themselves and the surrouning country.\u2014 Toronto Sz- aminer, BuntinaToN Lanizs Acapeuy.\u2014We had the pleasure of spending « few hours last Friday at this excellent institution; and we are glad to my, that it never was in à more prosperous condition.There are at present seventy-nine ladies, boarders, in regular attendance, and the number of day Pupils is about forty.Nome gentlemen, in whose statements we repose very great confidence, and who attended the routine ; of the classes through theday, informed us that everything merited their highest a probation.It is a frequent practice for the young ladies to assemble together in the evening, with the directors of the Academy, and repeat, in their own language, the leading contents of what hooks they may bave read since the [receding meeting ; snd, in addition to this highly profitable exercise, we heard the Calliopean read, which, although not published ! well sustained, and read once in three weeks.Ofthe ardent devotion of the Principe) and Preceptress of this important school to their work, we cannot in terms of too high com: lation; and of their qualifi cations for their very responsible duties we need say nothing ; their works Praise them ; that is their best commendation.There is an extensive and well-selected library, and à very com chemical and philosophical apparatus in the Burlington Ladies\u2019 Ac my.Of the entire ma ent And system of mental and moral training steadily carried out in this institu.» We cannot speak too bighly,\u201d\u2014Hemilten Previneislist, Brcawez Unicons.\u2014\"Fhis vessel, owned by Mr.James Witney, of this in securing himself a large circle of MONTREAL, MOND city, and which has been employed for several years Mails between Halifax and Newfoundland, has been 8.Cunard, of Halifuz, for £10,000.\u2014-8¢, John, (N.UNITED STATES.Disasrers on Tig Lakes.\u2014Tho Oswego Times of the 27th ultimo pub lishes & table compiled by Captain Rounds, of the North Western Insurance Company, showing the number of marine disasters on the Lakes during the season of 1848.It shows that 4 barques, 19 brige, 88 schooners, 1 sloop, 2 acuws, 1 bout, 15 steamers and 5 propellers, met with disasters during the season.The loss of property thereby is estimated at $420,512, nd the loss of lives mut down at 55.Britis Exroxre.\u2014The exports of British manufactured goods th the United States are said to be much less than last year, and some descriplions are not tn be ubtained.\u2014 Boston Atlas, Tux Usury Lawe\u2014The Last of the Mokicane\u2014A movement hes been made in the Legislature, at Albany, to modify, to a certain extent, the existing Usury Laws, The best movement would be to repeal (them aito.ther.The Usury Laws are contrary to tho spirit of the age.They te.long to those bye-gone times when it was believed to be the province of government lo regulate every species of individual enterprise and competition, and to allow free action to no undertaking or business tat was not previous.Ly sanctioned and stamped with governmental approval.Why should the Usury Laws be permitted to remain on the stature book ?The Legislature might as well put a price upon eggs and butter, and fix the price of beef by the pound, as regulate the interest of muney or its value between man and man.All that government has a right to do, is to legalize the medium of exchange, to coin gold and silver, to make them of a certain quality and character, and guard against a)! attempts at counterfeiting them ; but to leave everything clse to the rules of trade and commerce.Usury Laws area speeics of old-fashioned socialism, equally as bad asthe new-fangled brand of the present day.They ought to be abolished altogether, and every borrower and lender of \u2018money permitted to make their own arrangements according to their own wants and inclinations, without the interference of governments or legislatures.\u2014 New York paper.Later ron Cavironmia.\u2014Later advices from California have been received at the State Degartmont, dated, Monterry, and have given a new and strong impulse to the Gold excitement bere.The despatches are from Lieutenant Harkin, and first appeared in the Union of Saturday.He says, \u201cThe Gold is increasing in size and quality duily.Lumps are found weighing frum one to two pounds! Scvera! had been heard of weighing as much an 16 and 25 pounds! ! Many men who were poor in June are now worth 820,000 by digging and treding with the Indians.$100 a day is the average amount realised from July to October.One-half of the diggers are sick with fever, though not many died.The Indians readily give 1 vunce of gold for a common calico shirt\u2014others are selling for $10 in specie.The Gold Regions extend over of 509 perhaps 1000 miles.