CRE TL

D Qu SIREN

de

dl tot Li He

Past experience shows that no reasonable amount of encouragement can raise the number of volunteers to the required extent.

It appears to me that the smallest number of men partially drilled, whieh it would be essential to previde within a given time, is 50,000. The remainder of the Militia would of course be linble to be called upon in an emergency. Perhaps the best course would be to drill every Year one or more companies of each Battalion of the Sedentary Militia. In this manner the training of « large number of men might be et'ected, and all companies s0 drilled should once at least in two years, if not in each Year, be exercised in

I put forward these suggestions for the consideration of the Canadian Government and Parliament, but Her Majesty's Government have no desire to dictate as to details,

The Canadian Government will doubtless be fully alive to the important fact that a well organized system of Militia will contribute much towards sustain,ng the high position with reference to pecuniary credit, which, fn spite of its large debt, and its deficient revenue for the past few years, the Colony has hitherto held in the money markets of Europe. A country, which, however unjustly, is suspected of inability or indisposition to provide for its own defence, does not in the present circumstances of America,

Whatever other steps may be taken for the improved organization of the Militia, it appears to Her Majesty's Government to be of essential importance that its adminis-

appointment cf officiers and in other matters of a purely military character, no other ohject than the efficiency of the force is kept in view. Were it not that it might fairly be considered too great an interference with the privileges of the representatives of the people, I should be inclined to suggest that the charge for the militia, or a certain fixed portion of it, should be defrayed from the Consolidated Fund of Canada, or voted for a period of three or five Years.

It has further occured to me that the whole of the British Provinces on the continent of North America, have in this matter of defence common interests and common duties. Is it impossible that with the free consent of each of these Colonies, one uniform system of militia training and organization should be Introduced into all of them? The numbers of men to be raised and trained in each wou'd have to be fixed, and the

proportion by each of the Colonies. If the Governor General of Canada were Commander in Chief of the whole, the Lieutenant Governors of the other Colonies would act as Generals of Division under him, but it would be essential that an Adjutant General of the whole force, approved by Her Majesty's Government, should move to and fro, as occasion might require, s0 as to give uniformity to the training of the whole, and cohesion to the force itself,

A£ such a scheme would affect more than one Colony, it must, of Course, emanate

the Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, availing themselves of the leave of absence lately accorded to them, intend to meet You in Quebec in the course of the enâuing month. This visit will afford You a good opportunity for consulting

Ie num-

would \ would } would Militia.

Il comised in

rnment details, t is to ent, at

that a \ posidefiarkets sposierica, ipital.

rotect

lilitia such er in step e all

litia, inisbing \ the ther irly the

The political union of the North America C merits of that measure, and the difficulties in th well considered, but none of the objections whi

defence, This matter is one in which all tte Colonies have Interests common With each other and identical with the policy of England.

gislature such powers as may enable sou to commence a well arra sation of the Provinces, and Prepare for ::::,, "mergencies as, though they cannot be accurately foreseen, it must be evide-: à, cFerybody, mey

present very inadequately provided ji: tjs in time «ft

* wi} peace that preliminary measures of defence should be perfected, ;» thai ir the ever . of war they may be found se

far ready as to ensure that an enemy : 11] a6t obtain à 4 “ting in the Country, before aid is forthcoming from other portions of ire Einpire, 1 have, x, (Signed,) NEWCASTLr.

Governor Viscount Monck, &c., &c.

Rapport du Conseil des Ministres (1) (Extraits)