IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 4< 
 
 U.. 
 
 u.. 
 
 \ 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 fl2« |Z3 
 Ui 12.2 
 
 L8. 
 
 Sui ■ 
 
 1 1.25 I I I 1.4 1 1.6 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 PhotDgraphic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 33 WIST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716)872-4503 
 
 
 ■<> 
 
 '9.^ 
 
CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 i i: 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notaa/Notas tachniquas at bibiiographiquas 
 
 Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat 
 original copy available for filming. Faaturaa of thia 
 copy which may ba bibliographically unique, 
 which may altar any of the imagea in the 
 reproduction, or which may aignificantiy change 
 the usual method of filming, are checlced below. 
 
 D 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 I I Covers damaged/ 
 
 Couverture endommag6e 
 
 □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture reataurte et/ou pelliculAe 
 
 n Cover title missing/ 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 □ Coloured maps/ 
 Cartes giographiquas en couleur 
 
 □ Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or blacli)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 □ Coloured plates and/or illuatrations/ 
 Planches et/ou illustrationa en couleur 
 
 □ Bound with other material/ 
 ReliA avac d'autres documents 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La re liure serrAe peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 distortion le long de la marge int(6rieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during reatoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever poaaibla. these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouttes 
 iors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte. 
 mais, lorsque cela Atait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas At6 filmAes. 
 
 Additional commanta:/ 
 Commentairas supplimentaires; 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm^ la meilleur exemplaira 
 qu'il lui a 4tA possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaira qui sont paut-Atre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite. cu qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la mithoda normale de filmage 
 sont indiqute ci-dessous. 
 
 I I Coloured pages/ 
 
 D 
 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Pages damaged/ 
 Pages endommagAes 
 
 Pages restored and/oi 
 
 Pages restaurias et/ou peliicuiiea 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxei 
 Pages dicolories, tachaties ou piqudes 
 
 Pages detached/ 
 Pages ditachias 
 
 Showthrough/ 
 Transparence 
 
 Quality of prir 
 
 Quality inigela de i'impression 
 
 includes supplementary matarii 
 Comprend du materiel supplAmentaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seuie Edition disponible 
 
 I I Pages damaged/ 
 
 I I Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 
 pT^ Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 
 I I Pages detached/ 
 
 r~l Showthrough/ 
 
 I I Quality of print varies/ 
 
 I I includes supplementary material/ 
 
 |~~] Only edition available/ 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totaiement ou partieliement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata. una pelure, 
 etc., ont At6 fiimAes A nouveau de fa^on A 
 obtanir la mailleure image possible 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est filmi au taux de riduction indiqu* ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 14X 18X 22X 
 
 26X 
 
 SOX 
 
 y 
 
 n 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 aox 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
Bmplaire 
 '. Les details 
 uniques du 
 iivent modifier 
 It exiger une 
 lie de filmage 
 
 d/ 
 ies 
 
 3xed/ 
 piquAes 
 
 il/ 
 entaire 
 
 red by errata 
 ifiimed to 
 
 lement 
 
 ta. une pelure, 
 
 de fapon A 
 
 ble 
 
 )X 
 
 n 
 
 32X 
 
 The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 Seminary of Quebec 
 Library 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and In keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Original copies In printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or Illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated Impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol — ^- (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol y (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 IMaps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely Included In one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams Illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 L'exempiaire filmA fut reproduit grAce it la 
 ginArositi de: 
 
 S^minaire de Quebec 
 BIbliothdque 
 
 Les images suivantes ont M reproduites avec ie 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at 
 de la nettet* de rexempiaire film*, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprimie sont fiimto en commenipant 
 par ie premier plat et en termlnant soit par la 
 dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustratlon, soit par ie second 
 plat, salon Ie cas. Tous les autres exemplaires 
 originaux sont filmte en commen9ant par la 
 premiire page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustratlon et en terminant par 
 la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un dee symboles suivants apparaltra sur la 
 dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, seion Ie 
 cas: Ie symbols —^ signlfle "A SUIVRE", ie 
 symbols V signlfle "FIN". 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre 
 fllmte A des taux de reduction diffArents. 
 Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour Atre 
 reproduit en un seul cllchA, il est filmA A partir 
 de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche h droite, 
 et de haut en bas, en prenant Ie nombre 
 d'images nAceesaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mAthode. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
/ f 
 
 tw 
 
 SUGGESTIONS 
 
 
 