\u201d A letter from Commodore Jones The service is in a deplorable condition.In the navy anarchy prevails.Even his officers are disposed to desert, He adds :\u2014The Indians are selling gold at 560 cents per ounce.any vesscls are deserted by captain, cook and seamen.Tho * Isaac Walton \u201d offered discharged soldiers $50 per month 10 go to Callos, which was refused.She was supplied by the Government with sailors.Ali the naval vessols on the coast are short of hands.Orogon and the Sandwich Island, are pouring their population into California, Board Clerks get from two to Provisions are scarce and high.$4 per day.Washing 86 per duz.Merchants three thousand dollars per year.\u201d The Herald, and Courier and Enquirer publishes private correspondence.From the Herald's lettes I send a few extracts, Here the digging and washing of one man dues not produce 100 Troy vances of guld.It sets the diggêrs Lo look fug better grounds.Manya man has from 15 (0 90 days in succession bagged from 5 to 10 ounces of gold a day.The gold region now extends over three or four hundred miles of country, embracing all the creeks and branches on the east side of the river Sacramento, and one side of the river Ivaquim.California will export yearly nearly or quite half a million ounces of guld, 22 or 24 carrata fine.\u2014 Some pieces weigh 16 pounds !! and very many one pound { Many men who n last June with a capital of $50 dollara, can now show from five to fifteen thousand dollars.Col, Stevenson's regiment w disbanded, and 99 out of 100 of them have gone to the mines.The evils which sudden wealth always brings upon a country, are now beginning to develop themselves, Labour commands the most extravagant prices.Provisions are enormously high.I have uften been obliged to po without & dinner for Lhe want of some one to cook it.\u201d Wasutwatox, Jan.23.\u2014Srxare\u2014The Canadian Reci rotity Bill was called up, and the subject was examined with much care by several Sena.tora; but, on motion, was laid aside for the present.Eripemic at LaNsina,\u2014A fearful epidemic is raging at Lansing, the Capital of Michigan.The Legislature of Chat state are discussing 8 motion to adjourn tv Detroit.One member has siready died of the disease.Man rrox Excitexent.\u2014It is sid that two persons have been sent to the Insane Asylum at Philadelphia, who have gone mad in consequence of the California excitement, CariTac Poxisement 18 Micaroax.\u2014 Hon, Jacob Summers, Democratic member of the Michigan State Senate, offered the following resolution on the 3rd inst.which was adopted : Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be and they are hereby instructed to bring in a bili restoring capital punishment in cases of murder in the first degree.CaLtroania.\u2014There are now eighty vessels up for California, and all rapidly filling up.The Pittsburg despatch of the 23rd instant, anucunces the arrival of a lucky gold-digger in that city.Mr.J, H.Wright, late of California, whence ho sailed ji seventy dae since, passed through our city yesterday, on his way to Philadelphia.this modern, perhaps ancient, ophit, and exhibits some fine specimens of the virgin ore.His brutber and himself have s nice little sum of eighty thousand dollars gathered in a short ime.He intends going back, to make further speculations in the gold region.CroLxaa,\u2014A despatch in the Mobile papers says that on the 16th thers were thirty-eight interments at New Orleans, fifteen of which were cholera cases.The deaths during the week ending the lst instant, amounted to 130, thirty of which were cholera.The steamer America carried out fity.nine passengers for Liverpool, and $50,000 in specie.She sailed yesterday at twelve o'clock Mr.Clay accidentally fell and injured his head, but fast recovering.Piizapeienia, January 6.\u2014At two o'clock this morning, « fire broke out in the office of the Presbyterian Board of Publication ding: Chesnut Street, which was completely gutted.Several adjacent buildings were much injured.Weis The Hon.Hudson Bay Company's bark Vancouver had been wrecked at the noeth of the Columbia.New Yous, Jan.36-9, 34, P.M.