n engaged in the affair near Sandwich, suffered
the same fate. At this time, indeed, according to Sir George Arthur's
report, the feelings of the loyal portion of the inhabitants of
the upper province, were in the highest degree exasperated. He
writes:--"Never was there a task more difficult than to decide what
course, under the existing circumstances of the country, should be
pursued, so as to combine the least possible violation of public feeling
with a sense of justice, preserving withal a due and necessary regard
to mercy in its administration; mercy not only as regards the prisoners,
whose fate was yet undecided, but which respectively has reference to
the lives that may hereafter be sacrificed by the adoption of a present
injudicious measure."

It may be mentioned that while these events were transpiring in Upper
and Lower Canada, the remainder of the British North American provinces
were in perfect harmony with the British government. In Newfoundland,
indeed, there were the elements of discord between the colonial
legislature and their rulers, superadded to which were religious
dissensions; but these circumstances gave no cause for alarm. The broils
prevailing there owed their existence to Roman Catholic agitation; but
the Protestant interests were too strong to be shaken by them, or the
government disturbed.

THE STATE OF THE CONTINENT.

During the whole of this year the war still continued in Spain. The
Carlists were less successful and less enterprising than in the two
preceding years; but their cause was not yet hopeless. A body of them
was defeated at Yebenes, in the province of Toledo, and at Val de Penas
in New Castile, by Major-general Flinta; but shortly after this latter
defeat they took possession of Almaden, with its famous quicksilver
mines, the only element of credit remaining with the queen's government.
Basilio Garcia, however, failed in his endeavours to destroy the works
of the mines; and having evacuated the town, retired into the mountains
of Toledo, whence he harassed the surrounding country, and levied heavy
contributions. While Basilio Garcia was carrying on war in Castile and
Grenada, another body of Carlists, under the command of Count Negri, was
making its way into the interior. He advanced as far as Segovia, but he
then turned to the northward; and after presenting himself to no purpose
before the walls of Valladolid, he hastened his retrograde march with
all possible diligence