 MILITARY EESOURCES OF CAMDA, 
 
 AND THZ 
 
 heans of organiziko a small provincial armt in the event of it9 
 
 being determined by the imperial authorities to diminish 
 
 ob recall the royal troops 80 as to render 
 
 such an organization essential to the 
 
 Defence of the Colony. 
 
 
 
 . / 
 
 Reprinted from the letter of the Canada Correspondent 
 of the London Morning Post, Sept. 9th 1853. 
 
 S.M.E.\ 
 
SUGGESTIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 MILITARY RESOURCES OF CANADA. 
 
 At a moment when the great Powers of Europe are mustering 
 their forces and counting their means of attack and defence, in 
 expectation of their being called upon, if not immediately, at 
 no distant period, to take part in a general European war, it 
 may be of some importance to England to point out to her how 
 she could avail herself of resources now employed in those 
 colonies, which Mr. M'Culloch and others of the Cobden school 
 have described as pernicious encumbrances in times of peace, 
 and as unfailing sources of weakness in times of war. Of the 
 colonies, which have been thus slandered, the British North 
 American provinces stand first in regard to their position, their 
 means, and their willingness to aid the mother country in the 
 hour of trial ; and, now that that hour may be near, it is no less 
 due to Canada and her sister provinces, than it is to England, to 
 make known their condition and disposition, which place those 
 resources at the disposal of the latter. 
 
 These provinces now contain a population, sprung from the 
 two most enterprising races of Europe, considerably larger than 
 that of Deamark, or the population of other States which have 
 occupied an important place in European afl'airs ; they have an 
 overflowing and a rapidly increasing public revenue, while they 
 exhibit throughout their wide extent a most extraordinary amount 
 of individual enterprise and prosperity ; their general advance- 
 ment is going on, by the construction of railroads, by the gradual 
 development of their magnificent resources, and by the pouring 
 in of immigrants and capital consequent upon their present state 
 of political quiet, at a speed never yet exceeded in any portion 
 of the United States ; and there is not one question of any mo- 
 ment unsettled, one matter of serious dispute existing between 
 them and England ; this state of their relations to the mother 
 
country being due as much to the forethought and perseverance 
 of the provincial authorities, as to the timely concessions and 
 wisdom of the home Government. Nor are there many serious 
 questions of local difference rernaiiiing to impede the good work 
 upon wliich the local governments and the colonists generally 
 are cordially united, of making the best use of the means which 
 the country aH'ords for its material and lasting improvement. 
 Of the progress of Upper Canada some idea may be formed by 
 a knowledge of what is taking place in Toronto, where four 
 railways hixve been commenced since the end of 1851, one of 
 which is in operation for 43 miles, and in another fortnight will 
 be so for 65 miles on its route to Lake Huron, and other lines are 
 in course of survey ; and where the population of the city has 
 increased by upwards of 9,000 persons within the last year, it 
 now amounting to 40,000. A farm in its vicinity, of 325 acres, 
 which was purchased last spring for 30,000/., was disposed of 
 again within two months to a company for 103,000/., realising a 
 profit of 73,000/., and this company are about to make a much 
 larger profit upon their purchase, by laying it out and selling it 
 in building lots. This account, which would also do for what is 
 going on at Hamilton, London, and other places in Upper Canada, 
 and partly fur what is occurring in Montreal and other places in 
 Lower Canada and in the lower provinces, almost rivals the 
 descriptions which we receive of Australian progress, with all 
 its glitter and noise ; but the progress of our North American 
 provinces, which do net attract one-half the attention in England 
 which is eagerly given there to the former, is of a much more 
 healtky growth, and will lead to more solid results. 
 