\u2014The Washington dent of the Mercury, (Calhoun's organ) alluding to the meeting of Bout Mom.bers in Ceucus, at Washington, says he debate closed tha fact that it was imposible to unite Southern politicians in defence of Southern rites, and that it is clear that a co-operation of the Southern States to defend their institutions ean never be obtained.Those States able to act will have to act separately.Tus Recirmocitr Bint 1x vue Uniten States suxate\u2014Thie Bill hao met with more opposition in the Sensto than was looked for.ere is a force contest between the northern and southern members on every question which appears to favour the interest of the one section more than the other, \u2018The southern members have taken it into their beads that this bill will promate northern interests, and hence the opposition, Mr took charge fof the bill in the Sonate, asked a day to reply to the and es will be seen by the following leiter, has been furnished wilh st nrgument by the New York merchants interested in the Canadian trade, Extract from a letter, dated New York, 19 Jan.1849 :\u2014* Our resiprocity Bill etill hangs in uncertainty, and I fear may fall for want uf a Merritt to advocate its passage.The South looks upon it ne & sectiona) messure ving away s valuable boon without any valuable consideration.We ve sent forward to Mr.Diz « statement of the exports to Canada of south.purchased by the Hon, B.) Courier.Dix, who om aoe, namely, 1, rice, eotion fabrice, rosin, &e., &e., na Boge may farmioh eridencs tho sll sections of he Dtem are sme! 155 TEs AY, JANUARY 29, 1849.past, in fearrying the | 0 speaks in glowing terms of No.5.ed in cultivating and fostering a reciprocal trade so lucrative and promising: The clashing of politizal interests just now at Washington, greatly interfore with business and seriously vbstructs legislation.\u201d Fonzion Honors.\u2014We learn from the Boston Advertiser, that the King of Denmark hes directed the Comet medal, founded by one of his predecessors to be awarded to Miss Maria Mitchell, of N antucket, for her discovery of the tolescapic comet of 1st of October, 1847.This is the first instance n which the Comet medal of the King of Donmark has been awarded to a lady.RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.OnpivaTion av Warrey.\u2014The Rev.John C.Geikie, late student in the Congregational Theological Institute, Toronto, was on Wodnesda , 27th ultimo, ordained to the pastoral office over the Congregational à ureh, Whitby.Rev, T.J, Hodgkin, of Vaughan, having introduced the service, an appropriate discourse was delivered by the Rev.R.Robinson, of Hamilton, from Ezek, xx.27.Rev.J.Roaf, of oronto, asked the usual questions, to which Mr.Geikie replied in a manner highly satisfactory.\u2018The ordination prayer was offered by the Rev.J.Climie, of Darlington.Rev.À.Lillie, Mr.Geikic's late tutor, gave the charge to the young Minister, from Col, i.28,29, and the Rev.J.Roaf addressed the people in an effective style, fram Jer.ii.29.Mr.Geikie closed the service, which was well attended, und in which the people manifonted throughout a deep and lively interest.Hymns were given out during the service by Messrs.Wood and McWilliam, late fellow-stadents of Mr, Geikie, From the spirit exhibited on this occasion, in connection with the character of the newly.ordsined pastor.it is trusted this settlement may be productive of much good to the important neighbourhood within which it has taken place, Tracy ores ro Minsiosanien.\u2014The following letter, written by Signor Ferretti, formerly rector vf a Florentine church, but for some years a zealous Protestant, has just been received :\u2014* The Rev.Signor di Menna (formerty head of one of the colle ges of Rome) has established himself at Nizza, where ha is preaching tie Gospel with God\u2019s blessing in the midst of the people.The Government of Turin las ordered the Holy Scripiures Lo be read in the publie schools and in the University, though with the annotations of the Popish Church.The Canon Mapei is on the point of starting fur Florence.He has addressed a letter tv his brethren in Abruzzi, stating why he left the pale of Rume.All the priests of his acquaintance have replied to him, approving of what he has done, and expressing a hope of one day following his example.\u201d\u2014 Christian Times.Rovacre iv rue Pureir.\u2014The King of the Fejee Islands occasionally ascends the pulpit, and preaches the gospel to his subjects, and it is said, ton, with much effect.It would be a very happy thing if others who sit on thrones were to preach Lhe same gospel by their lives.W.M.Missionary Repoat.\u2014We have received a enpy of the Twenty.Third Annual Report of the Missionary Saciety ot the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Canada ; from which we learn that the Society expended in the Province last year, .£5,000, being £701 more than the receipts.The Society has eloven missions among the Indians, with an Industrial School for Indian children, and a number of other missions smong the settlers.The claims of the Society will be advocated in this town on unday and Friday next, and all friendly to the benevolent objects of the Socioty are invited to attend.\u2014P.E.Gazette.\u2014 BIRTHS.Montreal-