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' "r :• I'l -R''".;.* ■niHiiiiiPPi ON THE POUTJCAL & COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE or ooMPLimrft thi LlNl; OF RAILWAY nou HALIFAX TO QUEBEC. m BT 9ie JOSEPH NELSON. «0 WHICH W ADDBD, OFPIOIAL C0RRB8PONDBNCB, PROCEEDINGS AT DBTOTATIONB TO bRR MAJRfilTy's OOVBRMMBMT, AND COPIES OF MBNORIALH TO THE IMPERIAL OOVBMNMENT. "WITH JL HiOiJ^F, %. LONDON: WILLUM PENNY, 67, LINCOLN'S- INN FIELDS. iseo. 1 |"p<' '- ^ \mimfiiimf^mmmimi9mm'm ; y^;'; .^,"V^, /yf:: i-ZSO'i ~\ ■ ^WPP IP" aa-^.:. CONTENTS. iNraODUCTION 1 Extract from Lord Durham's Report, recommending the con« struction of a Railway from Halifax to Quebec, dated Slat, January. 1889 7 Extract from Major Robinson's Report on the Survey for a Railway, August 81. 1848 8 Ditto. Captain Heikderson's Report 11 Extract from further Report of Major Robinson. March SO. 1 849 12 Lord Grey's Despatch, conveying Report to Lord Elgia, ■ 17th November. 1848 12 Lord Elgin's Reply. 20th December, 1848 13 Extract from Resolutions of New Brunswick Legislature. 6th January. 1849 14 Address to He; Majesty from the New Brunswick Legislature. granting £20,000 a>year and 10 miles of all the ungranted lands on either side of the line in aid of its construction. 31st March, 1849 , 15 Same from Nova Scotia, Slst March, 1849 15 Same from Canada, 30th May, 1849 16 Further address to Her Majesty from the New Brunswick Legislature, 25th April. 1850 16 Extract from Mr. Howe's Letter to Lord Grey. 25th November, 1850 .'. 17 Lord Derby's Speech in the House of Lords, 14th February, 1851 , 17 ■^ CONTEXTS. Letter from Mi ^iawes to Mr. Howe pledging the Imperial Guarantee to the Railway, 10th March, 185i... 23 Extract from Lord Grey's Despatch to I^>';H: k^: '5? ■■i li;-^ 1; 1 ii joint letters to the Colonial Secretary, Sir E. Bulwer-Lyttoii; and the Chancellor of the Exchequei-, Mr. Disraeli. To the first-named minister the^ stated their belief, that its immediate construction was esss^ntial to the preservation and integrity of the British Empire in North America ; and to the second, their convictioM (without reference to its imperial political objects) that its completion would effect a great re- duction in the existing charges upon the British revenue. Lord Bury returned, and reported the result of his mission, which expressed the same anxious desire of the people of British North America to see the work accomplished ; but Parliament was dissolved immediately afterwards, and no further progrees could be made. One of the reasons given for reconciling the people of British North America to the changes in the commercial policy of the empire at a former period was the pledge of Imperial assiitance to complete this railway; that pledge has not yet been fulfilled, but further changes have recently been made in the commercial policy of the empire, by which the last vestige of protection which British North America enjoyed has been swept away ; would it not, therefore, be an act of graceful justice for the Imperial Government to fulfil her pledges to the very limited extent which is now required as compared with former periods ? British North America nas fulfilled every pledge which she has given to the Imperial Governuient ; she has, in addition to providing £20,000 a year towards the military expenses of the Colony, also raised a sufficient Militia and Volunteer Force, for the p, vation of the country in times of peace ; and were this line ot railroad completed, nearly the whole of the Imperial Military Expenditure of British North America, amounting to £420,000 a year, might be saved, as it would render Canada accessible within ten days at all seasons, which at the present time, in a military point of view, is excluded from communica- tion with the mother country for half the year. We have had many forcible illustrations of this want of oommunication. During the Canadian rebellion, when Car?da was invaded by an armed force from the neighbouring B«public, it was necessary to send the troops then in the lower Provinces to the assistance of Canada : they had to make their way in snow shoes through the forest, in the midst of a Canadian winter ; and although they did so with success, they underwent the greatest hardships, and it was considered the most marvellous march on record. Again, when the Collins' line of Steamers were established, the United States Government required all letters passing tc or through the United States from the United Kingdom to be sent hy their ships, or that they should receive half the postage ; and when the British Government refused, they gave notice to terminate the postal treaty by which we are allowed to send our mails through the United States to Canada. The consequence was that we were compelled to make the best terms we could, and we now pay the United States twopence upon every letter and one half-penny upon every newspaper which go by our own ^^ubsidized steamers to the United States, and no book post is allowed except at letter rates. During the Crimean war we had a large army and an immense store of war material in Canada, which we wanted to send to the Crimea ; but it was winter, we had no access to the sea through our own territory, and the United States Govtf nment would not allow them to pass through theirs. ^ ' Turning to the Commercial question, the aggregate of the trade between Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, amounts to only £500,000 a year, whilst the trade between these provinces and the United States is ten millions sterling, and yet the main articles of import from the United States into Canada cc&sist of British manufactures, and the produce of our West-India Colonies, which could be supplied from the United Kingdom and the West Indies direct, through the ncrts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, at a much cheaper rate and more expeditiously, were this line of railway completed. The main articles of export from the United States into Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, consist of Canadian bread- stuffs, which would reach these provinces by the St. Lawrence navigation and this railway at about one-tenth of the present cost of freight via the United States. Agaip : the main articles of export from Canada to the United States consist of bread- stuffs and timber, which pass only through the United States for shipment to the United Kingdom, our West India Colonies, and the lower Provinces. During 1G57 there was exported from Canada to the United States about one million ?n, of wheat ; the same year there was imported into the Tnited Kingdom from the United States 600,000 qrs., but 40,000 qrs., only came in British ships. Immediately before Ihe State of Maine had railways to the Canadian frontier, the registered tonnage of shipping in that State and the province of New Brunswick was equal ; now the State of Maine is about 600,000 to 150,000 in New Brunswick. The non-oompletion of this line of railway has fulfilled Lord Derby's prediction in his celebrated speech in the House of Lords on tne 14th February, 1851. It has given the carrying trade of British North America almost entirely to the Umted States. . . ._, I i^ f I v'> r' 1*^ t The completion of the Halifax and Quebec Railway would accomplish one most desirable object^ and that m, on all the subsidized steamers calling at Halifax it would ium what now acts as a bonus in favour of the ports and railway* of the United States into a bonus in favour of the ports and railways of British North America. The whole of the passengers, mails and merchandise would be intercepted at Halifax ; and by being landed there would reach their destina- tion, throughout the whole of Canada and the Western States, in two days'' shorter time than by any other route, and the same acceleration would apply to their embarking via Halifax for Europe. There would he one uninterrupted line of railway from Halifax to Lake Huron, 1,400 miles, entirely through British territory, in the hands of two companies, wnich could be worked by one rolling stock. The length of line remaining to be completed is about 850 miles; the estimate for its construction and equipment is £3,000,000. In addition to the grants of £60,000 and Crown lands, by the three provinces. Her Majesty's Government are asked to give a further sum of £60,000 a year for the convey- ance of the mails, military stores and troops, making £1S0,000 a year, to be paid by the Imperial Government to the Company, equivalent to 4 per cent, per annum on the estimated capital. No portion of our Colonial Empire has shown such noble and chivalrous devotion to the mother country as British North America ; in the hour of need she raised an army, and sent them to our assistance, although we had on a previous occasion rather superciliously rejecteid her proffered aid ; she also claimed to contribute her share towards providing for tlie relief of the widows and orphans of those brave men who had fallen in the service of their country, and whilst fighting for the liberties of Europe. Canada is the only colony of the empire that has or- ganized an etHcient militia, paid and provided for out of the Colonial treasury. This was done in accordance with an express contract that the Imperial Government would assist her in making the Halifax and Quebec Railway, as stated in Lord Grey's despatch of the 14th March, 1851. Canada has fulfiUed every engagement on her part, the last vestige of protection has been taken away from British North America almost without a murmur. Never let it be said that we met her with broken pledges. The personnel of the Government may change, but the good faith and honour of the Mother Country to her Colonies must remain immutable. ■^;^W '^h ;,k\',*vii' V' ■^•ii.%% Epitome op Peoceedings taken hy the Imperial and Colonial Oovemments, 8fc» Sec, to carry out this UNDERTAKING. m On the establishment of Transatlantic Steam Navigation by the Imperial Government they directed Lord Durham (then in Canada) to turn his attention to the formation of a road between Halifax and Quebec. Lord Durham recommended the construction of a railway ; see his Report on Canada, pages , presented to Parliament. Extracts from Lord Durham's Report: — if " In a despatch which arrived in Canada after my departure, the Secretary of State informed me of the determination of your Majeaty's GoTemmeot to establish a steam communication between Great Britain and Halifax ; and inttnieted me to turn mtf aUenlion to the/brmation qf a road between that port and Quebec. It wonld indeed have given me sincere satisfaction, had I remained in the province, to promote, by any means in my power, so highly desirable an object ; and the removal of the usual restrictions oa my authority as Governor- General having given me the means of effectually acting iu concert with the various Provincial Governments, I might have been able to make some progress in the work. But I cannot point oat more strikingly the evils of the present want of a general government for thew provinces, than by adverting to the di£Bcul'y which would practically occur, under the previous and present arrangements of both executive and legislative authoriries in the various provinces, in attempUng to carry such a plan into effect. ?or the various colonies have no more means of concerting such common works with each other, than with the neighbouring States of the Union. They stand to one another in the position of foreign states, and of foreign states without diplomatic relations. The Governors may correspond with each other ; the legislators may enact laws, carrying the common purposes into effect in their respective jurisdictions ; but there is no means by which the various details may speedily and satisfactorily be settled with the concurrence of the different parties. And, in this instance, it must be recollected that the communication and the final settlement would have to be made between, not two, but several of the provinces. The road would run through three of them ; and Upper Canada, into which it would not enter, would, in fact, be more inter- ested in the completion of such a work than any even of the provinces through which it would pass. The eoloniee, indeed, have no common centre in which the arrangement could be maite, except in the Colonial Office at home; and the details of such a plan would have to be discussed just where the interest of all parties would have the least means of being fair.'y and fully represented, and where the minute local knowledge necessary for such a matter would be least likely to be found. " The completion of any satisfactory communication between Halifax and Quebec would in fact produce relations between those provinces that would render a general union absolutely necessary. Several tnrveyt have proved that « railway would be perfectly prnctieable the whole way. Indeed, iu North America, the expense and difficulty of making a railway bears by no means the excessive proportion to those of a common road that it does in Europe. It appears to be a general opinion in the United States, that the severe snows and il-i i )-v t j 1- t f i. I i r . i. f froita of that continent very ilishtly impeiU, and do not prerent, th« trtTeUing on railroads ; and If I am tighaj inforiaed, the Utica Railroad, in the northern Eart of the State of New YoA. ia uaed throughont the winter. If thii opinion e correct, the formation of a railroad firom Halifax to Qnebee would entirelj avoid some of the leading characteristics of the Canadas. Jiutetd «/ bttMf ikut out from all direct intercourse with England during haff qf the ywr, thtg vould poateai a far more certain and ipeedy eo»Nm«me«Moii tkrougkout the winter than they now possess in summer. The postage from Ireland to Qntiee would be a matter often or twelve dags, and Haltfaae wfnUd b^ the great port by which a large portion qf the trade and all the eonvtyane* qf pamtmgere to iho whole qf British North America would be carried on. #* h^ .*^' During Sir Robert Peers Administration, in 1848, they caused a survey for a military road to be made by Sir Jamei Alexander and Colonel Simmonds, but when nearly complete it was abandoned by the Imperial Government in favour of a railroad. (See Sir James Alexander's Arcadia.) In 1846 Mr. Gladstone, then Colonial Secretary, oraanized a survey for the railroad at the joint expense of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scutia, and the Imperial Government. In February, 1 849, the survey and report of Major Robin- son and Captain Henderson, of the Royal Engineers, wai presented to Parliament, a*..- i^rf*. • >:jt» v/f«fi: -^ Extracts from that Report : — j ■ ^ ' * "The state of Massachusetts affords the best materials for accurate infomu^ji tion as to the cost of railways in the United States. " The average cost per mile of 830 miles has been jf 7,950 sterling. J; ''The climate and nature of the country bears a strong resemblance to tiial through which the Halifax and Qurbec Line will pass, and in this recpe^t the uialogy of the two cases is extremely favourable. " On some of the lines upivards of £\h per ton for rails have been paid. In England rails can now be bought at £i or jfO a ton. "The advantage which Halifax and Quebec will possess over the lines In Massachusetts in resppct of iron alone, may be calculated at £bWi per mile. " When these lines were constmcted, also, the demand for labour waa ex- treraely great, and wages much higher than in the present day. " The Halifax and Quebec Line will have aluo many advantages whiob the American lines have not. " Th9 land for the greater portion will not have to be purchased; timber ind stone will be had nearly along the whole line for cutting and quarrying. " Halifax may be considered the nearest great seaport to England. " The mails, troops, munitions of war, commissariat supplies, and all puUic ■toreifl, would naturally pass by it, as tho safest, speediest, and cheapest meMia of conveyance. " If a straight line be drawn from Cape Clear, in Ireland, to New York, it will cut through a pass close to Halifax: the latter, therefore, is the direct route; and as the sea-voyage across the Atlantic to New York may be shortened by three days nearly in steamers, it is not improbable that, on that account, when tlie branch railroad to St. John's is completed, and other lines to connect it with the United States, the whole or greater portion of the passenger traffic between flie Old and New World would pass through Halifin, and over a |re*t sectioa «f the proposed railway. " But the great object for the railway to attain, and mV^^ tf it Dhould be eblf np to acconpliih, ita oapability to pay the inttrett on the capital expended would be undonbted, is to aapeneda the long and dangerous paaaage to Qnebeo by the Gnlf of St. Lawreaoe. " To make two voyagea in the year, Tesaela are obliged to leave England earlier, and encounter (he oangera of tiie ice in the gnlf much sooner, than it is safe and prudent for them to do. The loaa of life and property which has oooarred from this cause has been- enonuous. It cannot be ascertained, but probably it would have more than paid for the railway. " An opinion, howe\er, may be formed of it from the rates of insurance, which in the spring and autumn are as high as 10 per cent.^« much higher rate than to any other part of the world. For six months of the year, then, the St. Law- rence would cease to be a competitor with the railway, and large quantities of produce would be oertun to be forwarded by it. For the other six montiis of the years it would have also the foUowlng strong daims to preference : rapidity of transport, the saving of heavy insurance, and cheaper rate of fireightfirom Ualifaz. Vessels engaged in the Canadian trade vronld mwe three voyages to Halifiix for two to Quebec. " The trade whieh is now crowded into tax months, to (iks great inoonvenienee of every one ooncemed, rendering large stoelcs necessary to be ktpt in Land, would be diflbsed equally ovei ths whow year. It is most probable tnat these advan- tages will be found so great that only the bulky and weighty articles of commerce, such aa the very heavy tiaber and a ttm other goods, wiU continue to be sent round by the Gulf of St. Lawienoe. " The onterpriae is of general interest, it concema the prosperity and welihre of the three provinces, and the honour as well as the intereste of the whole British empire may be aiboted by it. It is the one great means bv whieh alone the power of tiw mother country can be brought to bear on this sioe of the Atlantic, and restore the balance of power, fast turning to the aide of the United States. Every new line of railwav adds to their power, enabling them to cmieeBtrate their forces ahboat wherever they please ; and by tlie linea, of which ttiere are already some, and there wiil soon be more, reaching to shdr northern frontier, they- can choose at their own time any point of attack on their long extending Canadian frontier, and dhreot their whole strength agjnst it. The provinces, therefore, and the empire, having suoh interest in the formation of (lie Halifkx and Qnebeo Line, it shMild be «ndertalnn by them in common aa a great public work for the public weal. " The ordinary price for an acre of wild, andeared land is about 8«. 6d. to 3s. per acre t but where pablie roads aro made through them, the value fanmediately increases, and it will not be considered an extravagant eatimato to suppose that the land ahMg it or in the immediate vidaity of the railway will be worth £l per acn. ' ' But to look at thia great work only as a commercial speeidation and yieldinK merely intereet for the expenditore incurred, would be to take a very limited view M the objects it is capable of claiming. " In the United States they an well sware of the increaaed value whidi internal improvementa and oommunioations give to property of every kind. " In thoM countries, works have been undertaken for that object alone, not for the mere return which the work, whether railway, road, or caad, would make of itaelf. The hdebtednesa of the several states haa been inevred ahnoat entirdy in making great internal improvementa : and in the holdaeea and unhesitating way in which they have incurred debta and respondbilitiee for the pnrpoae of developing their reoounes may be aren the secret of their nnrivaHed prosperity. " The state is in debt, but ita inhabitante have been enriched befond all proportion. M3st unihvourable comparisons are made by travellers who visit tho British provinces and the United States ; and some have gone as Car as to ^•fate, that travelling along where the boundary is a mere conventional lire, th^ could at once tell whether they wero in the Statee or not. " The creative or productive power of c«ods, nolwap, &c., may be traced in the history and progress of New York. The Erie Canal waa commenced in 1817, and oompleted in 1826, and cost jei,400,000 sterling. The oanal w«is found so inadequate to the traflc, that, between the years 1825 and 1835, a I it^: S ■■■■-■«;■ 10 l"- v ■ ■ M :; I : I 1^ :i Airther sum of j^,700,000 wu expended in enlarging it And on tht Ittof Jvlj, 1836, there liad accumulated in the handa of the commiMioiMri an MBOonk aufficient to extinguish the vhole of the standing debt incarred in ita ooMtradio*. " For the States of New "York :— " In 1817, the oiiicial value of real and personal pro« ^'■i perty was . . . . . . . . *' In 1835, the official value of real and personal pro. '*?