 These provinces, wliich are so much despised by a large party 
 in Eiigland, and so little known by all who have not visited them, 
 contain a population of nearly 3,000,000, of whom 2,000,000 
 belong to Canada. The latter will this year have a revenue of 
 about 1,000,000/., which will exceed her expenditure by up- 
 wards of 400,000/. ; and yet she continues to be the least heavily- 
 taxed country in the world. The other provinces present, in 
 proportion to their resources, nearly the same activity and pros- 
 perity as Canada exhibits, but they are necessarily more generally 
 alluded to in this communication, and what follows will apply 
 more directly to her than to them. 
 
;of 
 
 The immediate help wliich liiese provinces are now in a con- 
 dition to artbrd the mother country is to relieve her of the charge 
 of their military occupation. This relief would place at her 
 disposal a lieutenant-general, five regiments of infantry, seven 
 companies of artillery, and a large stalF of officers belonging to 
 the general staff at head-quarters, the Royal Engineers, the 
 commissariat and ordnance departments, and a number of civil 
 employes at each garrison from Canada, and nearly as large a 
 force from the lower provinces, making together a division (with 
 the exception of cavalry) equal to that assembled at Chobham. 
 An elficient body of this strengtii, of which so large a proportion 
 are artillery (an arm constantly being improved, and becoming 
 of more importance), would be a very valuable addition to any 
 army about to take the field ; and such a force British North 
 America is ready to place at the disposal of England. For 
 some years the home Government has, in despatclies to the 
 Governor-General nnd the Lieutenant-Governors of these pro- 
 vinces, been preparing the colonists for this charge ; so it would 
 be quite in accordance with the declared policy of that Govern- 
 ment towards the colonies, as well as agreeable to the colonists 
 themselves, vvlio desire such an opening, limited though it would 
 be, for their sons, to allow them to assume it, now that they have 
 the ability to do so, that they require no imperial troops to keep 
 them loyal, and that they are under no apprehension of foreign 
 aggression. 
 
 With a view to meet the contemplated gradual withdrawal of 
 the troops from the province, Canada took the first step to- 
 wards paying for her own proteolion, through its Legislature at 
 its recent sittings, which voted 10,000/, for the arming and equip- 
 ping of volunteers. None of this grant has yet been made use 
 of; but it is probable (as circumstances hyve since arisen likely 
 to make the early withdrawal of the troc ; -^ *'rom the province a 
 more important matter to England) that i'. will be retained in 
 hand until a further sum can be granted by the Legislature to 
 provide for a larger force than that which was at first com- 
 lemplated. This force should consist of two regiments of infantry, 
 each of 10 companies of 80 men, and two companies of artillery 
 of 100 men each ; a number quite sufficient for the good order and 
 
6 
 
 protection of the province, so long as we continue upon our 
 presejit excellent terms with the United States, the only country 
 from which Canada could be assailed while in alliance with 
 England. Of any serious misunderstanding between England 
 and America there is now no more pros{)ect tnun there is of 
 Canada, in her existing prosperous state, and hor entire freedom 
 to manage her own affairs, wishing for complete independence 
 of the former or for annexation to the latter. The manner in 
 which the American press have taken up the subject of the 
 Russo-Turkish quarrel, in favour of the course pursued by France 
 and England, and the earnestness with which they have repelled 
 the insinuation that American privateers would attack the com- 
 merce of the latter in the event of a war, and have declared that 
 any American taken prisoner on board a privateer fittetl out against 
 England should be hanged as a pirate, show the feeling with which 
 they now regard their parent country — a feeling which is increa- 
 sing every day, as their intercourse increases, and their interests 
 become more firmly bound up together, and which, in any future 
 European war of principles entered into by England, will lead 
 America to fight by her side. Canada, which, it is to be hoped, 
 will then be able to prove herself a source of strength, and not of 
 weakness, to the former, can no longer require the arms of I he 
 mother country to protect her against such a sister as the latter 
 has become. 
 
