SIR
erstanding with the Government of Canada ,on the subject of nce of the province, and the subsidiary arrangements requisite to that end, t influence of those hostilities in which this Country is at present engaged, it becomes now even more necessary than
before, that the ‘available Military resources of the Empire fn Seneral, and the Purposes to which they are applicable, should be fully ascertained.
on their rapid advance in all that constitutes the strength of a community, Her Ma-
experience. The course of events of recent years has the attachment of the Canadian People to the instituti gratifying proofs which have been s0 lately acknowledged by me,
d ‘o congratulate ourselves on the union thus temented between communities so far severed by local bosition, but joined
by the ties of <ommon freedom, and of loyal attachment to one Sovereign.
the prineiple of the as regards its military À e, With the supply and
as of every other Part of Her Majesty’s dominions, in the event of its being menaced b
y foreign arms. They propose also to continue to maintain the force now existing in Canada, or Whatever force
may be strictly required for the military Occupation of the few posts of first-class importance, s0 as to form «a nucleus for the defence of the province.
5. For all beyond this, they propose to rely on the loyalty and military spirit of the province itself, They are fully aware that if the contingency,
the maintenance of order, both civil and Military, if the latter should be required, will be best provided for by the Province herself,
6. With respect tc the lands now held by the British Government for Military purposes, much Correspondence has at different times taken place between this department and the colonial Government ; and 1 was in hopes to have received, before this
(1) Commons Papers, Canads”, Vol. XV, page 359-—Le fouverneur communique à l’Assemb
cette dépêche lée Législative par “ message spécial ”, le 14 Mai 1855: Journal Legislatise Assembiy, 1855, page 1104.
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the deficieney. Having consuited the home authorities in more immediate charge of these Innds, I believe that the information in the possession of Her Majesty's Govern-. ment js alrcady nearly sufficient to settle the details of the plan, when an agreement has been established as to its outlines.
7. These Ordnance lands are by no means ah of them Crown reserves ; but, as ! find noticed in the documents before me, many of them have been purchased at considerable cost to the Imperial treasury.
8. It is not, however, the intention of Her Majesty's Government to make any distinction betwcen reserves and purchased lands ; they wish tn deal with the entire property solely with a view to the permanent interests of the province. É
9. With this view it appears to them that the Ordnance lands at Quebec, Montreal, and Kingston, should be retained for purposes of defence, in the hands of the Imperiu! Government, There may, perhaps, be portions of these lands not required for present or future military use, in which case these may be the subject of future arrangement ; but of this I cannot, with the information as yet before me, speak with certainty,
10. There is a second class of lands, not situated at these posts, and which will not be pcrmanentiy occupicd by Her Majesty’s troops, but which in the opinion of military judges will be of importance for the defence of the province in case of invasion. On some of them considerable sums have been cxpended with this view. Lands of this class it js proposed to make over to the Canadian Government for occupation and present use, but with a stipulation that they shall be k-pt available for military purposes, together with any buildings really requisite for similar Purposes, in case they should be required at any future time for the defence of Canada.
11. There is lastly a third class, comprising lands which it is not important to retain for military purposes. These it Ïs proposed to make over at once and unconditiona!ly to the Canadian Government.
12. Should your Governnient think proper to devote the funds which may arise from their sale or other use to internal defences, as proposed in the Report to which I have referred, Her Majesty's Government would regard such an appropriation of these funds with much satisfaction, but they do not wish to impose it as a condition of the transfer.
13. I have already satd that Her Majesty’s Government are now in possession of materials which may go a long way towards enabling them to effect this classification ; but it would be more satisfactory {if they had your assistance in such a manner as you may yourself, with the advice of your Executive Council, suggest towards the settlement of the details.
14. Whenever final instructions on this subject are conveyed, pending questions touching the disposal of military stores may also be arranged.
15. It is necessary to add that any surrender of these lands by Her Majesty’s Government must of course be subject to existing engagements respecting them, such as those entered into, in some few instances, with pensioners for their location.
I have, &c., (Signed) G, GREY.
Dépêche de M. Labouchère, ministre des Colonies, à Sir Edmund Head (:)
VOPY OF DESPATCH from the Right Hon. H. LABOUCHERE, M.P., to Governer SIR EDMUND HEAD.
(No. 79).
Downing Street, 2nd May 1856.
Sir,
You are aware that the Treaty of Peace provides for the prompt evacuation by Her Majesty’s forces of the foreign territories at present held by them, and that among other arrangements for the distribution of the army on its return from active service, orders have been given that five regiments shall be selected to be stationed in British North America, of which three are allotted to Canada.
(1) Commons Papers, Canada, Vol. XV, page 361.
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