*•• perty was . . . . . . . . ;e63,368,000 ;eil0,l20,00^ ia not too much to say, that between the Bay of Fnndy and the 81^ ;;; La<. rence, in the country to be traversed by the proposed railway, then It'' abundant room for all the surplus population of the aiother country. " Of the climate, soil, and capabilities of New Brunswick, it is impoadble to speak too highly. There is no country so beautifully wooded and watered. An i:aspection of the map will show that there is scarcely a section of it withMt ita streams, from the running brook up to the navigable river ; two«th{rda of ita boundary are washed by the sea, the remainder is embraced by the large riveri)^ ' the St. John and the Restigouche. For beauty and richness of soeaery, thi^; latter river and its branches are not surpassed by anything in Great Britain* - Its lakes are numerous and most beautiful, its surfiioe is undulating, hill and dale varying to mountain and valley. It is everywhere, except a few peaka of the highest mountains, covered with a dense forest of the finest growth. The eonnti^; can everywhere be penetrated by its streams ; in some parts of the interior, tm tt'' postage of three or four miles, a canoe can float away either to the Bay of Chaleurs and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, or down to St. John's, in the Bay tt Fundy. The labours of the season over or suspended upon the railway, thsy oould most advantageously employ themselvM in clearing, legging, anu improvinf their own lots. " Another great effect of the railway would be to enhance almost immediately the valuo of all real and personal property. Villages and towna would no doubt spring up in its course, the same as in the Erie Canal. The railway would give them birth, agriculture and external commerce would support and enrieh than. B«t if by its means the navigation of the Gulf of St. Lawrence ia spared, what «i amount of human suffering and loss of life will it not save ! " Embarking and disembarking at Haiifuc, all danger and ineonvenienoe from the Gulf navigation would he avoided, time and expense woidd be saved, and the season might be disregarded. Troops are annually moved to and from Canada ; about the close of the navigation in 1843, a tracsport having the 14 royal regiment on board, was wrecked in the mouth of the St. Lawtenee. Tht men got safely on shore, but there were no roads or means of getting away from the place. By the personal exertions of one of the officers, who made hia way through the woods in sun-shoes to the nearest settlement, and thence to Quebec, information was given of the wreck, and a steamer sent down to take them ofT; but for this, the consequence must have been that the regiment would have had to wiiiter there in the best manner they could. " The mails to and from Canada would pass over British territories excloslvely, and they would be received at Quebec before the steamer reaclied Boston, and it Montreal about the same time as its arrival at that port. " Ita agricultural capabilities and its climate are deaeribed in Boocrhette'a works, in Martin's ' British Colonies,' and other authors. The country ia by them, and most deservedly, so highly praised, that, for any great plan of emigration or colonization, there ia not another so well formed for the trial aa New Brunsvrick. " To 17,000,000 productive acres there are only 208,000 inhabitanta. "Of these, 11,000,000 acres are still public property. On the surfiMe ia an abundant stock of the finest timber, which in tiie markets of England reaUiaa large sums annually, and affords an unlimited supply of fuel to the lettlers. If this should ever become exhausted, there are the coals underneath. 11 " The lakM and sM-eoMto •iMand with fiih ; along th« Bay of Cbaleun it ii so abundant that the land tmelU of it ; it it used aa DMnore, and while the olfactory nerves of the traveUer are offended by it on the land, he lees out at lea immense shoals, darkening the sorface of the water. " For about the tame expense, five emigrants could be landed in New Brunt- wick for one in the Antipodes. "The present limited population being so generally engaged in the timber trade and the fisheries, there is the richest opening for agriculturists. "I w Brunswick annually pays to the United Statea upwards of jf200,000 for provisions and other articles, which she can raise upon her own soil. "Nova Sootia does nearly the same thing. " There exists, therefore, a good market already on the spot for agricultural produce, and it would be a strange anomaly indeed if a country, situated within three or four weeks' sail of the markets of England, could not compete with the growers of produce in the valley of the Mississippi, and the countries round the great lakes in the hr west. " In a political and military point of view, the proposed railway must be regarded as becoming a work of necessity. " The increasing population and wealth of the United Statea, and the diffusion of railways over their territory, especially in the direction of the Canadian frontier, renders it absolutely necessary to counterbalanoe, by tome corresponding means, their otherwise preponderating power. " Thair railway communication will enable them to select their own time, and their own point of attack, and will entail upon the British the neceuity of being prepared at all points to meet them. " It is most essenthU, therefore, that the motLdr country should be able to keep up the communication with the Canadas at all times and all seuons. However powarfU England may be at sea, no navy could save Canada from a land force. " Ita conquest and annexation are freely spoken of in the United States, even on the floors of Congress. " Weakness invitee aggression, and as the railway would be a lever of power, by which Qreat Britain could bring her strength to bear in the contest, it is not improbable that ita construction would be the means of preventing a war at some BO distant period. "The expense of one year's war would pay for a railway two or three times over. " And if, for great political objects, it ever became neoestary or advisable to unite all the British provinces under one Legislative Government, then there will be found, on this side of the Atlantic, one powerful British state, which, supported by the imperial power of the mother country, may bid defiance to all the United States of America. The meant to the end, the first great step to its accomplishment, is the construction of the Halifax and Quebec Railway.' i^ • ■ '■ * , -4 : II 4 Extract from Captain Henderson^s Report to the Imperial Government, accompanying Major Robinson^s Report : — K : " Table of gradients on the whole line from Halifax to Quebec : — " Level, and under 20 feet per mile 439 miles. ^ 20 to 40 150 " * 40 to 50 23 " SOtoGO 10 " 60 to 70 4 " ■f ^f ( 635 < 1:' I ■ 11 '? it Ui I 1 If ,;» m Further extract from the Report of Major Uobinflon, dated March 30th, 184© :— " I hare the greatest hope and belief that a ver; large jporttoti of th« traflo from the United Kingdom to Quebec will pass to that railway, and that it will command nearly the whole passenger traffic, not only to Canada, but aUoi in course of time, a very large portion of that between Europe and the oontinent of North America. " The punctuality and shortness of the voyages made by the Cunard staanien from Liverpool to Halifax, as compared with all others running between England uid the United States, will, I conceive, insure this result. " What tho Erie Canal has accomplished for the Sute of New York, tUa may possibly do for the British provinces. " In the former case, it has doubled the population of thia state, increased by 1,231,683 souls, and added about ;e50,000,000 sterling to the value of real and personal property. " It will not be too much, I think, to estimate that within the Mune period one-third of that number, or acout 400,000 settlers might by the meana of the works afforded by the construction of the railway and the opening out of nidi a wide field for agriculture, be added to the population of the three provinoea. " The balance of trade paid by the British North- American coloiUes to the United States for four years, from 1844 to 1847 inclusive, was ;f4,248,835. " New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have paid the largest portion of this to supply their lumbermen and fishermen with provisions ; but what proportion ia due to Canada I am unable to ascertain. " The latter u an exporting country for provisions, and could weU supply the two sister provinces. "I cannot conceive, either, in the list of «>.^. i'^i '. ■->(•: ^- .1 'w,'-* ,>,v ^w u Downing Street, Nw. 17, 1848. " " Mt Lokd, " I. The Commissioners appointed by Her Mqesty's Oovemment to explore and survey the line of country offering the greatest advantages for the fonaation of a railway from Halifax through New Brunswick to Quebec, having completed the duties with which they were charged, I have now the honour to transmit to yonr lordship the final report of Major Robinson, addressed to the Inspector- General of Fortifications. "2. I have perused this able document with the mterest and attention it so well merits, and I have to convey to you the aasurance of her Majes^'s Oovemment that we fully appreciate the importance of the proposed undertaking, and enter- tain no doubt of the great advantages which would result, not only to tlie pro- vinces interested in the work, but to the empire at large, from the ooastrootion of such a railway ; but great as these advantages would be, it is ImpoidUe not 18 to b« MDiiMt that thfl obttadM to be overcome in providing for to large an expenditure m would be thus incurred, would be a very fonnlddile l(iad. " Before, therefore. Her Majfaty'i GoTemment proceed to eonaider the qnea> tion, aa to whether anv ateps ihoiud be taken to carry thia plan into effect it ia neceaaary that we ahould be informed how the acTeral proviiicea would be prepared to co-operate in ita etecntion. "3. It ia obTioua that the coat of the work would be Uto great aa compared to the return to be anticipated from the probable trafflc, to giTc reaaonable hope of itn being undertaken by any compauT aa a priTate ap'jculation ; the queation, therefore, ariaes, whether it would be expedient tbr.t in aome form public aaaiatance ahould be given towarda the accompliahment of an object in whidi the public ia ao much intereated. " 4. The anawer to thia queation muat, in a great meaaure, depend upon the degree of importance which the provincea attach to the opening of thia line of communication, and upon the amount of exertion they would be prepared to make for the purpoae. I am, therefore, anxioua that the aubjeot ahould be brought under the early conaideration of the reapectiTe legialaturea, and that I ahould be placed in poaaeaaion of their Tiewa witii reapect to it aa aoon aa may be practicable. "5. In forming a Judgment aa to whether public aaaiatanoe ought to }js Kivea towarda the execution of the work, it will be neceaaary to take into oonaider .<& the different waya in which thia might be done. Variooa modea of proct m have been proposed ; one ia, that of endeavouring to form a company by gi. tiM-. teeing to them a certain minimum intereat on the capital to be ioveated in the undertaking. " Thia plan would, no doubt, poaaeaa aome advantages ; but, on the other band, it would be[ attended with the diaadvantage of depriving the public of the proper control over a great national work, and alao of hanng a tendency to encourage inattention to economy, both in the oonstmotion and aabsequent working of tte line. Thia last objection has been met by proposing that any company formed to oonatruct the lice, ahould receive aaaiatance, not in the form of a guarantee of any given rate of intereat, but of a fixed payment, either of capital towarda the execution of the work, or of an annual anm of money, in addition to the receipta derived from traffic when the line ia completed. "6. Another plan which baa been auggeated is, that the required capital should be raiaed b^ loan by the Government, and contracta entered into for the formation of the hne, whidi, when finished, could be worked either by Govern* ment, or by any company formed for that purpoae, and to which company the working of the line might be leased, under such conditions, and for such a period as might be deemed advisable. The objections to this proposal are those usually raised against the undertaking of auch a work by a Government ; while, on the other iMnd, it would be attended with tbeae advantages : first, that probably the capital required would there be raiaed on better terms than oonld otherwise be axpeotad { and secondly, the Government would have a more complete controlover a great national line of commnnicatica. * * • * * "11. The whole subject ia one of tiie very higheat importance, on which I ahall be anxioua to learn the condusiona to which the Colonial antlioritiea may come, aftar mature consideration, and after such oommanioatkm with eadi other as may be neoeasary.^I have, 8tc. (Signed) «' Gkkt." Tba Right Hon. Eart of Elgin and Kincardine, &c. '■■':\ ,.:( *• On the SOth December, 1848, Lord Elgin, replying to the despatch of Earl 6r^, said — ;^ " Aa regards the probability of the work proving nMnately remunerative, I csnnok bal rapreaa my bdier, that under the arrangaoiflnt nfgested by the I If; % I m ■ . Cknadian Goveroment ita ooit to the BritUh OoTernment will be (bniidl to fall within M^jor Robinaon'a mtimate. He hai baied hii calcnlationi, it would appear, on the expense of railwayi constructed in the state of Maaaachnaetta, where large prices are frequently paid for land, and where the ooat of the prin- cipal materials employed is enhanced by the operation of a highly protectire tariff. Aa the land to be occupied by the line will cost the Goremment oothing, and aa a considerable sum may be realised by the alienation of that portion of the public domain which will be placed at its disposal, a large deduction may, it is to be hoped, be made for these estimates, whilst the almost invariable produotiTenesa of the railways in America, which are frequently pushed, in the face of great engineering difficulties, into districts whose present resources and population would not appear to justify the outlay, or warrant the expectation of a return on the cafHtal exp " Viewing the relative positions of the North American Colonies, and the great importance, in a national point of view, of improving the faculties for mutual intercourse, we consider it a matter of the greatest moment ibr the per- manency of British interests in this continent, that a railway should be kid down to connect the lower provinces with the interior of Canada. " We believe that no other measure can be deviaed which will to certainly consolidate the colonies, and perpetuate our connection with Great Britain ; while without it we fear that our position as colonies will be of short duration. " We think the plain broad question on this subject is--Do the people of England vrish to retain the North-American colonies, or not ? If they do, the Trunk Railway is indispensable, and should be completed at any cost." ■''> On the 31st March, 1849, the legislature of New Brunei wick granted to Her Majesty in aid of the undertaking ^20,000 a year, and all ungranted lands within 10 miles on either side of the line, and a free right of way tlirougli all private property (sec address). , -^V'!'»lnJ,' u " Mat it pibam touk Majbbtt, " We, the LagUlattre Conncil and AtMmbiy of your Migcstjr's Fro> vince of New Braniwick, beg Imto to approach yoar Majesty wUh renewed awuranee of oar attaehnent and fidelity to your Majeaty'i person and GoTem« ment. " In oommon wHh all your Majesty's subjects in tbeee North-American Colonies, we are deeply impressed with the paramount importance of the con* teinpiated line of railway firom Halifkx to Quebec for the consolidation of these portions of your Mi^esty's dominions, and for the preservation of British interests on thia oontinent. " Strongly attadied to oar country and its institutions, we beg leave to submit to your Majesty our humble offering in aid of this great national undertaking. " Anticipating that the railway will be constructed by the aid of the Imperial Government, we offer, in oonsideration thereof, to secure to your Majesty all the nnmnted lands through which the road may pass to the extent of ten aaiiaa on each side, to be dinxMed of in such manner as may be deemed most adfisabl* by your Majetty's Govemiiient. And also to secure, at the eipense of the pro« TJnce, a sufficient breadth of way and the neceaeary stationa over and upon private properhy for the use of the said road. " And we (tarther pledge onselvee that we will charge upon the goieral rave* nues of the provinoe a soid not exceeding j^0,000 currency per annum, towarda paying the interest upon the capital invested in the said road, to be paid yearly from and after the completion of the said road, and while the saase is Ittpt in operation, and to be continued for a term not exceeding twenty years. " We would respectfully impress upon your Majesty's consideration that the quality of the land pledged by us, and ita easy access from the United Kingdom, present it as one of the most eligible fields for emigration in any of your Majsstf 'a dominions. " Whenever w« shall be advised of the iiivoarable determination of yonr Majesty's Oovemment in this matter, we will immediately pass sueh Irislativef enactments as may be necessary to carry into effect the pledges made in thia oas humblo and dutiful address. (Signed) " William Black, P. L. C. ,. " J. W. Wkldon, Speaker, House of Aaaembly." ;v ■and' r-i^^ m ■ml On the 81st March, 184i9, Nova Scotia did the same (lee despatch from Sir John Harvey to Earl Grey, of the 2nd May, ).850). "Mr Load, ^ " I have the honour to enclose, for your lordship's consideration, • resolution adopted by the Legislative Council of this province on the subject of the prpjeoted railway flrom Halifax to Quebec. " The people of this province are very anxious that this great public work should be immediately oommenced ; and I beg to draw your lordship's attention to the law passed on the 31st of March, 1849, enacting that it should be lawful for her Majeaty to cause five commissioners to be ^pointed for establishing and constructing such railroad from Haliihx to the boundary line of New Brunswick, to meet a r«lroad from Lower Canada through New Brunswick, and also giving power to the Governor, by and with the advioe of the Executive Coaaoil, to vest in her M^esty ten miles of the Crown lands on each side of the line for the benefit of die railroad, and to raise funds for the construction thereof. And, lastly, that the railroad should be ander such rules and regulations as shall be estabUshed by her Majesty's Oovemment. " A pledge has likewiae been given fbr the sum of ;f20,000 sterling to pay the interest en the capital to be expended for the accomplishment of this work. ' I •< Tb« opinion it very ttrongly entertoin«d here mv lord, tiwt tlw oomtrMtlon of tliia railroftd would be one of the mott rffectuai meuu of defendinf theee pcMesaions of her Majesty, and would aiaiat in preaerving the oonoMtiOB with each other and the mother-country, and would derelop the rmt ur et t , and invigorate trade and commerce, and promote the permanent proaperity and hap. pineaa of her Migenty'a Hubjects in these portions of the realm. (Signed) "J. Haiivet." s j I «■ . i ! ( 1. t i I 'A lu n On the 30th May, 1849, Canada did the same (see extract from the Act of Parliament). ,, " And whereas the proposed railway between Halilkx and QaAw will be a great national woric, brini^ng together the several portions of tha British Bmnir* on the oontinent of North America, and facilitating the adoptloii of «a atMWve, wholesome, and eifiective system of emigration and colonintioii ; and It k ri|^t that Canada should render such assistance aa her meana will adnlt towards the accomplishment of a work so important, and promising resnita ao bciuloial t Be it therefore enacted, that if her Majesty's Government shall undertake the eon- struction of the said railway, either directly or throagh the InttraMMtaHty of a private company, it shall be lawful for the Governor in Conncll, on bahalf of tkia pro/ince, to undertake to pay yearly, in proportion aa the works advaaoea, a aoa not exceeding ;f 20,000 sterling, towards making good the deiloienoy (if any) in the income from the railway, to meet the interest of the snm eipendad npmi It, and to place at the disposal of the Imperial Government all tha nngnuilea laada within the province lyins in the lice of railway, to the extent of ten nllea on eadi side thereof; and to undertake to obtain, pav for, and piaoe at the dlapoaal of the Imperial Government all the land required within tha provinoa Cor tha Una of I'ailway, and for proper stations and termini." On the 25th April, 1850, the New Brunswick legislature again addressed Her Majesty, from which the following ex- tract is made : — "" Although we have on a former occasion brought this aubject to your Ma> iesty's notice, yet on such a momentous question, involving, aa we sincerelj telieve it does, the stability and permanency of British interests on this continent, it is our duty to be importunate, and not let the subject rest while there remains any prospect of its success. '* We have ahready afforded the best povsible proof of onr own sincarity, hy pledging oursdves to grant a turn of £20,000 a year for twenty yeara, tof^her with at leut 2,000,000 of acres of superior land available for aettlanwat and colonisation. " Believing your Mi^Mty's Government sincere in the declaration that tbaae colonies will be retained at all hazards, snd that they are viewed as part of tha strength of the empire, it is surely a question worthy of the best consideration of your Majesty's Government, What can be done for the North- American Colonies, to prevent their declension, to give them strength and conustanoy, and thereby retain confidence in the Imperial Government ? ' ' To this important question we are prepared to answer, that no other meaiore will so certainly produce the desired effects as the railway from Haltfax to Quebec. and " The sum of £60,000 being ahready guaranteed by Canada, Nova Sootia, d this province, we are led to hope that if your Majesty's Government would procure AWn Mm Iinp«rfil Parliament • (iWit of if 1,000,000 tfterUi^ In aid of the undertaldng, the work weald be liiortly commenced and iucoeaaftiUjr pro< Mctited, But., tte. (Signed) «*J.W.WiLDON, Speaker of Auembly." I'f i,**..