 The force of two regiments of infantry and two companies of 
 artillery, forming a brigade, which is here proposed to be main- 
 tained by Canada for the charge of her fortified posts and for her 
 internal quiet, particularly in regard to the neighbourhood of her 
 railways and great public works, now in course of construction, 
 should be organised, in all essential respects, in accordance with 
 the British articles of war, and be commanded by a major- 
 general appointed by the Horse Guards, in the same way as 
 olficers of the Queen's service are appointed to command the 
 armies of the East India Company. The lieutenant-colonels, 
 and all the other officers of the three corps would, of course, be 
 appointed by the provincial authorities. Beyond one aid-de- 
 camp to the major-general, who would act as military secretary, 
 brigade-major, &e., taken from the subalterns of one of the corps, 
 
there woul.. be no brigade staff required ; any further assistance 
 the major-general might desire being given by tlie adjutant 
 of the regiment whieh might happen to be at head-ciuarters. 
 The duties of tlie eommissariat could be easily divided between 
 the paymasters and <iuartermasters ; and the officers of artillery 
 should act as engineers, and also take charge of the ordnance 
 stores, &e. Thus all would be fully and suitably employed, and 
 rendered more eilicient, and the expense of one branch and of 
 two departments of the army be saved. The senior officers of 
 each corps would no doubt be taken from those who had already 
 served in the Hritiwh Army, many of whom are now residing in 
 Canada, and the juniors be appointed from the sons of the lead- 
 ing colonists, French and English, who, from their great pre- 
 dilection for a military life, would eagerly enter, as well as 
 cordially act together, in such a service. The races, both olHcers 
 and men, might be mixed up in the several corps, or be divided, 
 as they generally were in the war of 1812, when they both 
 behaved remarkably well ; one infantry regiment and one com- 
 pany of artillery being raised in Lower Canada, and filled up by 
 French Canadians, the other half of the force being formed in 
 the upper part of the province, but each corps serving in rotation 
 in both sections of the country. Though the former plan might 
 be the wiser one, the latter would certainly be the more popular, 
 particularly with the Frem^h Canadians, wliose national feelings 
 would be gratified by the distinction. With regard to the men, 
 they could be raised mucih more easily among the French Cana- 
 dian population than among the British, few of whom have that 
 military ardour which would induce them to embrace the 
 profession of a private soldier while any other pursuit, with less 
 restraint and more profit, was open to them. The former inherit 
 their military (|ualities and aspirations from France; they are 
 both by habit and nature, obedient, and therefore easily dis- 
 ciplined and led, and they have proved their efficiency and 
 bravery upon every occasion that they have been required to 
 take up arms in defence of their country, whether under the rule 
 of France or England. But, with a short period of service, and 
 certain advantages held out at its termination, according to the 
 conduct of the soldier (which could be easily given in a new 
 
 M 
 
8 
 
 country possesRing boundless limits and very great resources,) 
 there would be very little difficulty in procuring the small num- 
 ber of recruits required either from the English or the French 
 population. The expense of the transport of troops between 
 England and Canada alone costs the Imperial Government an 
 immense sum, which, with many other expenses would be 
 entirely avoided, by Canada, under the proposed system, of raising 
 and maintaining her own troops. To add to their ellieiency, it 
 would bo advisable that the provincial authorities should make 
 an arrangement with the Imperial Government for the admission 
 of a certain number of youths from Canada to the academies at 
 Woolwich and Sandhurst, who, as vacancies occur, and they 
 should be declared qualified, would be appointed to fill them. 
 In respect to candidates for commissions in the artillery corps, 
 this arrangement would be a most desirable one. It would also be 
 as important in a political as in a military point of view. Should 
 England become involved in hostilities, of which there is every 
 probability sooner or later, a certain number of officers belonging 
 to the Canada force, of dilTerent grades, might be allowed to 
 join any army she may have engaged in the field, and be attached 
 as supernumeraries to various of its regiments ; and, in the 
 event of a long period of warfare ensuing, the whole of the 
 officers of the former might have the benefit of such a service in 
 succession. Thus the Canada army would practically benefit 
 from the experience of the British Army in the field, and par- 
 ticipate in all its glories. As every true soldier would be most 
 eager for such an opportunity, and as his availing himself of it 
 would be a great advantage to him, no additional expense need 
 be incurred by the province in conveying these oflicer.'^ to or from 
 the scene of operations — such expenses, no doubt, being cheer- 
 fully borne by the officers who volunteer for the service. With 
 its commanding officer appointed by the Horse Guards, its 
 senior officers taken from the British Army, or having been 
 employed with that army in the field, and with many of its 
 younger officers having been educated at Woolwich and Sand- 
 hurst, it would not be unreasonable to ask, in the course of a 
 few years, that the small, but probably efficient, army of Canada, 
 should be placed towards the former upon the same footing as 
 
