DEFENCE

I have perused with great interest the enclosures in your Despatch of 24th December. [1840], containing reports from Lieut. General Sir Richard Jackson, and Col. Oldfield, the Commanding Officer of Engineers, on this subject,

The question is one of so much importance, that I was not satisfied with referring your Despach to the Master General and Board of Ordnance, but I aiso asked the opi-

(1) Accounts and Papers, 1841, 2nd Session, Vol. II, page 34.

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aiou of the Commander-in-Chief, and requested him to consult the Duke of Wellington, whose high authority on every military subject is in this instance of peculiar weight, from the attention he has for many Years given to this matter, both on political and on military grounds. Their opinions are transmitted with this Despatch.

Her Majesty's Government agree in opinion with Lord Hill and Sir Richard Jackson, .

that “no dependence upon the decided superiority cf our troops and arrangements made for defence connected with them, should lead us to neglect the construction and completion of permanent works calculated for the protection of the points of most importance to us”,

They likewise coneur in his Lordship’s opinion, that in the event of the construction of these or any other Works, a large effective regular force, and a militis, registered and enrolled, but not called from their districts, except in case of invasion, will be indispensable,

But it cannot be reasonably expected that works on u large scale should be undertaken without reference to the great expense to be incurred.

I have therefore to inform you that the Government are prepared to state their opinion that, beyond the ordinar: estimates of the year, £100,000 should yearly be applied for the defence of Canada, At present, this sum is nearly absorhed in the maintenance of the militia and volunteers. But by a more economical plan this expense might be greatiy diminished, and a great portion of the sum of £100,000 deft for the improvement of military communications, and the erection or repair of fortifications,

You will hear further from me on this point when I have more fully considered the various plans proposed.

(Signed) J. RUSSELL.

Loi de la Milice, 1846 (:) (Extraits)

An Act to repeal certain Laws therein mentionned, to provide for the better defence of this Province, and to regulate the Militia thereof.

{9th June, 1846.]

Il.—And be it enacted, That the Militia of this Province shall consist of the male inhabitants thereof, over the age of eighteen years, and under the age of sixty years, being natural born subjects of Her Majesty, or naturalized, and having resided more than six months in this Province; and the men composing the said Militia shall be divided into two classes, and all such Persons between the ages of eighteen and forty years shall belong to and form the first class, and those between the ages of forty and sixty Years, shall belong to and form the second class: Provided always, and be it enacted, that in time of peace the Privates of each Regiment of Militia, shall consist of men belonging to the first class only.

SE TE I n D O à ÉU Se MN Ye IS ED LS NT ES LU De 0 Ju T

XIX.—And be it enacted, That in addition to the Quotas or contingents actually organized, the Governor may call out and embody the whole or such part as may appear to him expedient of the Militia of any Regiment, Battalion or Company in this Province, in time of actual War with a Foreign Power, to repel invasion, or other pressing exigency, or for any purpose connected with the preservation of the public peace or the safety of the Province, in such manner as shall to him seem best, and may march the Militia into any pert of the Province, and shall also have power to march the Militia or any portion thereof, to any place without the limits of the Province but conterminous therewith, for the attack of any enemy that may have invaded, or may be marching or collected for the purpose of invading this Province, or for the destruction of any vessel or vessels, built or building, or of any Fort, Depôt

(1) Provincial Statutes of Canada — Statuts de la Province du Canada. — 9 Vict. cap. XXVIII.

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Acte pour abroger certaines lois y mentionnées, pour mieux Pourvoir à la défense de cette Province et pour en régler la Milice.

[9 juin, 1846]

Te 69 00 6e 88 te ce où be 00 se V9 CV HS Où EE és 90 ve ve 56 c6 ue .. .. Il Et qu'il soit statué, que la mliice de cette province sera composée des habi mâles d'icelle, âgés de Plus de dix-huit et de moins de soixante ans, nés sujets de Sa Majesté, ou naturalisés, et ayant résidé plus de six mois en cette province ; et les hommes composant la dite milice seront divisés en deux classes, et tous les habitans de dix-

à soixante ans constitueront et formeront la seconde classe : Pourvu toujours, et qu’il soit statué, qu'en tems de paix les soldats de chaque régiment de milice, seront des hommes appartenant à la première classe seulement,

XIX. Ft qu'il suit statué, que le Souverneur pourra, en tems de guerre avee une Puissance étrangère, et en sus du centingent qui sera alors organisé, faire marcher et incorporer tout régiment, bataillon ou compagnie de milice en cette province ov nncune partie d’icelle, qui lui paraîtra nécessaire Pour repousser l'invasion, ou dans d'autres cas Pressans, ou conserver Ja paix publique ou la sûreté de la province en la mauière qu’il le jugera le plus avantageux ; et il Pourra faire marcher Ja milice dans eucure partie de la province: et il aura plein pouvoir de faire marcher la milice où aucune purtie d'icelle, sur aücux: point hors des limites de cette province mais y

Successeurs, et d’où l'on pourrait craindre une invasion de cette province, et dans nul autre cas et occasion quelconques.

Déclaration de Sir E..P. Taché (1)

Dr. TACHE—...,.,,,,,,.. Only give justice to the French Canadians, and it der, and ere Qonee energeti betlions would be (he foremogt Lo orne and 1

(1) Extrait du “Mirror of Parliament”, 1846, 24 avril, page 101.

SS8sIF2FSS

PREMIER CONTRAT — GUERRE DE CRIMÉE Dépêche de Lord Grey, ministre des Colonies, à Lord Elgin,

Souverneur-généra] du Canada (1) (Extraits)

Copy of a Despatch from Earl GREY to Governer General the Ear! of

ELGIN sand KINCARDINE, (No 568).

Downing Street, March 14, 1851.

My LORD,

CN 66 ve 6 à .

6. — Canada (in common with the other British Provinces in North America) now Possesses in the most ample and complete manner in Whichitjs enjoy it, the advantage of self-government nat

advantage ought to Carry with it cor.

now come when the people of Canada must be called Upon to take upon themselves à larger share than they have hitherto

ls acccant, and for their advantage. Of

for the military Protection of the Province, Regardi valuable part of the empire, and believing the ma

tion, and to the Prosperity which she at this moment enjoys, it j

ment would merely be reverting to the former colonial poliey of this well aware that up to the period of the war of the American Re

(1) Accounts and Papers, 1851, Vol. XXXVI, page 237.

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