^ ^- S^ "■ On the Wth November, 1850, the Hon, Joseph Howe, of Nova Scotia, who had been delegated to Her Majesty's govern- ment, addressed Earl Grey (see papers presented to Parlia- ment, April 8th, 1851, from which the following extracts are made :•— "Tlii* route would, therefore, mtc, in the eommnnlcation between Europe and America, liftj^tix lioura to everr indiridoal in all timet to come who pMRed between the two continents, the tea riaka to life and property being diminished by one-third of the whole. . . . " The British Oovemment now pay for the ccdTcyanoe of the North American mails between England and New York j£'14u,000 sterling per annum. By this arrangement '.,107 miles of sea are traversed more than are neeessary. The correspondenee of all Europe with all America is delayed ftfty-Hix hours beyond the time which will be actually required for its couTeyanoe when the railroadfl across Ireland and Nora Scotia are completed. " One let of these firitiah mail steamers pass by our provinces, and to the mortification of their inhabitants, carry their letters, and even the public despatches of their Government, to the United Staios, to be sent baek aoma 800 miles, if they came bjr land ; at least 500 if sent by sea. "While the nearest land to Europe is British territory, — while a harbour, almost matchleta for security and capacity, invites Englishmen to build up within the empire a fitting rival to the great commercial cities which are rising berond it, your Lordship will readily comprehend the depth and earnsntneu oi our impatience to be rescued firom a position which wounds our pride as British subjects, and is calculated rapidly to generate the belief, that the commanding position of our country is either not understood, or our interests but lightly valued. " A very common idea prevails in this country that nearly the whole continent of North America was lost to England at the lime of the revolution, and that onlv a few insignificant and almost worthless provinces remain. This it a gniat, and if the error extensively prevails, may be a fatal mistake. Great Britain, your lordebip ia well ^ware, owns up to tbia moment one-half of the continent ; and, tfdiing the example of Europe to guide us, I believe the best half. No., the beat for slavery or for growing cotton and tobacco, but the beat for raising men ahd wooMO, Om most congenial to the northern Earopean, the moat provocative of steady industry, and, all things else being equal, tha most itnpregnablfl and secure* • • ■ " The balance of power in Europe ia watched with inteaae interest by Britiah statesmen. The slightest movement, or the smallest state, that is calculated to cause vibration, animates the Foreign Ottoe, and adds to its perpletHlea Mtd MMian. But is not the balance of power itt Aokeriea wsrtii retaining ? SnjppcM it kiat, how would it affsot tint of Earope I " ^^ - • \ \- ■li ,::i- On the 14th February, 1851, Earl Derby, theA Lord Stanley, addressed the House df Lot^d Ab follows : — " He was quite rare that no apology Was necessary from bis noble friend, who had iotrodoeed. witib great a'bility and oleitfnass. a tub* 18 ■I \\ i\ iHl ject to their lordships' notice, the importance of which he had in nn degree overrated, and the importance of which he feared their lord- ships might only be disposed to underrate. This question was ojie that had long been under the consideration of parties who, from various circumistances, had been called upon to take an interest in colonial affairs ; but every day and every hour that elapsed only added to the importance of the question itself, and to the necessity of not losing time in bringing to practical conclusions the variouc operations conducted partly by the Government and partly by others. He was not one of those who underrated the importance to this country of Canada, and the whole of our North American possessions ; but important as was Canada and the whole of these possessions, comprising an area of surface not less than the whole of Europe put together, and a large portion of which v;&8 well suited for the production of a hardy and healthy race of people, he thought, if it were possible to separate their interests or their political rela- tions — which he beheved it impossible to separate — he was not sure if he should not say that even beyond the preservation of a great part of Canada to us, which ir his notion was an inferior pr'nt of view to regard the matter in, thp possession of what were caJied the lower provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, from their geographical position, and their naval and military capacities from the resources they afford in time of war, and the advantages they are able to offer us in time of peace — he was not sure if he would not say that these lower provinces, infinitely less extensive as they were, were not of much preater importance to Great Britain than all our Canadian and other North American dependencies. But if there was any one point of view in which tb°=e colonies, or tliC great portion of the North American continent which still belonged to us was to be regarded as of importance, Ihat point of view was the intimate connection of ail these provinces in one unbroken chain of communication, rendering their material and social intercourse as easy as possible, and combining with that intercourse, as necessarily and naturally follows, their political connection with each other and with this country. He held, therefore, that the establishment of a line of communication between Hahfax and Quebec for a distance of about '/OO miles, through an exclusively British territory, rendering two points— and two points essential for the power of this country, which are now separated by a vact extent of wilderness on the one side, and by a difficult and, for a great portion of the year, frozen coast on the other — rendering their communication, from being what they now t.re, most unceruln, most difficult, and most dilatory-^— rendering it rapid, easy, and constant — that, he said, was an object in itself of primary importance to the interests and to the imperial power of this country on the continent of America. 1= But it wa. also a matter of incalculable importance that we should open to the teeming thousands and millions we were pouring out from this country, where they we-e unable to obtain a livelihood, that we should open to them a home in a healthy climate, and ft within a very limited distance from our own shore*, which did not exceed a twelve days' passage by steam — and the rapidity of that passage was ever)' day increasing— it was of the highest importance, whelher we looked at it as affording a relief for our pauperism or an increase of our power in those regions, that we aad eleven or twelve millions of acres of unoccupied lands, fertile and possessed of great mineral wealth, and which, at the same time, would be the means of extending our military power, and securing the permanence of our empire in America. This was no ordinary case of a railway project, where the question very properly might be, would the line pay or not ? but it is a railway which, even in a pecuniary sense, he bad sanguine expectations would pay, if they took into consideration nut merely the traffic on the railway, but the adjuncts they would raise by the formation of it. But, he said, if it would not pay one shilling for the £100 in a pecuniary point of view for the next ten years to come, the interposition of this country, not for the purpose of involving itself in an enormous and needless expense, but for the purpose of aiding with its credit, if not by more than its credit, those who were anxious to the utmost of their power, and even beyond their power, not for a local but for an imperial object, this was a subject well worthy of the consideration of the imperial Par- liament, and was not to be looked upon as a matter of pounds. shillings, and penue. It was exceedingly gratifying to hear from the noble lord the result of a similar, and, as he thought, wise — as the person who devised it thought it wise — advance, not of expen- diture, but p advance of the credit of this country, for the purpose of encouraging the great line of canals and inland navigation in Canada. We advanced, not sums of money, but guaranteed, on the security of the provincial revenues, a sum of money which the pro- vinces hac' gladly and willingly paid. We guaranteed — and they obtained far easier with our guarantee than they could other- wise have obtained it — the necessary capital to complete the works, which had paid them over and over again ; and we had not lost a single hal^enny, or been called upon to advance a single half- penny out of this country ; and we had seen what an immense spring of national prosperity had h;en produced from a wise and just policy of extending the credit of the country for the promotion of great colonial works. His noble friend most truly said that in new countries we were not to consider the accomplishment or execu- tion of such projects on the same principles as we would in an old and settled country. And the United States Government were aware of this fact. It might be very right here, when a railway was projected, to inquim what the traffic was, where it was to be estabUshed, and what amount of traffic might be calculated upon and would be obtained from the comnounity that applied for the execution of such a work. It might be very right that the postmaster in this country should refuse to estab'' h a branch post>office in any place unless a certain number of letters were already in the process of being taken that would cover nHn 11 i: |i! i - ,1 Ihi the neoesMry additional oucky. But in the ca«c of a colonial rail* way the circumstances of the country were widely different. And. perceiving this, the United States extended roads into deserts, where they knew that in the first instance they could not pay, and they established post-otficcs, and forwarded mails at a vary great expense to the Government, because they knew that these facilities and the convenience of receiving the mails and letters, woi.ld induce settlers, and tend to the occupation of the lands ; and if we desired our own colonies to progress with equal rapidity, wc must, if not from our purse, at least from our credit, and by the sanction of our authority, and by our influence, advice, and assidtauce, enable them to undertake works which they were by themselves incapable of undertaking and executing. Now, the work of a railway from Quebec to Halifax divided itself into three portions, passing through three separate provinces under the control of three different Legis< laluics. The countries were in some respects different from each other ; but in all these there prevailed a deep anxiety that the work should be done — all were ready to guarantee out of the public funds of the province the large outlay necessary for effecting the work. They also offered a donation of a very large amount of their waste lands, not only for the purpose of forming the railway, but of a space of ten miks on either side of the railway, to the amount, he thought, of five million acres of land. And what did they ask for ? That they should have the countenance and support of the Home Government. He could not expect them to perform these works unassisted and un* guaranteed. He would take the case of each of these colonies iieparately. The province of Nova Scotia had 130 miles of railway to execute. The population in some parts was exceedingly dense, and in others exceedingly scanty ; and there was great mineral wealth in Nova Scotia. This railway would form either a portion of the trunk line leading subsequently through New Brunswick, and that way up to Quebec ; or of the other line, which, whether we would or not. would certainly be formed, and it would run between Nova Scotia, Halifax, and Portland ; and from Portland through the United States tc Quebec. The Legislature of Nova Scotia had, undoubtedly, a double interest in the execution of this part of the line ; and even if the work should never be carried further, it was a matter of iia> pprtance to Nova Scotia that she should be able to effect on the esjiiest terms that portion of the line which would certainly be formed by one country or the other. And for this reason tha present communication, or the communication that would very shortly take place, between Quebuc and Halifax, do what we pleased, would be a line which, supposing you put Quebec in the place of Edinburgh, and Montreal in the place of Glasgow, would be like the Caledonian Railway, passing east and west, and then south aa4 we^t from Portland to the State of Maine. From Portland a line was contemplated, and was actually in pro<^ gress, passing eaatwa^pd alon^ the coast ae £uc a* tbf United Stataf tanitory want, )^nd inteiffiMting the boundariei of New J^nuMwiek, and afterwards it would .«nter New Brumwick and proceed to its termination. But the ^legislature of Nova Scotia, very much, as he thought, to the credit of their prudence, their good sense, and their loyalty, had determined that the line, which would be completed in some way or other, should, if possible, not be completed by a body of foreign capitalists : and they had resolved to retain in their o-,vn hands the command of a line which ran through their own territory, and when they retained it in their own hands they retained it in the hands of a British province, unimpeachable in its loyalty under all circumstances, and having within itself the great poit of Halifax, the very key of our North American possessions as a whole. But they said it was true they could afford to pledge their surplus revenues, which were sufficient to enable them to execute the work ; and they were prepared to execute it, and should execute it at their own ex- pense and at their own risk, confident that, so far as it was concerned, the work would ultimately pay, if only by the communication with the United States. But they came and said the work would cost £800.000, and their surplus revenue was between £40,000 and £50.000 a year, their whole revenue being about £80,000 a year. The work would, therefore, take ten years' income of the entire revenues of the province. But the colonists said it was a different thing whether they should borrow the amount of ten years' revenue at 5 per cent., as they could by their own debentures, or whether they borrowed at at 3| per cent., as they might with the sanction of the Government and the local Legislature. They would show an actual surplus revenue, and offer as the first charge on it to the amount of £40,000 a year, capable and certain to obtain a large increase ; and if we were not satisfied with that security, not for grbnting the money, but for lending the use of our name, they would be ready that the waste lands of the colony should be given as a further security to any amount that the Secretary of State for the Colonies might choose to demand. So far with regard to Nova Scotia. Then, as to New Brunswick. Here the surplus revenue was not so large. The line was of a considerable extent, and passed for the most part through a very rich country with a fine climate, though somewhat rigorous, and it was well timbered, and abounded in mineral wealth. The Legislature was able to offer us, in addition to their sturplus revenue, any amount we chose of their 11. 000.000 acres of unoccupied and fertile lands in pledge as security for the repayment of the advances. The whole of this country was open to British settlement if this line of communication was formed ; but the whole of the country would be closed to British settlement if we refused to open that line of communication, or, rather, if we refused to give our aid and our guarantee to the province to enable it to undertake a work which was not more important to us than it was to them. Now, he felt that to grant our aid was a wise, a sound, and even W econonjr^ course in the ei^d, ev^ though, in the first insUince, ift would ittvolvf w outlfiy ; and sure he was that it would confer h i I M I! 1 1 I A • immense benefits on the colony, and bestow incalculable advantage! on this country itself, and confirm its territorial power in North America. Now, there were various ways in which the Colonial Secretary of this country mii^ht aid in the accomplishment of this project. He might, as in the case of Nova Scotia, offer the guarantee of the Government of England for the sum to be raised on the security of the surplus revenue and unoccupied lands of the provinces ; or he mi<:;ht adopt another plan, which would be approved by all the other colonies. The colonies had offered to grant ten miles of land on either side of the line to any company that would make it, and also to grant the company the amount between the several provinces of £G0,000 a year for a term of years to come, to cover any deficiency which might arise between the earnings of the line and 4 per cent, interest on the outlay of any ca])ital which might be expended in the execution of the project ; but if any further security was wanted by any comjjany, or by the Government entering into the guarantee to meet the case of the i)roceeds falling short of the 4 per cent., the provinces were ready to j)ledge their unoccupied lands to the required extent. With these securities from the colonies, if the Government would give its guarantee, he thought capitalists would be found in this country perfectly willing to undertake the execution of either line, or any portion of it, if that course were preferred by the Government here. Another course that might be pnrsued, which, however, he was not recommending, but which he thought the colonies would also agree to, was this — that the Government should themselves under- take the performance of the whole enterprise, taking as their security for repayment such portions of the waste lands as they thought necessary, and also, of course, taking the profits of the undertaking, whatever they might be, in repayment. He would not say that he recommended either of these courses ; but it was important thai the colonies should know without delay what the Government intended to do, and to what they might have to look. At present this wa» the position of affairs in Nova Scotia. With regard to its line, an Act had been passed, and it was actually negotiating for the money, for executing their portion at the expense of the province. New Brunswick was guaranteeing its waste lands, and a certain sum, to any company that would undertake to execute its line. The Legis- lature of Canada had actually passed a bill incorporating a company, which company was vainly seeking now to raise capital for completing the work. But every one of these separate projects might separately be accomphshed, o-. the whole might be accomplished together, if the Goveminent of this country would step forward and say it would lend its sanction and name. He did not blame the noble earl (Earl Grey) for being cautious ; he did not blame him for watching narrowly and carefully the ex- penditure that would be requisite for carrying out these projects ; but he believed that in cases demanding a prompt and decisive course of action, even a heavy outlay might prove in the end the best economy, and lead ultimately to the most beneficial results. And if ■^. tlie noble earl would only say which course he should be prepared tu take, and if the Oovemment would give any sanction and assistance for the execution of what these colonies could not accomplish unas- sisted, although he believed a comparatively small aid on the part of the Government, or its liberal guarantee for the capital required, on Recount of which guarantee they would never be called upon to pay a single shilling, such an amount of assistance from the Government he firmly believed would enable the great work to be carried to a successful completion : and equally certain he was that unless our Government and our Parliament did interfere, these advantages would be indefinitely postponed — the communication between two most important points would be permanently cut off ; the stream of emigration would continue to be directed, as it was now directed, frum this country and Ireland, uot to our own colonies, but to the territories of the United States ; the communication between Halifax and Quebec would ultimately be through the United States, be wholly dependent upon them, and liable at any moment to be cut off in the case of hostilities ; while the United States would be enabled to reap all the advantages of the transit in times of peace. Now, we had the option whether we should give to the United States these great advantages, and at the same time deprive the subjects of this country of the opportunity of receiving a useful and most valuable population settling in our own colonies, and by their emigration relieving the over-burdened mother country of its surplus labour ; or whether we would, by a prompt and liberal course of action, which would ulti- mately cost us nothing, enable our dependencies to complete that which would cement a closer union between our North American possessions, and teach them to feel that they were regarded by the Imj)erial Government and Parliament as an integral portion of the em[)ire. The course was open either for great good, or for great evil, for in this case great evil might result from a refusal of the prayer of the petition, both in specific loss, and in its effects upon the minds of the colonists. He trusted that there would be no waste or lavish expenditure, but that it would b*^ seen that in that case prompt and energetic action was the one best suited to the interests and honour of this country, and also to the honour, though that was an inferior consideration, of Her Majesty's Government, (hear, hear.) ^^ On the 10th March, 1851, the following letter was ad- dressed by Mr. Hawes, Under Secretary for the Colonies, to the Hon. Joseph Howe : — " Downing. lireet, March iOth, 1851. '• Sib. " I am directed by Earl Grey to inform you that he is at