 ■3 
 
Ihftt of the East India Company. At that period the advance- 
 iTipnt of the province in population, in wealth, and even in extent, 
 will have been so great, that it may then Ix; justifmble and 
 ndvinttble to augment it. Whether in respert \o tlie present 
 military wants of the provinee, or to any future conlingrney 
 recpiiring a sudden or large augmentation of our defenees, such 
 a force as is here recommended to be maintained by the Provin- 
 cial Government would be found both economical and ellicMcnt. 
 But it is now time to point out how it should be disposed of. 
 
 With certain alterations in the defences of several of the 
 positions necessary to be occupied, this force (to consist of two 
 regiments of light inlantry of 10 companies eacrh, and two com- 
 panies of artillery) should be distributed as follows : 
 
 By pulling down the now useless works, encumbered with 
 houses, that cn(;lose the upper town of Quebec, and retaining 
 only a few open batteries there for defence against shipping, 
 wil'i the admirably-situated and constructed citadel, the place 
 would becouH! less vulnerable, and nuich more easily (lel'en<leil ; 
 and, instead of two regiments of infantry and two companies of 
 artillery, which constitute its garriscm (not half of which arc 
 quartered in the citadel,) six companies of the lormer and one 
 company of the latter would l)e suHicMcnt for every present pur- 
 pose. At Montreal, where, in conseciuencr' of its cential situa- 
 tion, there are the lu'ad-(iuairters of the whole force serving in 
 Canada, with one regiment of infantry and two companies of 
 artillery, and where there is only a small Held work upon the 
 island of St. Helen's, two companies of the former and 20 
 artillerymen should be stationed there, its garrison having l)een 
 hitherto principally empldved as a constabulary in the absence 
 of an ellicient police. This want the city itself should be made 
 to supply. At Kingston, a military position second only to that 
 of Quebec, and the hea(l-(iuarters of I lie brigade serving in 
 Western Canada, there are some strong permanent wt)rks, now 
 occupied by the 51th Regiment, two companies of Canadian 
 Rifles, and two companies of artillery. These should be re- 
 placed l)y three companies of infantry, and the other company of 
 artillery, less the 20 men to be left at Montreal, which could easily 
 perform the ordinary duties of that garrison. At Toronto, where 
 
