DORCHESTER

Enacted and ordained by thc authority aforesaid, and passed in council under the public seal of the province, at the council-chamber in the castle of Saint LEWIS, in the city of QUEBEC, the twenty-third day of April, in the twenty seventh year of the reign of our sovereign lord GEORGE the Third, by the grâce of GOD, of GRENT BRITAIN, FRANCE and IRELAND, king, défender of the faith, and so forth ; and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven. By his EXCELLENCY's Command, J. WILLIAMS, C.L.C.

ORDONANCE

Qui règle plus solidement les milices de cette Province, et qui les rend d'une plus grande utilité pour la conservation et sûreté d'icelle.

La sûreté d'un état étant le premier principe de tout gouvernement bien réglé, Qu'il soit statué et ordoné par son excellence le gouverneur en chef et le conseil législatif de la province Québec et il est, par ces présentes, statué et ordoné par l'autorité d'iceux, que,

ARTICLE I

Tous particuliers résidens, tant dans les villes que dans les campagnes, depuis l'âge de seize ans jusqu'à soixante, sont déclarés miliciens, et obligés de servir en cette qualité dans la milice de la paroisse, village ou seigneurie, dans lesquels ils sont domiciliés; et du jour et après la publication de cette ordonance, tous particuliers (excepté ceux ci-après mentionnés) qui refuseront de servir, et qui n'auront point été, dans le teins et espace d'un mois, se faire enrôler par les capitaines des milices déjà nommés dans les diférentes paroisses, villages et seigneuries, ou qui pouront l'être à l'avenir par son excellence le capitaine-général, ou le commandant en chef pour lors, encourront l'amende de cinq livres et pour toute autre refus subséquent une amende de cinq livres et un mois de prison.

ARTICLE V

Les circonstances pouvant exiger pour la sûreté des frontières, un corps des milices prêt et suffisamment exercé, Il est statué et ordoné, que son excellence le capitaine général, ou en son absence, le commandant en chef pourra, lorsque son prévoyance lui fera juger nécessaire, lever et assembler des détachemens tirés dans telles compagnies des milices, à sa discrétion, dans une juste proportion, pour faire marcher et être emploie (sous le commandement d'oficiers qu'il nommera à cet effet) pendant un tems qui n'excédera point deux années.

(signé) DORCHESTER

Statué et ordoné par la susdite autorité, et passé en Conseil sous le Seau public de la Province, en la chambre du Conseil, au Château St. Louis, en la ville de Québec, le vingt-troisième jour d'Avril, dans la vingt-septième année du règne de sa Majesté GEORGES TROIS, par la Grâce de Dieu, Roi de la Grande Bretagne, de France et d'Irlande, défenseur de la foi, &c. &c. &c et dans l'année de Notre Seigneur, mil sept cens quatre-vingt-sept.

Par ordre de son Excellence, (signé) J. WILLIAMS, G.C.

Traduit par ordre de Son Excellence, F. J. Cugnet, S.F.

Loi de la Milice, Haut-Canada, 1808 0) {Extrait)

An Act to explain, amend and reduce to one Act of Parliament, the several Laws no» in beinsr for the RAISING and TRAINING the MILITIA of this Province.

[Passed 16th March, 1808.]

VIII. — AND be it further enacted by the anthority aforesaid, That in time of war, rébellion, or any other pressing exigency, it shall and may be lawful for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Person administering the Government, to call forth any of the différent Companies of the Militia, and to march them from their respective Counties or Ridings, Towns, Townships, or Parishes, to any part of this Province, there to serve in conjunction with the other Militia, or with His Majesty's forces, and any person refusing to obey such order or command, or absconding from, or neglecting to repair to the place he is ordered to, being a Commissioned Officer, shall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty pounds, and be held to be unfit to serve His Majesty as an Officer in any military capacity, and being a Non-commissioned Officer or Private, shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty pounds, and in default of payment for such refusai or neglect, such Officer, Non-Commissioned Officer, or Private, shall be cominitted to the common gaol of the District, for any time not less than six nor more than twelve calendar months, except such person shall satisfy the Colonel or officer commanding such Régiment or Rattalion to which he belongs, that such refusai or neglect arose from sickness, or that he was absent upon leave. Provided always, That no part of the Militia called forth in the manner aforesaid, shall be obliged to continue in actual service for more than six months at one time, and no Militia-man shall be so called out who shall be above the âge of fifty years, unless that the whole of the Militia of any District or Battalion to which he may belong shall be called out and embodied. Provided also, That it shall not be lawful to order the Militia or any part thereof, to march out of this Province, except for the assistance of the Province of Lower Canada, (when the same shall be actually invaded or in a state of insurrection,) or except in pursuit of an encmy who may hâve invaded this Province, and except also, for the destruction of any vessel or vessels built or building, or any dépôt or magazine, formed or forming, or for the attack of any enemy who may be embodying or marching for the purpose of invading this Province, or for the attack of any fortification now erected.or which may be hereafter erected, to cover the invasion thereof.

Ordonnance du Conseil Spécial, Bas -Canada, 1838 (2)

(Extraits)

An Ordinance to provide for the better defence of this Province, and to regulate tho

Militia thereof.

WHEREAS it is expédient to provide by Law, for the co-operation of the effective maie population of this Province for its defence in case of War, Invasion, Insurrection, or of the imminent danger thereof, and for the greater security of public order and tranquillity in time of Peace: — Be it therefore Ordained and Enacted by His Excellency the Administrator of the Government of the said Province, authorized to exécute the Commission of the Governor thereof, by and with the advice and consent of the Spécial Council for the affairs of the said Province, constituted and assembled, by virtue of and under the authority of an Act of the Parliament of the

(1) Statutes of Upper Canada, 48 Geo. III, chap. I.

(2) Provincial Ordinancea of Lower Canada — Ordonnances provinciales du Bas Canada, — 1 Vict. cap. XXII.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland passed in thc first year of the Rcign of Her présent Majesty, intituled, "An Act to make temporary provision for the Goremment of Lower Canada; — And it is hereby Ordained and Enacted by the authority aforesaid, that every able bodied maie inhabitant of this Province, above eighteen years and undcr sixty years of âge, being a British subject, and having resided in the Province more than six months, and not being in Her Majesty's Naval or Military service, or actoally serving or enrolled for service in the Volunteer force of this Province, shall bc liable to serve as a Militianian for thc dcfence of the Province, and of the public order and tranquillity thereof, unless hc be specialiy exempt from such service by Law.

ARTICLE IX

And be it further Ordained and Enacted by thc authority aforesaid, that in case of war with the United States of America, or of invasion, insurrection, or imminent danger thereof, it shall be lawful for the Governor, or person administering thé Government, to order out from amongst the oi'ficers of the several companies of the said militia throughout thc Province, and from amongst the unmarried militiamen under thirty years or âge, a number not execeding one-fifth of the whole, who shall be drawn by ballot, or commandcd at the discrétion of the officer commanding the battalion, for the purpose of being traincd, and shall serve during a time not execeding six calcndar months, for the defence of the Province, and for the maintenance of ffood order and security thereof.