length enahled to rommtinicate to yon the decision of her Majesty's Goverument on the applicttion for aanstance towards the romttruction of the project«-d railway f u ■} * I m I J -{■ n through Nova Scotia, contained in your letters of the a5th of NoTwnbtt and the 16th of January last. '* You are already aware, from the repeated conTersations which yoo have bad with Lord Grey, of the strong sense entertained by bis lordihip and hit colleagues, of the extreme importance, not only to the colonini directly intereated, but to the empire at large, of providing for the construction of a railw»y by which a line of communication may be established on the British territory between the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada, and that Tarioos plans which have been suggested for the accomplishment of this object hare undergone the most attentive consideration. " It appears from Sir John Harvey's despatch of August 29tli, 1850, as well as from your letters and the verbal communications you have made to Lord Grey, that the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia, fully relying on the concurrence of the Legislature, is desirous of undertaking the construction of that part of the projected line which would pass through that province, and proposes to obtain for that purpose a loan of jf 800,000, which is the estimated exptfnso of the work. The assistance which Lord Grey understands you to apply for, in behalf of the province, is that the payment of the interest of a loan to this amount should be guaranteed by the Imperial Parliament, the effect of which would be that the money might be raised on terms much more favourable than would be otherwise required by the lenders " I am directed to inform you that her Majesty's Government are prepared to recommend to Parliament that this guarantee should be granted, or that the money required should be advanced from the British Treasury on the conditions which I will now proceed to state. " In the first place, as her Majesty's Government are of opinion that they would not be justified in asking Parliament to allow the credit of this country to be pledged for any object not of great importance to the British Empire u a whole (and they do not consider that the projected railway would answer this description, unless it should establish a line of communication between the three British Provinces), it must be distinctly understood that the work is not to be commenced, nor is any part of the loan, for the interest of which the British Treasury is to be responsible, to be raised, until arrangements are made with the provinces of Canada and New Brunswick, by which the construction of a line of railway passing wholly through British territory, from Halifex or Quebec or Montreal, shall be provided for to the satisfaction of her M^esty's Govem- ment. " In order that such arrangements may be made, her Majesty's GovemmeBt will undertake to recommend to Parliament that the like assistance shall bb ren- dered to those provinces as to Nova Scotia, in obtaining loans for the coostmction of their respective portions of the work. If it should appear that by leaving it to each province to make that part of the line passing through its own territory, the proportion of the whole cost of the work which would fall upon any one province would exceed its proportion of the advantage to be gained by it, then the question is to remain open for future consideration, whether some contribu- tion should not be made by the other provinces towards that part of the line: but it is to be clearly understood that the whole cost of the line is to be provided for by loans raised by the provinces in such proportions as may be agreed upon with the guarantee of the Imperial Parliament. " The manner in which the profits to be derived from the railway, when com- pleted, are to be divided between the provinces, will also remain for future consideration. "You will observe, that I have stated that the line is to pass entirely through British territory ; but her Majesty's Government do not require that the line should necessarily he that recommended by Major Robinson and Captain Hen- derson. If the opinion which is maintained by many persons well qualified to form a judgment is correct, that a shorter and better line may be formed through New Brunswick, it will of course be preferred, and there will be sufficient time for determining this question while the earlier part of thit line is in prograst. " It is also to be understood that her Majesty's OoTemment win by no neaiM object to iU forming part of tb^?) plan which may Im determined upon, that it should include a proviaion for establishing a communication between the pro- jected railways and the railways of the United States. Any deviation from the line recommended by Major Robinson and Captain Henderson must, however, be subject to the approval of her Majesty's Government. " It will further be required that the several provincial legislatures should pass laws, making the loans which they are to raise a first charge upon the provincial revenues, after any existing debts and payments on account of the civil lists settled on her Majesty by laws now in force : and also that permanent taxes sbali be imposed (or tuxes to continue in force till the debt shall be extinguished) sufficient to provide for the payment of the interests and sinking fund of the loans proposed to be raised after discharging the above prior claims. It will further he necessary that the expenditure of the money raised under the guarantee of the Imperial Parliament shall take place under the superintendence of commissioners appointed by her Majesty's Govei-nment, and armed with sufficient power to secure the due application of the funds so raised to their intended object. The commiuioners so appointed are not, however, to interfere with the arrangement of the provincial governments, except for the above purpose. " The right of sending troops, stores, and mails along the line, at reasonable rates, must likewise be secured. " If, on the part of the Government of Nova Scotia, you should express your concurrence in the above proposal. Lord Grey will immediately direct the Govemor>6eneral of the British North American Provinces to communicate wiih the Lienteuant- Governors of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, who will also be directed to bring the subject under the consideration of their respective Executive Councils, in order that, if they should be prepared to join in carrying the undertaking into effect on the terms proposed, the detaib of the arrange- ments iMtween the provinces may be settled, and the sanction of the legislatures obtained for the plan, so that it may with as little delay as possible be submitted for the approval of Parliament. " Before, however, the proposed measures can be so submitted to Parliament, it is proper to observe there are some of the questions affecting the pecuniary relations between the mother-country and the colonies which will require to be considered ; but as these questions have little, if any, reference to Nova 8cotia, it is not necessary that they should be further adverted to in this letter. " I am directed to add that Lord Grey thinks it unnecessary that any measures should be taken by her Majesty's Government to encourage the establishment of stepm-vessels for the accommodation of the emigrants of the humbler clasaei, which is one of the subjects to which you have call^ his attention. " If there should be a demand for such vessels, Lord Grey has no doubt that they will speedily be supplied by private enterprise ; indeed, he has been informed that ships of large sise, intended for the conveyance of emigrants, and furnished with auxiliary steam-power, are already building, both in this country and in America ; and if by undertaking the projected railway a demand for labour is created in the British provinces, and a large extent of fertile Und is opened for the occupation of settlers, these circumstances canuot fail to lead to an extension and improvement of the means now afforded for the conveyance of emigrants to these provinces [a further reference is mad. as to convict labour]. (Signed) '• B. Hawi*.'' • f: On the 14th March, 1851, Earl Grey, in a despatch to Lord Elgin, on the military expenses of Canada, said — Undsr tbeae dreumstances, it appenrs to her Miyeslv's Government that no favourable opportunity could be found for placing ue i I flseal relations of dM ,.JlM' ■ f m mother. country and the colony (in a iwrmanent and equitabto footing. They are the more induced to adopt this view of the subject, bei-au^e they are pre. pared to recommend to ParliHment thwt assistance of the same kind with that which has proved so eminently useful to Canada in the construction of the St, Lawrence canals, should be extended to her in respect of another public work, calculated to be hardly less beneficiiil to her than these canals. In another de- spatch I will explain to your lordship the views of her Majesty's Government with regard to the means by which it is hoped that the construction of the Quebec and Halifax Railway nmy be iiccouiplished. I only advert to this sub- ject at present for the purpose of observing that while the credit of thin country is exerted to enable Canada to extend her public works and to develop her resources, I feel confident that the Parliament of Canada will readily cooperate with her Majesty' H Government in adopting meamresfor diminishing the charge on the Britiah treamryfor the defence of the province. " N.B. — Upon the faith of the pledge given as above, of assistance to the proposed line of railway, Canada took upon herself a large share of the military (xpenses theretofore borne by the British Treasury for the protection of the pk-ovince." |. ij 1 j I ■ ! t J On the 14th of the same month, Earl Grev, in another despatch to Lord Elgin, pledging the imperial guarantee to the Halifax and Quebec Railway, said — " Downing Street, 14/A March, 1851. . " Mv LovD, " From the correspondence which I have already had with your lord- ship on the subject of the projected railroad from Halifax to Quebec, you are well aware that, although her Majesty's Government have not hitherto been enabled to take any steps towards the execution of that work, it is an under- taking wliich they have long earnestly desired to see accomplished, as they believe it to be one calculated very greatly to advance the commercial and political interests, both of the British provinces in North America, and of the mother- country. It is therefore with great satisfaction that I have now to acquaint your lordship that I have reason to hope that the time is at length come when this great national enterprise may be undertaken with advantage, if th'jre still exists (as I am assured there does) as strong a desire to promote it on the part of the inhabitants of Canada and Now Brunswick as they formerly expressed, and as the people of Nova Scotia havt; a;;aiii recuiilly uwuifcstoil. " 2. I enclose for your lordsliip's information a copy of a despatch, addressed to me in the course of tlie last autunin, by Sir John Harvey, introducing to me Mr. llowe, a member of the Governineut of Nova Sco'ia; and also copies of two letters I have received from tliat gentleman, and of the answer which has by my direction been returned to him. Your lorcLhip will perceive from these papers, that the proposal made by Mr. Howe, on behalf of the province of Nova Scotia, and to which her Majesty's Government have llicught it their duty so far to accede as to undcrtuk<.', on certain conditions, to recommend it for the sanction of Parliament, \» to the effect that the credit of this country should bo employed to enable the Piovinces of Canad-*, New Bnm'swick, and Nova Sootia, to raise, upon advantageous terms, the funis necessary for the com'tructionof the propose^d railway, just as Canada has already been enabled by similar assistances, to construct the canals by which she has lately completed the most extensive and perfect system of inland navigation which exists in the world. Although her Majesty's Government are of opinion that great caution ought to be observed in pledging the credit of the British Treasnry in aid of loans raised by the colonies, they regard the work now in contemplation as being (like the Saint-Lawrence Canals) of so much importance to the whole empire as to justify them in recom- 27 mending to Pariiament that tome assUtsnoe ihoald be given towards its con* struction ; nor ii there any mode of uflbrding snch asuistance wliich ims been hitlierto suggested, which appears on the whole so little burthensomo to tho inuthfr-ci untry, and at, tliH sime time of so much reul service to the colonies, as tliat wiiich is now pn-pofccd. " 3. In coming to tlie decision that P rliamout should be invited to give this support to thi! prtijected railway, her Majesty's Govcrnnient have not failed to bear in mind tiiat, by enabling the North American provinces to open this great line of communication, it may fairly be assumed that a powerful stimulus will be given to their adviince in wealth and population ; and that the conseijuent in- crease in their resource* will render it pussible for them to relieve the mother- country sooner, and more completely, than would otherwixe be practicable, from charges now borne by it on account of these colonies. In anotiier despatch of this date, I have informed your lordship that, in the judgment of her Majesty's Governiueut, the British colonies ought to be required, as they become capable of doing so, to take upon themst-lves not only the expenses of iheir civil govern- ment, lint a portion at all events of those incurred for their protection ; and i have pointed out to yon, that the British North American Provinces, and espe<;iaily Canada, havo now reached such a stage in their i)rt)gress, thnt the charjjts for which Furliament is called upon to provido on tlieir account i.ught to he rapidly diminished. The construction of tho pmposed railway would greatly contribute to promote this important object. By opening new districts for set- tlement, and by the demand fur labour which will be created during the progress of the work, the projected railway cannot fail to increase the wealth and popula- tion of these provinces, while by atl'irdins; a rapid and easy w>mmunication between them, it will enable them to afford to each other far greater mutual support and assistance than they now can in any difficulty or danger to which they may be exposed. "4. Your lordship will not fail to observe, from the letter which has been addressed to Mr. Howe, that the assistance which it is proposed to grant to the provinces towards the construction of the proposed railway is to be contingent on provision being made for opening a complete line of communication from Halifax to Quebec, or Montreal ; it is necessary, therefore, to ascertain whether Canada and New Brunswick are ready to join with Nova Scotia in raising the capital required for the work in the manner proposed, and if so, in what proportion each province is to become respoiii>ible for the expense incurred. The question whether it will bo advisable for these two provinces to join in the construction of the projected railway, if they should be enabled, by the assistsnce of Parliament, to raise the required capital at a low rate of interest, is one for the consideration of their respective legislatures ; but, so far as I have the means of forming a judg- ment on the subject, I should anticipate that their decision would be in favotu: of doing so. I infer that this is probable, not less from what I have learned of the S(':tual state of public opinion on this subject in the provinces, than from the view which I take of their interest in the work. Though I can well believe that there would be much room for doubting whether the railway would pay as a mercantile speculation to a company looking to traffic only for its remuneration, the case is very different when it is regdared as a pnt)ltc undertaking. When viewedin this light, the various indirect advantages which cannot fail to arise to the provinces from possessing such improved means of communication must be considered, as well as the very great additional value which would be conferred on a vast ext«nt of public lands which are now comparatively worthies?. This is a source of profit from which no advantage can in general accrue to the contractors of railways in countries where the soil has been appropriated by individuals ; on the contrary, in these countries the purchase of land is not one of the least important -tems of the expense to be incurred in such undertakings ; but where, as in parts of Canada and New Brunswick, a great part of the territory to be traversed by a railway is still unappropriated, and the land may be sold by the public, the in- creased value given to it by being thus rendered accessible may render it advan- tageous to construct a railway, though the traffic is not expected to do more at first than pay the working expenses. ' ^^' 5. If these considerations should induce the legislatures of the three provinces ', 1 'ii-i ->. >;ijf ^^M^ I 28 t . H' lir ■i: :\ : I to combine in undertaliing the projected luiwar, the t«i-ini on which they are to co-oparate with each other for that object will have to be aettled ; and in coming to such an arrangement, various questioni of great difflculty and importance will require to be considored. For instance, it is probable that whon the line is com- pleted, the traffic will b» far more remuiiorative at the two eztremitiea fhan in the more central portion of it ; while, at the pame time, thn eipcnse of construction would, from the nature of the country, he precisely higher where the traffio returns would be lowest ; so that if each province were required to pay for the formatinn of the line through its own territory, and to receive the returns from the traffio through the same, it would follow, that while the expense to New Brunswick would be the greatest, its receipts would be the smallest. On the other hand, as I have just obst-rved, one of the most important sources of profit from the con- struction of such a railway as that now in contemplation would arise from the sale of land, of which the value would be increased by the work •■ and it appears from the pHpers before me, that New Brunswick would probably derive a greater profit from that source than the two sister provinces. Whether the result upon the whole would be, that each province, considering these various circumstances, ought to tske upon itself the construction of the railway through its own territory, or whether, on the contrary, ony one should be assisted by the others, is a point on which I have not the means of forming a judgment ; and I would suggest to you, that the best course, with a view of arriving at some practical result, would be, that a deputation from the Executive Councils of the two lower provinces should proceed to the seat of Government in Canada, in order to confer with your lordship and with your Council, for the purpose of coming to some agree- ment upon the subject; which, after being approved by the legislatures of the several provinces, might be submitted for the sanction of Parliament. " 6. It does not appear to me that if such a conference should be held, it need occupy any very great length of time, or that much difficulty would nriL-3 in coming to an arrangement for the construction and working of the projected railway, by which the expense of the undertaking on the one hand, and the advantages to be derived from it on the other, might bo fairly apportioned between the different provinces. Hereafter I may, probably, bo enabled to offer some suggestions as to the manner in which this might be accomplished ; but, at present, I have only to add, that I shall transmit copies of this despatch to Sy Edmund Head and to Sir John Harvey, with instructions to them to communicate with year lordship, without delay, on the important subje(^ to which it relates ; and it will give me the highest satisfaction if the result of these communications should be the under- taking of a work, which, if completed, cannot, I believe, fail to add greatly to the prosperity of the British provinces in North America, and, at the same time, to give additional strength to the ties wLich connect them with each other, and with the British empire.— I am, &c., »* .. (Signed) " Ge«y." V 5 1 On the 31st March, 1851, Earl Cathcart, Governor-Greneral of Canada, wrote as follows :— •* The very warm interest I naturally feel for the prosperity and welfare of the British possessions in North America, arising from the personal knowledge and experience I had the opportunity of acquiring during the period of my official residence in Canada, fully enables me to appreciate the inestimable advantages both to themselves and to the mother-country of thus uniting Canada with the lower province, and by this means securing to the former a direct communication, perfectly independent of the United States, with England, through the port of Halifax, which is accessible at all seasons." A difference having arisen upon the wording of Earl Grey's Mi despatch, as to whether or not the guarantee extended also to a branch line to the city of St. John, — . On the 12th June, 1861 , Earl Grey, writing to Mr. Howe, said^ ■ ,.■■.:» •■ .-. . ■(>■■ '•■■■ " I fpel very sanguine of the ultimate atient of New Brunswick to the measure as proposed, and that we shall succeed in getting tliis most important worlc, destined, as I believe, to effect a change in the civiliaed world, accomplished." ,■••.. '1-. On the 3l8t March, 1862, the Hon. F. Hincks, having been deputed by the Governor-General of Canada to proceed to London to make arrangements with the Imperial Govern- n.ent for the completion of the railway, addressing Sir John Pakington, Colonial Secretary, said — , , . " Sir, " Having been honoured with the commands of his Ezcellency the Governor-General of Britith North America to proceed to London to en- deavour to make final arrangements with regard to the terms on which a loan ran be effected for the congtniction of a line of railway in the provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, with the guarantee of the Imperial Parliament ♦ * * ♦ The scheme of uniting the three principal provinces of British America, by means of a railway, originated with the late Earl of Durham, who formed a strong opinion that imperial interests would be largely promoted by such a work. No action, however, was taken in the matter for some years, nor until it was proposed to construct a great military road through New Brunswick at the expense of the mother-country. The scheme of substi- tuting a railway was then revived, on the supposition that the necessity for a military road being superseded, imperial assistance would be given in aid of such a work to a considerable extent. The Secretary of State for the colonies pro- posed that a survey of the line should be made by the officers of the Ro;al Engineers, and that the expenses of such survey should be bomei by the three provinces. * * * It is proper to stale, that in the expectation that the work would be constructed by the Imperial Government, the three provinces agreed to aeoure the right of way, the land requisite for stations, ten miles in extent, of all ungrantcd land on each side of the line, and ;^60,000 sterling per annum to cover any deficiency in revenue. * * * * " I believe that the importance to imperial interests of this great work is not sufficiently appreciated. " / have reaton to believe that were a line qf railway completed from Haltfojc, and that made the terminus of the voyage of the ocean eteamem, fully j£f50,000 per annum might be saved in the Atlantic mail service, independent of the saving of the sum now paid to the United States for carrying the Canada mails, — a service most unsatisfactorily performed, and most extravagantly charged for. Instead of the British mails being carried over the American railways, it must be obvious that the mails and passengers destined for New York, Boston, and other American cities, would be carried over a great section of the Halifax and Quebec line." =5 :*.( Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, having agreed upon a proposal to carry the line through the Valley of the ■;,( 4 ^1 '^m- ^mmm^wmmmmm wmmmm 30 St. John River, whicli was a deviation from tliat reconmiemleil by the Governinoiit Enj^incers, and to which Earl Grey had •ledgcd the ln)|Krial guarantee, an application was made to ..ord Derby's Government in 1H52, I -,«,- — .,i i Ma i*«i W » ■ 'I III |li if h i U '^\: ■ . I ! I (; 1 ;■ fi.- li i » i; ( * ( (In! On the 20th May, 1852, Sir John Pakinj?ton, Colonial Secretary, sent a despatch to Lord Elgin, from which the following extract is made :— "2. Her Majesty's Government are not only anxious to act with the most perfect good fnitli towanlK the Icgislntnres and people of tlie jirovinces, and to fulfil ererti just cij)nfali(m whii'h may hare /tern held out bi/ their preileccusorH, but l/iri/ aho sincerrl// tlesire to adopt all measures by which the we{f'are uj the Brillnh citlonirs in \orth America can be promoted, at Jar an they can do so consistently with their duties to the empire at lart/e. "3. B\it on a n lerence to the eorrt spnndenee whiih has already token place on this snhjeet, and especially to the letters addressed hy direction of E»irl Grey to Mr. Howe, on the 10th March, IH')!, and Mr. Hincitu on 2()th February last, it will appear evi, I llou^ht the OHHi^ttance and obtained tin' valuable uid of tho present Solicitor>Oeneral for Lower Canada, who acted with me acco; lingly on tliid service. " At tliu time of our arrival in England, events in India hiid ofisurned a most fhnntening a(ipe'."t, and in eonseqeneo, tlit; attention of her Mujesry'a (Jovern- iiiriit was very m'ich occupied with matiera of a more imminent nature. " We proceeded, however, to communicate as well with the Secretary of Slate for th« Colonies, as with Lord Palmerston, the Ch«n(;ellor of the Kxchequer, mill the Secretary ald, from Novu Scotia, who were also urging the same subject in the interests of that provinci". Tlie proponitiona ndvancrd by these gentlemen were nearly identical with those submitteJ on the part of Canada. " Being apprised that the prorogation of Parliament, the absence of some of licr Majesty N advisers, and the pressing nature of the Indian difficulties, would jireclude any immediate conclusion being como to on the propositions of either Canada or .Nova Scotia, 1 considered that a more prolong"d attendance would lie followed with no advantage, and the (jurstion was left under the consideration I if the Government. " The despatch of the Secretary of State for the Colonies of the ITtth January, 18.^8, containing the reply of her Majesty's Government, having now arrived, I deem it a titling time formally to report the action which was taken on the Hii8!nbn.iited to the Imperinl Government for approval ; but 8ir John Pakington, then Colonial Secretary, in a despatch, dated 20th May, 1852, intimated his disapproval of the proposed deviation from the Eastern line, and that he therefore did not feel warranted m recommending the guarantee to Parliament. He, however, at the same time stated, that the Imperial Oovem* ment was by no means insensible to the great nationnl objects involved in the construction of the line, and that the mo! ,( -,] " In addition to these eastern and western routes of the United States must be mentioned the communication by water along the lakes, a communication which . . continued by the Erie Canal to New York, aud by the St. Lawrence through Canada to the Atlantic ; and the line of Canadian railways, which since the opening of the Grand Trunk Railway, has assumed considerable importance. This line commences with the Great Western of Canada at Detroit, and, passing through Toronto, ia continued by the Grand Trunk Railway, which, when the Victoria Bridge shall have been completed, will afford an uninterrupted line of railway communication through Montreal to Quebec, and to Portland in the State of Maine. Bml it cannot be cotuidend that tkit line nf eommtmication in completed, or that a proper outlet ka$ been afforded to the trade qf the Britith North-Amtriean pottettiont, until the line ol railway through Canada ihatt have been emUinmed on to Halifiui. (Signed) " Douolab Galton, Captain R.E." Extract from ** Martin's British Colonies : "*» ** '"'.4 ^J.u■boar■ of Nov* Scotia, for nambo*, capacity, and safety, are un. pan. - . I any other nort of the world. Between Halifax and Cape Corso are t rj'' 'ts apable of receiving ships of the line, and there are fourteen othera of 8tti.i( n* j;)th for merchantmen. " The ) ^honr of Halifax has not perhaps a superior in the world : from its situation beiay directly open to the Atlantic, it is scarcely interrupted with. It ia our chief naval station in North America, and affords safe anchorage for one thousand ships. " New Brunswiek is generally composed of bold eminences, sometimes swell- ins into mountains, and again subsiding into vale and lowlands, covered with noble forests and intersected by numerous rivers and lakes, affording water com- munications in every direction to the pleasing settlements scattered throughout the fertile alluvifti spots termed intervales. The greater part of the territory, namely, about 14,000,000 acres, is still in a siate of nature, adorned i^ith abun- ''^nce of timber and fine extending prafaries. New Brunswick i« healthy." ':^-'\ ;'l On the 1st May, 1858, both branches of the Legislature of Nova Scotia, again addressed Her Majesty as follows : — "May it please your Majestt: T '" ^ .* j ., " We, the loyal and devoted subjects of your Majettr, tlie Legislatire Council and House of Assembly of Nova Scotia, now in provmcial parliament convened, approach your Majesty to renew an expression of the unabated interest which the Legislature and people of this province continue to take in the long-agitated project of an intercolonial railroad, by which the colonies of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, with tbs sister colony of Prince Edward's Island, may be bound more closely together, and their intercourse and union facilitated, and the communication from the parent state and your Majesty's North-American empire be improved by a rapid and efficient mode of transport from the seaboard to its distant borders, independently of postage through foreign territory. " TluB great enterprise, of national no less than colonial importance, has been throogh many years pressed upon the consideration of your Majesty's Govern- ment. Daring the last season delegates from the Governments of Canada and tbb province, in person, urged the undertaking on the atteation of your Majesty's ministers. " The benefits of tho measure, both in its national and colonial relations, are acknowledged ; and we ^r^m from repeating arguments so recently presented and so familiar, farther t. i a ly to beg your Majesty's consideration of the statements contained in the i ^f the delegate* from this province, addressed to the Right Hon. the Colonia> .,«retary, dated in London on the 20th August, 1857, a copy of which accompanies this address. " The gigantic work we advocate has been facilitated by the efforts and ex- penditures of the provinces ; hut itt accomplitkment w beyond their unaided reiourc^t : and on the ^cient astittanct qfyour Mqjeety'e Govemwtent depend* thit great remit. " In urging our prayer on your Majesty, we are usared that it will not be its least recommendation to your royal consideration, that, while it baa in view the consolidation of national power, it affords to your Majesty another occasion of manifesting your benignity and regards towards yonr loytd colonial subjects in this portion of yoar extended empire, by aiding an undertaking in which their feelings end interests are deeply engaged. " We humbly pray that your Mtyeity will be graeiotuly pleated to extend imperiai aid to this important measure, and to cause measures to be taken for aseertaining the views and ability of the several provinces with respect to it, and the nature and extent of the assistance they respectively require, and qf the aid your M(yesty's Government wiU be disposed to qfords that arrangements may be matured for the early commencement and the completion qf this work by the united ^orts qf the three provinces qf Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, with such co-operation and aid from your Majesty's Inwerial Govern' wunt at may be commensurate with the greatnett qfthe object and the magnitude qfthe national interetts which ii promotes. " Edwakd Kbnny, President of Legialative Cenndl. " Stkwakt Campbkll, Speaker of the Honw of AiMmbly. •• Halifut, N.S., May I, 1858." If On the 16th Aueust, 1858, both branches of the Canadian Legislature passed the following resolutions, upon which addresses were presented to Her Majesty : — " RXBOLVBD :— " 1. Thah the oonitraction of an intercolonial railway, coanecting the pro. 87 Ire of blatire lament abated j in the lies of Prince se and your kode of yasiage been overn- la and Vesty's vlnoet of New Brantwick and Nora Scotia with Canada, has long been regarded aa a matter of national concern, and ought earneatly to be pressed on the con- sideration of tbe Imperial Uovemment. " 2. That daring sereral months of the year, intercourse between the United Kingdom >nd Canada can only be carried on through the territory of the United States of America, and that such dependence on, and Rxclusive relations with, a foreign country cannot, even in time of peace, but exercise an important and unwholesome influence on the slatut of Canada as a portion of the empire, and may tend to establish dsewhere that identity of interest which ought to exist between the mother-country and her colonies. " 3. That while this Houm implicitly relies on the repeated assurances of the Imperial Government that the strength of the empire would be put forth to secure this province against external agf;ression,it is convinced that sach strength cannot be e^ciently exerted during a lirge portion of the year, from the absence of sufficient means of communication, and that should the amicable relations which at present so happily exist between Great Britain and the United States be ever disturbed, the difficulty of access to the ocean during the winter months might seriously endanger the safety of the province. " 4. That in view of the speedy opening up of the territories now occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company, and of the development and settlement of the vast regions between Canada and the Pacific Ocean, it is essential to the interests of the empire at large that a highway extending from the Atlantic Ocean westward should exist, which would at once place the whole British possessions in America within the ready access and easy protection of Great Britain, whilst by the facilities fior internal communication thus afforded, the prosperity of those great dependencies would be promoted, their strength consolidated and added to the strength of the empire, and their permanent union with the motherc-ountry secured. " 5. That Canada has already nearly completed the construction within the province of a chain of railways over 1,600 miles in length, extending from the eastern frontier of the province towards its western boundary, which is of the greatest importance to iu commercial and material prosperity, and forming part of fht great proposed highway, but which, without completion to the ocean, is comparatively useless in a national point of view, either as bringing the sister colonies together, or as connecting those colonies with the parent state. " 6. That this House, under these circumstances, is deeply impressed with the importance of an intercolonial railway, and the necesbity for its immediate constracdOB ; and desiring to co-operate with the Imperial Govemmrut and the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Branswick in securing its speedy completion, this House ^>proves of the memorandum addressed to her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Coloaies by the Canadian delegates, and laid before Parliament by hia Bxoellency the Qovemor-Oeneral in his gradous message communicated on the thirty'firat day of May last, and recommends that tbe future negotiations should be oondocted as nearly as may be on the basb thereby submitted. " 7. That in the opinion of this House it is expedient tliat bis Excellency the Govenior>General should oauae all communication with the other provinces, necesaa i y for commoo action on the subjeot, to be entered into. " 8. That «o bvmble address be presented to Her Majesty embodying tbe foregoing resolution, and that the Honourable the Legislative Council be asked to ooneur in the said address." ^^:1 On the 5th June, 1858, a meeting was held at the Thatched House Tavern, St. James's Street, for the purpose of divising the best means of earryine out the completion of the railway. It was attended by the following gentlemen : — VisoottBt BvtT. M.P.. in the diair ; the Rt. Hon. Sotheron n.^!/ \ 1 38 i. ■ : U 1*1 u ii I 1 it SI Estcourt, M.P., Capt. the Hon. John Vivian, M.P., the Hon. Sir A. Napier Macnab, Bart., Viscount Qoderich, M.P., the Hon. Samuel Cunard, Colonel Boldero, M.P., James Wyld, Esq., M.P., G. G. Glyn, Esq., M.P., the Hon. Charles Fitzwilliam, MP., R. P. Nisbet, Esq., M.P., the Hon. Justice Haliburton, John Neeld, Esq., M.P., Francis S. Head, Esq., Alfred Roche, Esq., and others. The Chaikman read letters from numerous members of parliament, bankers, merchants, and Presidents of Chambers of Commerce, stating they were strongly convinced of the expediency of the under- taking ; and that, on the Meeting resolving on any course of action, they were perfectly ready to further that course of action to the best of their power. The Right Honourable Sotherok Estcourt, M.P.,in moving the first resolution, said — I am not reluctant at all to offer such humble assistance as I can, towards putting our proceeding in course of operation, which I look upon, in a national point of view, as being of manifest advantage, not only to Canada, and the other parts of America, but also, I must say, to the mother-country itself. ♦ * • As matters now stand, there is for half a year an absolute separation between the three provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Canada. (Hear, hear.) Now that that is of some importance in times of difficulty, I bear in mind a recollection which I think is a proof. At the time when what was called the rebellion of Canada broke out, I was well acquainted with the movements of the 43rd regiment. That regiment was stationed on the seaboard of New Brunswick ; it was of the greatest importance that all succour that could be afforded should be marched with every rapidity that was possible to the places where operations were going on in Canada. That regiment made a most magnificent and difficult passage through the midst of the country, which had scarcely been explored before they cut their way through — in short, it was one of the most brilliant operations, which is as deserving to be recorded by an historian as the famous expedition of Cyrus, which was so fortunate as to receive a place in history, and an historian in Xenophon ; it was something^ that could not fail to make an impression upon a non-military as well as a military mind. I know it did upon mine. They took, if I am not mistaken, pretty nearly the course along which yoa propoM to carry this railway ; they underwent great difficulties ; they could not avoid leaving behind them a great many of those accessories which were, in fact, indispensable to the full development of the power they had to bring to bear upon the scene of action. All that could be done was done in their personal and individual capacity — they contrived to make their way through the forests. Now, if there had been then such a railway as you are proposing to establish, instead of its being an operation of difficulty, it would have been one of great facility ; instead of cutting their way through at a slow rate, which still was very creditable to them, for they did it at twenty miles a day, they would have been wafted within twenty-four hours from Ualifox to Quebec, and thus have produced, by the rapidity of corn- el 99 ce, sr- in, est the ^le of of of • munication, an impression that would have more than doubled any amount of imperial force that might have been brought. My lord, with regard to the mode in which this Meeting should proceed, I beg to say, and it is hardly necessary for me to do so, that I attend here only as a private individual member of Parliament ; it is not in my power to state anything here on the part of the Oovemment. of which I am a very humble member, and cannot certainly in any way venture to take upon myself to say what their views will be ; but having taken part in similar operations before, it seems to me that the course you have delineated is very much the sort of course that it would be prudent for us. as well-wishers of the cause, to adopt, which would be likely to make an impression ; and, really, if there is to be any confidence placed in these figures, I do not think you will be calling upon the Government to incur any prodigious risk. (Hear, hear.) I must say. I think that the cause is one of such great importance, since it would enable us during one- half of the year, during which at present communication is totally intercepted, to establish, by means of a railway, facilities of con< veyance and communication between these three provinces. That in a national point of view you might fairly ask of the Oovemment to make some pecuniary sacrifice, in order to achieve it (hear, hear) ; but it seems to me, idso, if these figures have any weight, you might go to the Government and say, you gain this great Imperial advantage without any risk at all. (Hear, hear.) Now. my lord, I will leave it to those who are far abler than I am myself to enter into the details, and I only beg leave to move the resolution which has been put into my hands, in every word of which I must say for myself I not only cordially concur, but I cannot doubt that every person who knows anything of what is likely to be beneficial to our Colonial interests, and the Imperial interests of Great Britain, will be certain to concur. He concluded by moving the following resolution : — V '. *• That the extraordinary advance which has been made within the last few years in the trade and population of the Britiah North American colonies renders it imperatiTely necessary that Great Britain should no longer be dependent upon the United States for railway communication with these important colonies especially, when a cheaper and more expeditious route can be obtained through the British possessions. ' '' The Hon. John Vivian. M.P.. in seconding the resolution, stated he had great pleasure in doing so, for he happened to have marched with the 43rd regiment, on the occasion referred to by his right honourable friend ; and after giving a most interesting account of their march, concluded by saying, — The only thing that surprises me is that, considering the necessity of the communication between those three great countries of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, so many years should be permitted to have elapsed since they came into our possession, without any suggestion of this sort having been brought before the public. Sir Allan Napikr Macnab, in moving the next resolution, said. —The time has certainly arrived when we should no longer be ■:.i fiii i 40 4 i'! 1; L !!i I ; I dependent upon a foreign power for access to the ocean at all seasons of the year, and for our communication with the mother-country. The people of the colonies have done all that could be expected of them. The province of Canada has given £20,0<-)0 a year, and all the land necessaiy for the railway, and they have also given ten miles on either side of the track. The provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have done the same, and you learn by the report just read by the Chairman that this railway is estimated to cost about £3,000,000. You will therefore have money sufficient to pay the interest on more than one-third of the amount, and a grant of land that will, in my opinion, shortly realize all the money required. You cannot expect the colonies to do more than they have done, and surely the Government of this country ought to be prepared to give them the assistance they require. My friend Mr. Cunard, who sits on the other side of the table, will tell you that the port of Halifax is one of the finest ports in the world, that the communication between Halifax and Quebec will not occupy more than twenty-four hours, and that a large portion of the land is good and will be available after the completion of the rail- way. The exports and imports of Canada alone are now about ' £20,000,000. He concluded by moving the following resolution :— " That the importance of a line of railway from Halifax to Quebec, in ■ national point of view, having been repeatedly acknowledged by the Imperial Governments, and by the legislatnres of the varioui colonies through which the said line of railway is intended to pass, it is desirable that measures be forthwith adopted to carry out the views expressed by such high authority." It was seconded by Mr. Nisbett. M.P., and spoken to by Lord GoDERicH, M.P., as follows : — My Lord Bury and Oentlemeu — As I shall be obliged to leave this Meeting in a few moments, you will perhaps allow me to say one or two words, feeling, as I do, a very deep interest in all that concerns the colonies of England. I was very happy to avail myself of your invitation to attend this Meeting to-day ; but. as I told you then, and stated to other gentlemen in the room, I came here more as a learner than in any other capacity. Before I go I am anxious to state, that all that I have heard bM convinced me that the assertions contained in those two resolutions that have just been moved and carried are fully borne out, as far as I am able to judge of the matter. There can be no doubt of the great importance to the colonies, and of the great importance to the mother-country, of such a railway as is proposed to be made. For my own part, with regard to the other resolutions, I am not a great friend in the abstract to Government guarantees or Government assistance to railways. I am always more glad to see undertakings of this kind carried out by the unassisted eiforts of capitalists. But I can understand that a work of this description, which may be truly called a national work, tending to bind together three colonies, and to confer great and manifest advantages upon the mother-country, may require some assistance of that description. i! m-^ The CuAiEMAN said, — The Honourable Samuel Cunard will move the third resolution. The Hon. S. Cukabd. — Mjr Lords and Oentlemen. I do not think it is necessary for me to say much to you upon the subject, as I think you have pointed out yourselves the proper course to be adopted. I think that a committee should be appointed to wait upon the Government, and I think the Oovemment are fully sensible of the importance of this measure. I have had a great deal to do with it myself. I had managed with Lord Grey at one time to carry it out, and the Government were very much disposed to come forward, and to do anything almost that was ret^uired, they knowing the importance of the measure. (Hear, hear.) Anybody who knows Halifax will admit it is one of the first harbours in the world, and that a railway there would be a link which would connect together the three provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, and without that connecting link they are completely separated. It is something remarkable that for six months of the year there is no access to Quebec, and neither is there any outlet from Quebec. If you have, in a Government point of view, troops in Halifax, you caa send them wherever they are required. If you wish to take them from Canada, you can take them down to Hahfax. Last year I had to bring troops from Quebec to Halifax, when they were wanted in the Crimea, and I could not do it for want of proper communication. I want to show the importance of the railway not existing at that time, and what I could have done with it. I pointed out to the Government that they could do with three regiments less in Canada by means of this railway than they could do without it. I did not at that time think that they would find it necessary to bring troops from Canada to assist in other parts of the world where we might want them. I think the Government would be glad to aid and assist this as a great national undertaking, and as a measure of very great importance, I think the Chairman has pointed out that a deputation should wait upon the Government, and I think it would not wait upon them in vain. I think they would not only get the countenance of the Government, but they would get as large an annual sum of money as the provinces are willing to give for the advantages the Government would receive frotii it. The Government would receive much greater advantages than the provinces by the sum they would give. The Government did propose to allow me a very large sum of money annually, and also to guarantee the pay- ment of a loan in diis country, at a low rate of interest, which we could now get and could have got at that time ; and the sum the provinces were to pay and the sum the Government were to pay would meet the interest altogether, so that they could go on and work the railway by that means. (Hear, hear.) I do not think it necessary to occupy more of your time than I have done — it is a great measure and of importance both to the colopies and to the country at large. He concluded by moving the folk>wing resolution : — ■-Vil - i' ■ * 42 t :!i I' i ■:"■•• 1 t <=^ J- " That, in the opinion of tbi* meeting, tlie Halifax and Quebec Railwasr will afford a safe and profitable means uf investment for a largo amount of unem- ployed capital in the United Kingdom, provided that the Imperial Government be willing to confer upon the subscribers such privileges and advantages as are commensurate with the Importance of this great national undertaking, and with the advantages already accorded by the Colonial Governments." Colonel BoLDEBo, M.P., in seconding the resolution, stated he had great pleasure in doing so, for during a residence of some years in Halifax, carrying on important works for the Government, he had become fully aware of its importance. The Hon. Charles Fitzwilliam, M.P., in moving the next reso- lution, said, he looked upon it as the commencing link to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific, an object which no doubt every person ought to have in view who wishes to keep Her Majesty's dominions in their utmost integrity, We fortunately possessed on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans the most important harbours in the world, and it was highly essential they should be connected by a railway through British territory. He concluded by moving — " That it is advisable that application be forthwith made to Her Majesty s Government upon the subject of the proposed r^v 44 ■P \ i I Mr. CuKARD. — It was. The Honourable Justice Haliburton. — And it was though a mo»t marvellous undertaking, even by the colonistB themselves, and I be> lieve the corami8!>ariat oflicer's name was Inglin. who was a colonist, and therefore had a knowledge of these modes of conveying troopn which an English commissariat officer would not have. He was a host in himself; and there would hare been very different work in the Crimea if he had lived to have gone there. The St. Lawrence is closed for a great part of the year, and a road through the wilderness does not exist. To send or withdraw troops at al) times, to forward warlike stores or militia to assailed or assailable points, is of the first importance — where means of transport exist to the sea, the military force may be reduced greatly ; in eleven days troops can reach Canada from England — weakness invites attack. Now, Halifax is situate at the nearest point to England in America. Most of you, gentlemen, have been there. It is the most magnificent harbour in the world. It is not only one harbour, but it is a double harbour. After you go up about ten miles of magnificent harbour, you pass through a small narrow passage of about 1,100 to 1 .200 feet — perhaps not so much — and then you get up to Bedford Harbour, which is the best, if there can be two bests. Mr. CcNARD. — Halifax is the best, and the other is the better. The Honourable Justice Haliburton. — That is. that Halifax is a double first. It is an extraordinary fact, and difiicult to account for, that the harbour of Halifax is only once in many years frozen over, and the further south you go upon that continent the oftener the harbours are frozen over. For instance, if you go further south to Boston, it is twice as often frozen over as Halifax. !>' Mr. Cunard. — I have been twenty years with steamers, and have not been kept out of Halifax once, but I have out of Boston many times. The Honourable Justice Haliburton. — During the winter, a few years ago, there were a hundred vessels frozen up in Charleston, South Carolina, and had to stop there six weeks at a time ; but that does not often occur. If you go north of Halifax, then it is entirely closed. But I have no doubt that the magnificent harbour of Halifax was intended for this railway. Mr. Coward. — Nothing happens by accident. The Honourable Justice Halibxtrton.-- No doubt Providence intended this, for this particular object. (A laugh.) Now, I will just mention one thing that has been omitted. When it was first started, it was considered a monstrous undertaking, and alarmed everybody, because you were to begin at Halifox and run to Quebec. But the distance is lessened at both ends now. Nova Scotia has already made its railway from Halifax very near to the New Brunswick border. Canada has done the same thing ; it has run down the St. Lawrence as far as Trois Pistoles, and I believe is willing to do what lies within its own border ; but there is a large piece of vacant ground l)«tween Nova Scotia and Canada, Ijring in New ^ Brunswick. They have not anybody who seems to take any interest in tiiat which is the key to the whole. When you come to consider with reference to this particular resolution that you are at the mercy uf the Americans for your postal communication ; that you have not a road from these Lower Provinces, that they are totally detached, that they are unconnected, that there are five sets of laws in conse- quence of their being in that way, that there is no general public feeling got up amongst them, it is manifestly an object of the first importance to unite them. I think the Government ought to take into consideration another view, which is, that in all the possessions of England in the wide world (where the sun never sets upon her possessions) and especially on the American continent, if there are loyal subjects it is in British North America, and they have lately given a proof of it (Hear, hear), for a regiment has been formed, and it is not only now offered, but it has been offered and rather superciliously rejected on one or two occasions before ; but at this time they could not well refuse it, because they could not do without it, and if the regiment does not give a good account of itself, I shall l)e greatly mistaken. They sent General Inglis to defend Lucknow, and General Williams to defend Kars.and also sent the Admiral who brought the Yankee Chesapeake into Halifax (laughter), who was also n native of our country ; and it sent to the Redan some of the very first victims who fell there. Therefore. I think, in considering this, — it is a truly English possession — that it is larger than all Europe — it is connected with the East, and it is of importance in every way, I should certainly think it a very extraordinary thing if the Govern- ment does not, at all events, give a guarantee. British America is the only possession tee have where the climate suits Europe/ i constitu- tions ; in this respect it is far be/ore the States, as is evinced in the health, vigour, and stature of the population. He concluded by moving the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Nrkld, M.P. :— utrance of the St. Lawrence to the head of Lake Superior, larger inland navigation than from Liverpool to New York (w! i« upwuds of 3.700 miles). From the embouchure of that river in British territory up to the head of Lake Superior in British territory, it would take a vessel with the same power a longer time to go up through that natural canal than it would to go from Liverpool to that country. After this railway is completer*, you will have an outlet for all the western waters ; all the produce that they have in that part of the world must come by this railway to the nearest port of Halifax on the Atlantic, between England and America. Here are things that are practicable — they begin piece by piece. Through Canada there are locks to connect the lakes and railways at certain points. There is a railway through Nova Scotia, and now it wants but this little bit, and then you get a communication all the way from Halifax to the head of Lake Superior, and thence to Vancouver's Island through open country. ' '|?f, ;»'r;5ri.'« V? i I! I I. • i;: ' But there is another fact ; this is not a grant Oi a guarantee ; it iSr in fact, a contract to a certain extent. You are to pay this company what you are now paying the American Government for the transmission of your mails. It is a company which you can con- strain by courts of law and by means of which you can reach them as British subjects. Vou cannot constrain the Americans to the fulfilment of any treaty (I do not think it is in their power to fulfil a treaty, and I do not think they hare the disposition to do it if they had the power), but this is a company that can be constrained to do it. But there are considerations far beyond all that. There are ramifications and consequences which cannot be easily foreseen in the first instance, — one is the reduction of Her Majesty's expenditure. If you have a railway from Halifax you need not keep troops in Canada for its defence ; for in eleven days they can be sent from Chatham to any point of Canada ; they would get to Halifax in nine days, and in two days the greater portion of Canada would be under protection, and that is as soon as the Americans could discipline, embody, and march their troops. Therefore you do not want to keep such a military force, and {dl the saving that is constituted out of that state of things must be put also to the credit of this rail- way. Now. during the last war it was the disposition of the Go- vernment to withdraw the troops. They wanted a regiment ; they put it off for too long a time, and they had to wait for six months, as they could not come out ; they wanted to get the stores, and they could not bring them through the United States, because it would be contavening the neutrality treaty. You should look at it as a national and intercolonial question, and not as colonial merely ; and you should look at it for the postal communication, and also that it will (which is highly desirable) connect those colonies in a way that there shall be the same com- munion and the same confederation. You have now five different colonies there, and those five different colonies have five different sets of customs, five different tariffs, and five different sets of laws. We know as little of what goes on in Nova Scotia, at Toronto, or at Kingston, as we do of what goes on at Danzic or Hongkong. I can much easier go now from here to St. Petersburg than I can go from Halifax to Quebec. I can do so much more comfortably and at half the cost. Mr. CuNABO. — You remarked just now that the Government were indisposed to make grants for colonial railways. Now, this is not a colonial railway, nor an intercol')nial oi ', but it is a great national road — it is a great military road, and < ^ .should be viewed in this country as such, and not as u colonial one. Sir £. Bulwbb-Lttton. — There are various ways of putting it ; I SHOULD THINK IT WAS A QBKAT NATIONAL ROAD. Mr. CcNABD. — It really it so. For six months in the year you can have no access to Canada in a military point of view ; you cannot bring troops from Canada, neither can you take troops to aid and assist them. That we saw during the last year or two : and there- SI . fore I think that we should view it as a military road, and as a great national road. You pay nothing for it. You become liable to pay £60,000 a year, and you get it back before you pay it. You actually get it back as a saving before you spend the money. Some- body has said that it cost £25,000 a year for the postage. I believe it is so. Then, if you would have to convey troops, see what you would save ! You would save three regiments in Canada and the provinces, because you could have them where you pleased at any one point. You might have troops at Halifax, and send them up the country if you wanted, or you might bring them home. You would save more than £60,000 a year in those different items which were mentioned. In reply to a question from the Chairman. Sir E. Bulwer-Lytton said he should recommend the deputation to wait on the Chancellor of the Exchequer at once, and state to him that it had received his (Sir Edward's) most favourable attention. On the following day the deputation waited on the Right Honourable Benjamin Disraeli, Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Deputation consisted of the following noblemen and gentle- men : — ^Viscofint Bury, M.P., Viscount Goderich. M.P., the Hon. Sir Allan N. Macnab, Bart., the Hon. C. W. W. Fitawilliam. M.P., Capt. the Hon. John Vivian, M.P., the Hon. S. Cunard, the Hon. F. Berkeley. M.P.. the Hon. Justice Haliburton, J. A. Roebuck, Esq., M.P.. Colonel Boldero, M.P., G. G. Glyn, Esq., M.P.. Thos. Luce. Esq.. M.P., William Roupell, Esq., M.P., the Rt. Hon. Sotheron Estcourt, M.P., W. H. Gore. Langton, Esq., M.P.. H. W. Schneider, Esq^M.P., John Neeld, Esq., M.P., R.P. Nisbett, Esq., M.P., James Wyhl> Esq., M.P., H. P. Roche, Esq., Pascoe Glyn, Esq., Mr. Nelson, Mr. Brotherhood, Mr. Sewell, ^lr. H. Masterman, and Mr. Stevens. llie CBAivcBiiLoa or thb Excbkqubb. — My Lord Bury, I have got your papers, but I have not been able to look at them much. What I know is what everybody knows who takes a popular view of the subject. You thought it of importance for the convenience of several gentlemen that I should see you to-day. It was only yesterday that you intimated your wish, and therefore I am not prepared to enter into all the details laid down, which otherwise I should have been very glad to have done ; but I will now listen with the greatest pleasure to what yon or any other gentleman may wish to say on the subject. Loan BtJBT. — Sir, I am here to state to you the object of this deputation. The parties who are here represent a large body who ore very much interested in all ways, both by knowledge of the country and connection with Canada, and they have seen with very ;■'■ 1 ■>.,i";j?-"i( «s i 'J- IW" great displeasure, and great anxiety, that we are entirely dependent upon a foreign country for communication with that pro? ince, which at any moment may be cut off if we are at hottiUty with the United States. We have met together to discuss whether it will not be possible to obtain some communication entirely through a British territory from Halifax to Quebec. This deputation met, as you are aware, by appointment, the Colonial Secretary yesterday, and he received us with the greatest courtesy, and with expressions of sympathy in our views which were very cheering to us. We laid before him the position of matters ; and in doing so, and as the spokesman of the deputation. I thought it my duty rather to urge upon him the political value of this line and its extreoae importance in a national point of view, than to enlarge upon the commercial part of the undertaking. He perfectly agreed in the political importance of the line ; but he said, as we asked for a Government guarantee or Government assistance, it would come within your province, and he dismissed us with a general expression of sympathy with the objects of the meeting, and, of course, carefully guarding himself against expressing any opinion as to whether her Majesty's Government would feel it to be their duty to recommend any such guarantee. Perhaps, as you have been so kind as to inform us that you have not had time to look through the papers. I may be permitted to mention one or two of the prominent matters which i;pnder this im^ portant in a national point of view. His Lordship then repeated the imperial advantages it would confer, and continued, — The Legislatures of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, as you will see by the papers which are before you, have each of them guaranteed to her Majesty's Government £20,000, making in all £60,000, towards the completion of this line. And they have also guaranteed to her Majesty all ungranted lands within ten miles of the proposed route, and all private lands requisite for the construction, not only of this line, but for the stations and buildings : that is £60,000 granted to her Majesty's Government. The CHANCKLLoa of the Exchkqvbr.— Annually ? Lord BuBT. — Yes, and the land, with the line itself when con- structed, would be extremely valuable, and would probably repay the expense of its construction. The estimated amount of the capital required for the construction of the whole line ia about £3,000,000 sterling ; so that this £60.000 granted by the Colonial Legislatures amounts to a guarantee of about £2 per cent, upon the whole capital. We do not presume to lay down any positive terms on which we will treat with her Majesty's Government, but as her Majesty's Government cannot be expected to take. the initiative in a matter of this sort, we wish to state what would be satisfactory to the company. The deputation which ia here, have appointed a Finance Committee to discuss with you the details of thi^ matter, if you should intimate your readiness to enter into the subject. We woald ask, as the nnt proposal, that her Majeaty's Government i 53 should, in consideration of the conveyance of the mails, troops, and stores, as I have said before, propose to Parliament to give us another annual sum of £60,000, equal to the annual sum of £60,0U0 guaranteed by the Colonial Legislature, and the crown lands granted by them, making in all £120,000, which is £4 per cent, upon the required capital estimated for the construction of the line. I may state that, out of that £60,000, there is a quid pro quo, and I would rather wish to insist upon that point ; so that the remaining portion would be about £30.000 a year, and the asset that I would put against that would be the conveyance of the troops and stores, and the extreme national importance of our being connected, and having the facility of communicating with the Canadas ; and I submit to you whether that altogether would not form a reason why her Majesty's Government should, at least, entertain the proposal. The harbour of Halifax. I should have mentioned, enjoys the advantage which I believe is not shared by any of the harbours south of New York, nor even Charleston in South Carolina, of being open at all seasons of the year. Halifax is never closed up. The harbours south of Halifax are closed up. Boston and New York are very often closed, and Halifax is the only port which is always open. The Chancbllob of the Excbkqubb. — Is this company just formed ? , . , , , Mr. Wtld, M.P.— Yes. * " ;' The Chancbllob of thb Exchbqubb. — For the specific purpose of forming a line from Halifax to Quebec ? Mr. Nelson. — More properly speaking that part of it which is not already made, from Truro to Trois Pistoles. Lord BuBT.— I forgot to mention that when the Colonial legisla- tures granted the £60,000 to her Majesty they granted it on condition that her Majesty would undertake the work, either by the Govern- ment or by a private company. What we want is to be recognized as that private company, to carry out, as her Majesty's instrument, the work. If we are ec recognized we instantly become possessed of those advantagcR that are held out. The Cbancbj LOB of the Excheqvbb. — ^There has been no attempt to raise capitPi for this company ? Mr. Wylii, M.P. — None sir. First of all they must ask whether her Majesty's Government would entertain this proposition, and if her Majesty's Government will entertain it, then immediately the capital will be raised. The Chancbllob of thb Exohbqusb. — What is the date of form- ing this company ? Lord BuBT. — A few days ago. The Chancbllob of the ExcHBauEB.»>Have you submitted any memorial to the Secretary of State ? Lord BcBT. — Yes, explaining the resolutions that were passed at a meeting held at the Thatched-house Tavern on Saturday week. That is a copy of it [handing it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer]. Inhere may be a slight alteration to make in it of a few words at the i I ill n , i. 54 The Chancelior or thb Exohkqobr — I have no hesitation in Baying as everybody must feel, that this is an object of the greatest importance and most desirable to be accomplished. I should like very much to go into the financial part of it before I could speak with any precision upon the recommendation that I shonld give You say there are gentlemen in this room who can communicate with me upon it. Mr. ScHNEinsR, M.P. — Sir, there is one thing you should bear in mind — that is, the present state of railway enterprise in this country, and especially after what has occurred vnth regard to the Grand Trunk Railway. If her Majesty's Government do not feel it their duty to grant this £60,000, the line would be practioolly hopeless, and you will not find a class of shareholders to subscribe shares without there is a certain guarantee from Government. This guarantee would be £4 per cent., which would be little enough. A £4 per cent, guarantee upon the original estimate would induce any- body to embark in it; and , therefore, in this case it is not a question of getting a guarantee of £4 per cent, for the sake of making a line pay, but really as the foundation on which the line itself can be made. You would never raise the money without there was a certain guarantee of £4 per cent, upon the original capital. The Chancellor of the Exchequkb. — It is not an UNrAvcuR- ABLE period foT Undertaking these obbat works, if you can agree upon any arrangement. I can only say that I am duly impressed with the great importance of it ; and your (Lord Bury's) very clear and lucid statement has revived my recollection. I remember a great deal on this point when Lord Grey was in office. It certainly is, in every point of view, a matter of the highest consideration, and I will confer with Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton immediately upon it. I will not lose any time. Perhaps I had better communicate with you, Lord Bury ? III it i! ■ Shortly after these depitations Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton and Mr. Disraeli replied verbally to Lord Bury, and pointed out that the assistance promised had been granted oy the Colonial Legislatures in 1849; that the negotiations then entered into had not been carried out, and that the Acts then passed, though not formally expunged fW)m the statute book, might not improbably be regarded as having fallen into desuetude. Under these circumstances, it was determined that some frentleman should visit Briti^ North America, and ascertain, rom personal observation, how far the colonies would he disposed to ratify and renew the engagements made in ^ Lord Bury undertook the mission, and on his return he. 55 referring to the above-mentioned enactments, reported as follows : — " During my visit to the three pt^vinces, I endeavoured, both in public meetings which were convened for the purpose, and by private conversation with gentlemen of every shade of political opinion, to ascertain whether the words in that and the similar acts of the lower provinces, still indicated the views of the people. . „! '.»<' " I have to express my belief that a large majority of the people in the three provinces desire to see the work undertaken, and that the acta cited are considered still in force. I also think that if, from the length of time during which they have remained in abeyance, any renewal of their provisions were considered necessary, it would not be difficult to obtain their re-enactment. " During the past year delegates from each of the three provinces met in England to discuss with the head of the Colonial Office the mode in which this work might be constructed. Their reports are not yet before the public, and it would be improper for me to allude further to the result of their labours than to say that I believe their opinions to be highly favourable to the construction of the road. Delegates from Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, arrived in this country simultaneously with Lord Bury's de- parture ; the object of their mission was again to press upon the Imperial Government the necessity of granting aid to complete this railway. Thev addressed Sir E, B. Lytton, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as follows :-—> . .i«.;» 1. 'J Sir, " 3, Charles Street, St. Jamet't Square, London. : ,, „ 26/A October, 1858. " The subject of an in'eroolonial railway from Halifax to Quebec has been so frequently and so fully discusaRd, both as between the colonies interested, and between those colonies and the Hume Government, that the undersigned do not now propose to reproduce at length the nrgumecta which have been from time to time urged in fiivour of its construction. " The late E^l of Durham, in his report upon the affairs of British North America, suggested the importance of this railway. " The first practical step, however, was taken in the organization of a survey by Mr. Gladstone, when Secretary of State for the Colonies, in 1846, which survey occupied a considerable period of time, involving a large aoioont of expense, and to which expense Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia contributed. <• Earl Grey, when Secretary of State for the Colonies, in I85I, distinctly pledged the Imperial Government to aid in making the line by affording the impnrial guarantee to the payment of the interest on the capital required for the work, and this pledge would doubtless have been carried out at the time, had not a diffloolty arisen as to a branch line from the main line into the State of Maine, for the cost of which Mr. Howe, of Nova Scotia, also claimed the imperial guarantee. M'^-'-'SH'^rf-'^' '■■■'" ' •" ■■''<'.■,■-. ..,"';;'''■■■ - :, ' ^. '^ •'V'^V'^'' ■ ' '■ If 56 n ■ ( f-" " Subsequently, in 1852, Mr. Hincks, on behalf of Canada, and Mr. Chandler, acting for New Brunswick, brought the matter under the notice of Sir John Pakington, then Secretary of State for the Coloniei, who in effect repeated the pledge of Earl Grey, but a difficulty arose ai to the route. " His Grace tlie Duke of Newcastle, as Secretary of State for the Coloni<;8 in the ensuing year, had the project under consideration with a view to carrying it out ; the Russian war, however, unfortunately intervened, and prevented any progress being made until last year (1857)i when Metars. Macdonald and Roso from Canada, and Messrs. Johnson and Archibald from Nova Scotia, again made application to the Home Government, and submitted to Mr. Labouohere propo- sitions for the completion of this railway. " The undersigned have thus, but briefly, referred to the action in relation to this question as between the Imperial and Colonial Governments, knowing, sir, as they do, that you are fully acquainted with its history in all its bearings, and that a reference to the Parliamentary Blue Books for the documents and despatches alluded to will be more convenient and satisfactory to you than a repetition of their contents. " It must be borne in mind, however, that the state of the question in the Colonies interested has been materially changed since the correspondence with Earl Grey and Sir John Pakington. "At that time Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia had not, in fact, taken any step incurring debt or liability for the purpose of aiding the project ; and it is proposed here to state briefly what has been done, and what liabilities incurred in the respective Provinces, towards carrying out this great Imperial and Provincial work. " Canada has not only provided for the construction of a line of railway from Quebec to Montreal, and thence westward, passing through Kingston and Toronto to the western boundary of that Province at Samia, the foot of Lake Huron, but 40 miles below Quebec have been made, and are now worked for trafiic ; and during next year a further distance of 70 miles to Riviere dn Loup, now being made, comprising in the aggregate 110 miles below Quebec, or 864 miles in all, firom Riviere du Loup to Samia, will be completed, at a cost to the Province of £''3,111,500 sterling, raised and paid out since 1652, to aid in the construction of this railway, and involving an annual charge upon the revenues of the Province to the extent of jtl86,000 sterling. From Riviere du Loup to the New Brunswick frontier the distance to be yet made depends upon the route selected, the shortest distance being about 50 miles ; and there will then he a continuous line of railway throughout the entire length of Canada, from its extreme eastern boundary on the New Brunswick border to its western boundary at Sarnia, on Lake Huron. " In addition to this large outlay, Canada will contribute the sum of jf 20,000 sterling annually, to aid in raising the capital for the completion of this important work. " New Brunswick has incurred a heavy debt in the construction of railways. Upon the completion of the unfinished portion of the road between Shediac and the city of St. John, a distance of 110 miles, which are now under con- tract, her total expenditure for the construction of railways vrill exceed ;f800,000 sterling, for which she will be subject to the payment of an annual interest of ^^48,000 sterling. She has already given 100,000 acres of land to the St. Andrew and Quebec Railway and Land Company, and has pledged a further large grant of land, and agreed to pay an annual sum of :^5,000 sterling to the same company on certain conditions, to assist in the construction of a railway from St. Andrew to Woodstock, a distance of 85 miles, 60 miles of which will be finished this autumn. Notwithstanding these large expenditures, New Brunswick will now provide a free right of way, and contribute jg20,000 sterling annually to aid in raising the necessary capital for the completion of the intercolonial railway. "Nova Scotia, before the close of this year, will have opened for traffic 61 miles of the trunk line from Halifax to Truro, and a branch line of 31 miles, connecting the main line with Windsor and the fertile counties of the western 57 portion of the province on the baain of minei, hu been in operation since June lait. " This portion of the trunk line hat cost about if 500,000 sterling, and tlie Windsor branch i300,000 sterling, the interest of which is chargeable upon the revenues of the province, the capital having been raised upon provincial debentures bearing six per cent, interest. To complete the trunk line from Truro to the borders of New Brunswick theie remain about 69 miles. " Unless it be in connection with the Intercolonial Railway, it forms no part of the policy of Nova Scotia to carry the line from Truro to the New Brunswick frontier, aa, unaided, it is entirely beyond her resources ; and a line is now being located from Truro to Picton, by which communication will be opened with the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Prince Edward's Island, and the eastern counties, including Caiie Breton. " In the event, therefore, of the present effort faUing to enlist the sympathy and co-operation of the Imperial Government in completiiig the Intercolonial Railway, in which the gen ral interests of the empire are so largely involved, Nova Scotia must turn her resources to the construction of the line to Picton ; and no hope can be entertained that she will afterwards be able to contribute to the Quebec and Halifax line, as all her means will have been expended upon the local lines already indicated. So deeply impressed ib she, however, with the im- mense importance of this great Imperial and Colonial Railway undertaking, that, although nearly one-haSf of the line through Nova Scotia baa been made and completed since the action of her Legislature in 1849, she is now willing to renew the pledget then given, to grant a free right of way, and provide and pay £^20,000 sterlinc annually, so long as it may be required, to aid in meeting the interest of the additional capital to be expended in making the line from Truro to Riviere du Loup. " Referring, then, to the action of the Home Government ; to the pledges of Earl Grey in 1851 ; to the adoption of those pledges in effect by Sir John Pakington in 1852 ; and to the repeated admissions on the part of the Imperial authorities, that the interests and integrity of the empire are involved in the speedy construction of this railway, the undersigned respectfully submit, that the period has arrived when it is essential that the Imperial assistance necessary be granted. " It is estimated that the different sections required to complete the line from Halifax to Quebec may now be made at a cost of three millions and a half of pounds tterling. If the million and a half of pounds which Canada owes to, and proposes to raise and pay off at once to the Imperial Government, be appro- priated, there remain but two millions more to be provided ; and to meet the interest on this sum, each province here propotet to contribute to the extent of 4^0,000 tterling, in each year. - " The British North- American Provinces would thus be brought together and consolidated ; the postal communication between England and all North America would be conducted through Halifax, and that for the United States would thus pass first through British Territory, inasmuch as letters for Boston, New York, and other American citiea would reach thehr destination sooner through Halifax and over the rail than in any other way. " When the Intercolonial Railway is completed, there will be an unbroken commnnination by railway from Halifkx, in Nova Scotia, to the western part of Canada, at Samia, extending over a dir'^r.nce of about 1,400 miles in the direc- tion of British Columbia and Vancouver's Island, the whole being in the dominions of the Queen ; and from Samia there is now an unbroken water com- munication for steamers and vessels of the largest class to the head of Lake Superior, at Fort William, a further distance of nearly 1,000 miles. " The military objects are now so thoroughly understood, and have been so fully dwelt uuon in former communications on the subject of this railway, that they are not here repeated. ?:^;;«« v*'^-* '^' • 7 1 IX ! u lit ■ i "I f if Canadt. N«w BnuMwick. Nora SootU." " Tnuting that this imitortant matter may rac«ive tb« aarly and faTOoruble ronaideratioii of her Miyesty'i Govemment, •• We hare, 4o. (Signed) " 0. E. Caetik*, Jmo. Roaa, A. T. Qai,t, C'RAnLsa Fhmbb, A. P. Smith, CHABLsaTurpcn,' W. A. Hbnbt, R. B. DiOBBT, And on being referred by him to the Chancellor of the Exchequer they addressed the following letter to Mr. Disraeli— " London, 16M N»9tmbtr, 1858. " Sib, " We have the honour to endoae a oopy of th« Jcrint letter from the ddeftatea Afom the Britiah North>American Coloniea to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Uie lubject of the intercolonial railway ; and we ventBre to expreaa the hope that her Migeaty's QoTemment may be able to five an early and fiiTonrable consideration to the qoeation. <* We have, &c., (Signed) «' JoHW Roaa. "A.T. Galt." 7b th* Right Hon. B. IH*ra»li, ChtmeMor qfthe Exthtqmtr, i(e. •• London, 13M Nwtmbtr, 1858. " ' Sib, " ' In the interview with which we were honoured by the Seeretarr of State for the Colonies, an the salnect of the railwn from Haliflut to Qnebec, Sir E. B. Lytton stated that while Um coostraction of this work nnqoestionably entered into Imperial policy, it involved questions more peculiarly financial, and that he therefore wished us to address you, and in submitting our united appli- cation, to add our views of the manner in which the British excheqnsr would be affected by your assent to our propotsl. '"A reference to the enclosed copy of our joint letter to Sir E. B. LyttoD will show you, that estimating the capital required to be £3,500,000, the imperial Govemraent are asked to apply ;£l, 500,000, now payable by Canada, and to guarantee, if necessary, the proposed grant by the three colonies of ;f 60,000 per annum. Assuming, which we trust will not be questioned, that the obligationa of the several provinces will be honourably met, as has always hitherto been the case, the amount of aid asked from the British Government, to secure an object admittedly of vast imperial InteresU is limited to the grant of ;ei,500,000, representing, at 4 per cent., an annual charge on the British exchequer of ireo.ooo. • »~ ' » t " ' Aninst this sum it is claimed that the construction of the ndlway would relieve Great Britain of certain known charges :— " ' Payment to United States Government for the £ s. d. transmission of mails to and from Canada 25,000 Reduction in ocean services, as now jperfomed by the Cunard line, Haliftx being 547 milea nearw Liverpool than New York, in proportion to the whole subsidy, at least 35,000 Saving in transmission of troops and munition of war,atlea8t 10,000 Carried forward £70,000 59 Broniht forward i'70.000 To wHich may be added the tum which would be paid bf the United Statea Government for the tranamlMion of their nails by the railway, at least aa mueh aa is now paid by the Britiih OoTemment 25,000 ;^5,000 " ' On flnandal gnmnds W9 therefbre do not hesitate to state our conviction that a large reduction may be eftcted in existing charges upon the Britith revenue ; while, at the same time, the other and more important Imperial political objeets will be attained. " < We have now fully stated our views on this important subject, and it only remains tor us to> express our hope that, if her Majesty's Government are desirous of extending their aid, they maybe pleased to advise us of their views, and, should they not be prepared to adopt the precise scheme submitted by us, that they will 1)6 pleased to inform us of the naode by which they consider the object can be attained more conslstentlv with the interests of the Imperial Government. " ' We may add, that if it should be more consistent with your views to grant aid to this proposed rdlway by way of subsidy, for the ser /ires hereinbefore enume- rated, instead of an absolute grant of money, it would equally meet the exi^i'ttf tions and desires of the several colonies. •"Wehave, &c. (Signed) •' ' G. E. Cartiir, per A. T. Oalt. ' John Ross. A. T. Galt. Charlkb Fibhsr. A. P. Smith. ♦<" Charles TuFPBR. W. A. Hknry. i R. B. Dickry.' " ■I' :# •-TiSr- 60 ■ . k> ?!;<-^'''?^*.ys?'-" 'ijs^pt^je 't^. ti^' •ii'- 11 % - \ ^,h ■ 7*0 the Honourable the Commons of the United Khi';- dom of Great Britain and Ireland^ in Parliament y^ assembled, ' -'''^>-^- ' '^''-' \''' (A sioailar Petition has been addressed to the House of Lords.) THE HUMBLE PETITION OP THE UNDERSIGNED fe MERCHANTS, BANKERS, AND OTHERS OF THE -\ BOROUGH OF LIVERPOOL, Shkwbth — .■■-.:■': ,.-.--. . .Ue?.- First, — ^That for six months oi the year we are solely depen- dent on the United States of America for our communications with Canada. - >^" '■> ■ :-- ..:.:.yv,.-»(^ ..r v.?^ . -r- Sbcond. — That in case of an interruption of our friendly relations with the United States, our intercommunication with Canada, during that period, is liable to be cut off at a moment's notice, and an important portion of the British Empire placed in great jeopardy. Third. — ^Tbat the completion of the line of Railway from Halifax to Quebec would render us perfectly independent of the United States at all seasons of the year. FotTRTH. — That the completion of this line of Railway would accelerate the delivery of the Canadian Mails and Despatches at least thirty-six hours in advance of the present route through the United States. ... ,■;. ,,,.^ Fifth.- -That the completion of this line of Railway would open up for colonization and settlei cnt by emigrants from the mother- country upwards of 14,000,000 acres of ungranted lands withiii a journey of ten days from ouv own shores. Sixth. — ^That the military jcpenses for the preservation of British North America, borne by the Imperial Treasury, amount to the sum of £420,000 per annxim. Sevekth. — lljat the completion of this line of Railway would 61 effect an almost total saving of this expenditure, as it would render Canada accessible within ten days at all seasons, whilst at the present tiiae she is, in a military point of view, excluded from com> munication with the mother*country for six months of the year. Eighth. — ^That it would link together the three provinces ot Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, and give them access to the ocean, at all seasons, through the port of Halifex, one of the finest harbours in the world, and nearer to England (and to Europe) by 400 miles than any other open port in America. -'^ ' Ninth. — ^That your Petitioners believe that the immediate com- pletion of the line of Railrra> from Halifiax to Quebec is essential to the preservation and integrity of the British Empire in North America. T£yTH. — ^That your Petitioners believe, that in addition to its adding to the security and permanence of the British Empire in North America, accelerating the communication with the mother-country, reviving that identity of interest with her which has been too long engrossed by the United States, the Railway woulc" also effect a saving to the Imperial Treasury for exceeding any asustance that may be required for its completion. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray your ys.. Honourable House to grant such aid and assist- ance to the Halifax and Quebec Railway Com- 7 pany. Limited, as shall enable them to bring to a successful completion this great national under- taking. te ';y- And your petitioners will ever pray. r^ 'Chas. Horsfall & Son* ^1 Fielden, Brothers, & Co. ^\ Famworth & Jardine yi.i\ Bailey, Brothers, & Co. James Beazley S. R. Graves Olen & Anderson R. L. Jones J. Bramley Moore C. W. & F. Shand Wm. Anderton ,«j«veKiit?ti Rankin, Gilmour, & Co. Charles Saunders Cunard, Wilson, & Co. W. Tarbet & Sons Miller & Mosman David Cannon, Sons, & Co. Kenneth, Dowie, & Co. Lieton, Young, & Co. John S. De Wolf & Co. Boult, English, & Brandon Morrow, Son, 6c Garbutt n n ; ' I I- ■51 I' -J Henry Holland J. Prowse, Jr, Dixon & Wynne Thomas Kelly J. Mott&Sons ' W. H.Dixon • Henry Glynn F. Stanton Hill Thomas Hudson ^ ^ Wm. Porter & Co. J. Perrin, Son, & Co. / jj.*; Chalmers & Co. - ^" Alfred Hill & Co. Maurice Williams Kennedy & Oilkeson W. B. Wade Edmund Kaye Wm. B. Kewley John Johnson ■i.i'^if-' W. P. Clarke hn&M'- Henry Carter E. Edwards F. Mensch ii^^ti^'Mn:^' Chas. Wise Postlethwaite & Carlisle J. F. Bradshaw Wm. MoCully J. C. Bond James H. Johneon Win. Steel Thomas Jackson Robt. Tucker John Gbrdon Brown S. Lee Trotman Joseph Jones Hugh Jones & Co. Mahler, Bros. & Sultzberger John Coglan John Holme Strong. Reid. & Co. Rob. Wilson Sharpies. Jones, & Cp. Henry Wood & Co. John Jardine & Son J. & W. Robinson John Joseph & Co. J. P. Penny Hakes & Oarforth S. J. Samuel Job, Brothers James Houghton Houghton, Smith, & Co. Wm. Brown Oibbs, Bright, & Co. James Bainea & Co. Allan, Brothers, & Co. Wilson & Chambers Gladstone & Co. Wm. Sinclair & Co. William Moon D. & J. Macdonald James Samnelson Wm. M. Patterson Charles H. MoKenzie Edward Mncklow Newton Samuelson Chas. P. Nosworthy Joseph Thompson Andw. Malcomson Taylor & Timmis Qeo. Thompson Nicholson. Bros. G. D. Neroutaos (Merchant) John K. Archer James McLauchlan Walter C. Nicholson Thomas Irvine & Co. Trimmer & Grainger Jdin Macquis & Co. G. Bartiett Fred. H. Powell & Co. Richard Nichdson & Son John Morris S. Booker David Robertson Fox, Bromham, & Lewis Wm. Higgins James Kiker Nathl. Reyner Thos. Hampson, Jr. John Bedell C. Fredk. Carne Thom. Bell William Fisher Thomas GaskeU Edward Chaloner Joseph Gardner Gunston, Wilson, & Co. y .1 ■4: ^?- ■ n 63 'f, m tw-fj?-* I' ~iXi ; O. R. Jackson Geo. Young, Jr. toJfii riCi^' Walter White Dale and Ryrie Charles R. Taylor & ^aa'h William Lindsay & Co. H. Steinthal & Co. Geo. J. Cornish Henry Cohan C. Robertson R. E. Archer iaisj^iji ' Thomas H. Williams James Thomas Stokcsley, Jr. John Mo^an John Duncan & Co. Thos. Eaton Barber Duncan Gibb John Cox Joseph C. Shoarson George Ed. Smith R. T. Baddeley G. S. Kirkman James Clayton Edw. VLnf^enk'imvntmV' A. K. Caroe John W. Whitehead Geo. Barraclough George M. Bowen Jas. M. Walthevir Geo. Booker & Co. Caesar & Sobbe G. B. Crow Chas. & Jas. Roy William Fox Naylor, Vickers, & Co, Richd. Cortull James Carson Robertson & Ewing C. R. Ogden Hugh Kerr Albert E. Manders ^ W. J. Sweeney H. Deekens John Baines PiUcioKton, Bros. Alex. AlcGuchen O. S. Miller & Barker Cato and Overend John W. Pritchard M "I 1 Hi Richard Wainwrigh Duncan Patton D. Macphie Lee & Nightingale Fras. P. Colley Stitt, Brothers Charles Moore & Co. Wm. Twead & Co. Sydney Bakewell f ' Paton 0( McNicol '"■■ Mark Clifford ^-^^^^ Charles Turner Darbyshire, McKinnell, & Co. James Dowie Cassidy & Turner Morrow, Bros., & Dennis Pro Peter Sutheiiand G. Brown ' =* • j Wade & Robson '»*' '^^i:^,; Broach and Bostock .' -'^ ■^' Moran, Galloway, & Co. ■•'**^ John Mathison . ■■ 3 Geo. Bryan ^ *#%»^sl^c -'i; Craven & Bull ^ ,*^.> John W. Jones & Co. ' Arnold, Leete, Roscoe, & Co, S. Pemberton »r " -p fTW Wm. Singleton & Co. ' •■^* Chas. Billinge •'^«' Wm. Jackson & Jas. Ronald ^^ Thomas Verdin * Allen & Edwards » Robert RaUton & Co. •'* ^^^'^ Wm. Nicholas 1 :*^5* 3 Winns & Co. Mathew Strong & Co. Robert Kirk . i»ii»M EUertoa & Wormald '■^' W. B^ardwood Thomson Finlay & Co. John M. Russell John Morris ^^:' Alfred W. Talbot John Daly ;'.*.-a'; :?y'i' ■',i John Major, Jr. John Wilson & Son /ohn B. Spence Geo. P. Oxlev I '. %«l «V. • ''i-V«V«i«»*4»v<«W Krti.^ &■' I 64 'iS^'-'fi'' 7*0 Me Honourable the Commons of the United King- dom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled, , > ■:a (A similar Petition has been addressed to the House of Lords.) THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED MERCHANTS, BANKERS. AND OTHERS OF THE CITY OF GLASGOW, Shbwbth — ■*f^-.~ That for six months of the year we are solely dependent on the United States of America for our communications with Canada. That in case of an interruption of our friendly relations with the United States, our intercommunication with Canada, dt'.ring that period, is liable to be cut off at a moment's notice, and an important portion of the British Empire placed in great jeopardy. ■'■' 'Jk That the completion of the Une of Railway from Halifax to Quebec would render us perfectly independent of the United States at all seasons of the year. That the completion of this line of Railway would accelerate the delivery of the Canadian Mails and Despatches at least thirty- six hours in advance of the present route through the United States. That the completion of this line of Railway would open up for colonization and settlement by emigrants from the mother country upwards of 14,000,000 acres of uugranted lands within a journey uf ten days from uur uwu shorcH. 65 That the present oust of conveying the British North American Mails through the United States, estimated at £25,000 per annum would be sayed to the Imperial Treasury. That by making Halifax the terminus of the Atlantic Royal Mail Service, instead of Boston and New York, the sum of £48,000 per annum would be saved in the mileage rate, as at present paid for that service by the Imperial Treasury. ^ , . That the military expense^ for the preservation of British North America, borne by the Imperial Treasury, amount to the sum of £420,000 per annum. „ That the completion of this line of Railway would effect an almost total saving of this expenditure, as it would render Canada acccessible within ten days at all seasons, whilst at the present time she is, in a military point of view, excluded from communication with the mother country for six months of the year That it would link together the three provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, and give them access to the ocean at all Heasons through the Port of Halifax, one of the finest harbours in the world, and nearer to England (and to Europe) by 400 miles than any other open port in America. That your Petitioners believe that the immediate completion of the line of Railway from Halifax to Quebec is essential to the pre- servation and integrity of the British Empire in North America. That your Petitioners believe, that in addition to its adding to the security and permanence of the British Empire to North America, accelerating tlie communication with the mother country, reviving that identity of interest with her which has been too long engrossed by the United States, the Railway would also effect a saving to the Imperial Treasury far exceeding any assistance that may be reqtiired for its completion. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray your Honourable House to grant such aid and assist- ance to the Halifax and Quebec Railway Com- pany (Limited), as shall enable them to bring- MM 66 ■ i ; ;«> \ i;;- l^^k. to a successful completion this great national undertaking. And your Petitioners will ever pray. * Henry Dunlop * W. B. Huggins & Co. Geo. Gillespie & Co. Jas. Richardson & Co. Stirling, Gordon, & Co. J. & J. G. Rodger j-, James Bums Gregor, TumbuU, & Co. ' James Ewing & Co. j Handysides & Henderson i., J. & R. Young & Co. • Wm. McLaren, Sons. & Co T. r. Orr Jo.^ Loudoun & Co. * Wm. Leggat ' ' J. & W. Mackinlay ; : Miller, Rose, & Co. vr; Brown, Maxwell, & Co. " John F. M'Laren .,^, / Thos. W. Mackay J. Wallace Robertson Wingate, Birrell, & Co. John Wardlow Ramsay Pro H. L. Schwabe & Co. ) Theo. R. Schwabe I John McGregor Wm. Henry Dobie Peter Buchanan & Cc. James Bunten & Co. James Black & Co. Jas. & W. J. Scott & Co. J. & W. Campbell & Co. William P. Paton P. Henderson & Co. Paterson, Jamieson, & Co. A. & S. Henry & Co. V'i^i-'' t vy.fl(> ^ Robt. Hastie & Co. William Kidston & Sons. A. G. Kidston & Co. Edmiston & Mitchell Hew, Young, & Co. Wingate. Sons, & Co. M. A. Clunie Sam. R. & Thos. Brown Lewis, Potter, & Co. H. & A. Galbraith John Atlya & Co. T. Carrie Gregory ^^ Hay Wright Charles Tennant & Co. A. & J. McKeand Adam Pearson W. Connal & Co. John McCall & Co. Maderoy, Hamilton, & Co. John Ronald & Co. Wm. Malcolm & Co. Thomas Clavering Geo. Smith & Sons Robert Bryson & Son Pro WilUam Baird & Go. ) ^ James Bain j A. D. Robertson Walter Gray & Co. Wm. Ewing Neil Macnish Play fair, Bryce, & Co. Henry Monteith & Co. James Murison & Co. Robt. Chrystal William Birrell 67 To Ihe Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of G^^eat Britain and Ireland, in Parliament ^' assembled, ' ' ' (A similfir Petition has been addressed to the House of Lords.) THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED MERCHANTS, BANKERS, AND OTHERS OF THE CITY OF BRISTOL. ShBWBTH v.'i ;;5,',^:? .'CV'" ^4- That for six months of the year we are solely dependent on the United States of America for our communications with Canada. That in case of an interruption of our friendly relations with the United States, our intercommunication with Canada, during that l)eriod, is liable to be cut off at a moment's notice, and an important portion of the British Empire placed in great jeopardy. That the completion of the line of Railway from Halifax to Quebec would render us perfectly independent of the United States at all seasons of the year. ■ vi That the completion of this line of Railway would accelerate the delivery of the Canadian Mails and Despatches at least thirty-six hours in advance of the present route through the United States. That the completion of this line of Railway would open up for colonization and settlement by emigrants from the mother country upwards of 14,000,000 acres of ungranted lands within a journey of ten days from our own shores. That the present cost of conveying the British North American mails through the United States estimated at £25,000 per annum would be saved to the Imperial Treasury. That by making Halifax the terminus of the Atlantic Royal Mail Service instead of Boston and New York, the sum of £48,000 per annum would be saved in the mileage rate as at present paid for that service by the Imperial Treasury. I t yi. ^! ! fii;mi^"l^" * "' ^ SSSI w, i M W M» i |j»»a i wM w »iw ii Ji i^- J. M. Hyde & Co. ? tA ^ ; /j William Oough James Protheroe, Warehouse Keeper Chas. P. B. Howell, Timber Merchant Alfred Robinson ' Robert Bruce, Merchant - ' ' '• Henry Granger .;} i^} v ^, ,.x,. Joseph G. Lovell, Merchant '" Alf. W. W. Holmes. Broker. J. Hay ward. Com Factor William Witchell, Com Merchant S. Ward & Son, Seed Merchants Longman & Co., Wholesale Druggists, j&e. Joseph Almond, Iron Merchant v^* '"" Hudden & Ditchett, Tobacco Manufacturers Candy & Eggar WiUm. B. Peck, Wine Merchant Francis Adams, Merchant Franklyn, Daveys, & Co., Merchants v i^ - ' * ' \. Evan, Baillie, Sons, & Co., Merchants Fedden, Morcom, & Co., Colonial and Foreign Sugar Brokers Manning, Hayman. & Baker, Merchants Bevan, Elton, & Cross, Iron Merchants Jones & Nash, Timber Merchants Taylor & Low, Brothers, 'Ember Merchants Ford & Canning, Bonded Warehouse Keepers 'Hassall & Cogan, Merchants Wm. Patterson, Ship Builder J. Webb & Co., Iron Merchants t I .Hi IJU |ii<^' g ( » . i lf iiii j i . i ^y i y l m m ii< m >iim 70 Mi ! )'• 'i if •4':- 'l^iT'- fc»»'.,t' '?'--,-'i;' Irl ^' n .V: \v. ; a ^. Naeh. Cole. & Elton. Iron Merchants Leonard, Warren. & Co., Iron Merchants Wm. C. Beloe Thos. P. Jose F. K. Barnes & Sons, Merchants G. W. Lucas ^ V, George Cole. Merchant & Shipowner Wm. Yeo. Merchant Robert Carpenter, do. Howell & Leak, Merchants ' Thomas Pike, Broker ;,.-"»•? Edwd. Allen E. B. Hippesley. Com Merchant S. J. Sayce. Broker T. B. Miller & Co., Seed Crushers ; Richard Rowe, Shipowner ; " Danks, Venn, & Sanders George C. Glasson Richard Cripps, Redcliff Whf, Barnes & Adey, Merchants & Shipowners John Edwd. Gennaine, Timber Merrhant Richd. Mogg Bryant, Builder William Claxton, Merchant •ii; Woodrow & Bell, Chain & Anchor Makers M. J. F. & A. Alexander, Merchants Jno. Edwards & Co., Shipowners Tratman, Brothers. Ship Chandlers >^ Henry Prichard & Co., Merchants James & Robert Bush, Merchants Cox & Shaw, Merchants and Soap Manufacturers Thomas Harris & Co., Distillers Slaughter, Graning, & Co., Engineers Christr. Thomas & Bros., Soap Manufacturers G. & S. Wills, Wine Merchant Llewellins & James, Brass and Copper Works, Castle Green Powell & Ricketts, Glass Bottle Manufacturers, St. Philip's William Powell & Sons, Stoneware Manufacturers, Temple Gate Roberts & Davis, Timber Merchants, &c. William C. Cambridge, Engineer, &c. Pro Winton E. Baker Charles Hill & Sons, Ship Builders, &c. A f^5::*>:*v. .r'-'ji. 71 To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kimjdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled. . ., .,^ i/ THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED MERCHANTS, BANKERS, AND OTHERS OF THE CITY OF LONDON. Shbweth, First. — That for one-half of the year we are solely depen- dent on the United States of America for our communications with Canada. Sbcokd.-— That in case of an interruption of our friendly relations with the United States, our intercommunication with Canada, during that period, is liable to be cut off at a moment's notice, and an important portion of the British Empire placed in great jeopardy. Third. — That the completion of the line of Railway from Halifax to Quebec would render us perfectly independent of the United States at all seasons of the year. < Fourth.— That the completion of this line of Railway would accelerate the delivery of the Canadian Mails and Despatches at least thirty-six hours in advance of the present route through the United States. Fifth. — That the completion of this line of Railway would open up for colonization and settlement by emigrants from the mother- country upwards of 14,000,000 acres of ungranted lands within a journey of ten days from our own shores. Sixth. — That the present cost of conveying the British North American Mails through the United States, estimated at £25,000 per annum, would be saved to the Imperial Treasury. aasR mmmmmmmm 72 I ■lab T i ^ ti ,; I : I'M SiviNTH.— That by making Halifax the Terminus of the Atlantic Royal Mail Service, instead of Boston and New York, a large annual sum would be saved in the mileage rate, as at present paid for that service by the Imperial Treasury. Eighth. — That the military expenses for the preservation of British North America, borne by the Imperial Treasury, amount every year to the sum of £420,000. Ninth. — ^That the completion of this line of Railway would effect an almost total saving of this expenditure, as it would render Canada accessible for the extradition and transmission of Troops and Military Stores within ten days at all seasons, whilst at the present time she is, in a military point of view,. excluded from communication with the mother-country for six months of the year. Tenth. — That it would link together the three provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scocia, without which any further combination of these Provinces would be impracticable, and would also give them access to the ocean at all' seasons through the port of Halifax, one of the finest harbours in the world, and nearer to England (and to Europe j^by 400 miles tlian any qther open port in Amerioa. « Elbvbnth. — That by completing the construction of the Railway from Truro to Trois Pistole, a distance of 350 miles, a direct Railway communication will be established through British territory between Halifax, Quebec, and Ijake Huron, a distance of 1,300 miles, from wbcsnce it is intended to open a direct communication with British Columbia, Vancouver's Island,, and the Pacific. Twelfth. — That your Petitioners believe that the immediate completion of the line of Railway from Halifax to Quebec is essen- tial to the preservation and integrity of the British Empire in North America. Thibtebnth. — ^That your Petiticnera believe that in addition to its adding to the security and permanence of the British Empire in North America, accelerating the communication with the mother- coimtry, reviving that identity of interest with her which has been too long engrossed by the United States, the Railway would also effect a saving to the Imperial Treasury far exceeding any assistance that may be required for its completion. 73 t^a^el Britain ..d C«..d.. »"* .*'^'„„„4. K "o"" <>«=* : °U, «too,WK«d by -nr^; :fXce in .b. Colony, .nd .u V„„VeU.ion.«*.rrf««P"J«.»::;; successful completion tb» gre taking. And your Baring. Brothew. & Co. GiUespie, Moffat & Co. Thomas H. Brooking William Chapman James J. Cummins John B. EUn & Co. W. R. Chapman John Ranking Isaac Braithwaite I Charles Franks W. Wilson. T. H. Mitchell. W. T. Hibhert. Petitioners wiU ever pray. Glyn, MiUs & Co. .V v S. J. Bosanquet M'Calmont, Brothers, & Co. James Hutchinson J. Thomson. T.Bonar.A Co. Gilmour.Kankin. Strang. & Co. Thomas Devas. Robert Benson & Co. S. Cunard R. Carter Henry Barnewell Robert Gillespie. &o. *«• "j.w-. ^ '0^' I'Si^'t-'- 74 ■■^V.l ni^^^^Hv To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament [ ' . ,\ " assembled. THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE UNDERSIGNED MERCHANTS, BANKERS. AND OTHERS OF THE CITY OF MANCHESTER. * ■? ». ■ ■ AVL ark *■ It I w < «,? r ' f.'i (A similar Petition is addressed to the House of Lords.) Shewkth, First. — That for one-half of the year we are solely dependent on the United States of America for our communication with Canada. Second.— -That in case of an intenuption of our friendly relations with the United States, our intercommunication with Canada is liable to be cut off at a moment's notice, and an important portion of the British Empire placed in great jeopardy. • Third.— That the military ex-penses for the preservation of British North America, borne by the Imperial Treasury, amount every year to the sum cf £420,000. Fourth. — That the completion of the line of Railway from Halifax to Queljec would secure for Great Britain and the North Amenc&n Coloni'is the following important advantages, videlicit :-- - It would render this country perfectly independent of the United States at all seasons of the year. '' It would accelerate the delivery of the C»,nadi. '^ ^7> ^Ji ^ O Wrm PART OF NEW BRUNSWICK & NOVA SCOTIA. Shewing the Line ol* the BALIFAX & QUEBEC ]IA1LWA\ ASB ITS OONNECTICIIfS ^Tfe THB i mm) TRUNK and olhffCANADkAN RAILWAYS. 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IS.AN.. , SoHlt'L -ilifjan • , K«rt< ^ / -r«s3'' ^^W^^'i^ti X ■^rtwfl'* ^^iF'^'-" ;"^-«-^z^ 4 ^-•T «-• .« Oruiil Mauku 1 , I*. ♦«4^r«' OuMWl A"-* A r O L |1 %^"" "^^ 1 i"!!*' .lablc blind. U»mlM»- Cfniirc/JiS AA^r i Johf HI' ALES natiiTal Si-iili> 1' 2.(t«S. ftOO -.t'^i nuleii tt> an indL 4' ■ JW^ tnmA TmrHfitX trmfa**, J5-1 3»^ JU^lita m BngUtk lirt :n N _ JBiU/iuc and (^fJec Xtuitnar macrkeel jW/an' lioAn W»»t ofChwninch HT""^1 !^ ' ("oiislrurlcil ami KuRVuntl Iry W.t AK.IohoHton.Hpoi; upln-is * Ku^ravurs In ifce (jnccn E(hnliar(k.