f' / 
 
 10 
 
 il 
 
 there are two companies, and the he ad -quarters of the Canadian 
 llilies (the two remaining companies of that corps being stationed 
 on the frontier, and divided between Niagara, Prescott, and Isle 
 aux Noix, the latter on the Richelieu,) and where there are no 
 defensive works, the old mud fort having been abandoned fo' 
 the new barracks, one company of infantry would be suliicient 
 to occupy the latter. Thcr* is still a company of artillery further 
 to the west, at the nourishing town of London, situated nearly 
 in the centre of the thickly-settled portion of the large peninsula 
 formed by Lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario, to each of which it 
 has easy and rapid access ; and the facilities for conveying 
 troops from Londi)n to any point upon these lakes will soon be 
 much incieasod by the completion of the railways now in course 
 of construction, brandling out of it in every direction, and by 
 the additions madt each season (which will be multiplied by 
 these works) to the llects of powerful steamers traversing each 
 of these lakes. Twenty years ago this town was a mere col- 
 lection of log-houses in the midst of a wilderness of forest : it 
 now contains about 9,000 inhabitants, has a finer and more 
 regularly built main street, and a better hotel tlian Quebec pos- 
 sofises, is about to be liglned witli gas, and is surrounded by a 
 thickly settled and higlily-cultivated country, equal to any in 
 Nortli America. It has its River Thames, its London, Black- 
 friars, and Westminster Bridges, its Piccadilly, its Covent- 
 garden Market, and even its handsome and spacious St. Paul's, 
 containing a beautifully toned organ and a fine peal of bells. It 
 has moreover^ its Hyde-park Barracks and parade ground, which 
 formerly accommodated two regiments of the line, and two com- 
 panies of artillery, but which are now alone occupied by one 
 company of the latter, and this company is about to be with- 
 drawn witliout being replaced. The last body of infantry 
 stationed tliere (the lelt wing of the 23d Regiment) was with- 
 drawn about two months ago. Considering its situation, in the 
 centre of a large and populous country bordered by the three 
 lakes, and its existing and rapidly increasing facilities (tf com- 
 munication with all parts of it — from Toronto and Hamilton, on 
 Lake Ontario, to Port Sarnia and Goderich on Lake Huron, and 
 from Niagara, on the river of that name, and Fort Erie, lying 
 
 i 
 
 , 
 
 1 
 
11 
 
 opposite to Buffalo, to Amherstburgh, at the head of Lake Erie, 
 and to Windsor, lying opposite to Detroit — and regarding the 
 means of rapid communication from such a centre with every 
 port upon the three lakes, and also looking to the number and 
 description of men that are and will be employed upon the rail- 
 ways, the plank and Macadamized roads, and other public 
 works, throughout the fine region above described, London 
 siiould not be abandoned as a military station, but siiould be 
 made the third point cTapjmi in the province, Quebec being the 
 first, and Kingston the second ; the three covering a line of 
 about 900 miles in extent. It should, therefore, be garrisoned by 
 four companies of infantry of the proposed provincial force, 
 which would be available over so large a district of country, con- 
 taining, besides a large agricultural population, many rising 
 nianufueturing towns, such as Paris, Duudas, &c. After fur- 
 nishing all these garrisons, there would be four companies left 
 to relieve the remainder of the present force in the province, the 
 two companies of ihe Canadian Riiles divided between the 
 frontier posts of Niagara, Prescott, and Isle aux Noix. Two 
 companies of the former should relieve the latter at Niagara and 
 Isle aux Noix, but the subaltern's detachment now at Prescott 
 should be withdrawn altogether, there being little more necessity, 
 beyond its possession of a tolerably-constructed (larthen fort, and 
 its being opposite the American town of Ogdensburgh, for a 
 garrison being kept there than at lirockviile or Cornwall, or at any 
 of the >nany places which formerly had garrisons, lying on the 
 same line between Kingston and Montreal, Bytown, however, 
 which could be easily fortified, and might be rendered second 
 only to Quebec ir. the strength of its position and works, should 
 be occupied by the remaining two companies of the proposed 
 provincial force, wh'ch from that point could at any season, 
 within a few hours, reach Montreal or Kingston (to both of 
 which Bytown would form a support,) or any place on the line 
 of frontier between those cities. It lies directly in rear of Pres- 
 cott, at a distance of 40 miles, upon the Ottawa, which connects 
 it with Montreal, and at the head of the Rideau Canal, which 
 connects it with Kingston, and a railroad is now in course of 
 construction between it and Prescott. Besides the thickly-set- 
 
tied and flourishing country in its front, Bytown commands a 
 fine and extensive country in its rear, and to its right, which is 
 fast filling up, the agriculturist rapidly taking the place of the 
 lumberer, as the latter recedes into the forest, or up the many 
 fine rivers which flow into the Ottawa ; and it also forms the 
 depot of supply for all these parties, as well as the rcndcz-vous 
 where the lumberers and raftsmen congregate in great numbers 
 from immense disstances, to accomplish various transactions 
 connected with tlioir operations, and to convey their produce to 
 Quebec. Serious riots have several times taken place at Bytown 
 through the assembling and proceedings there of such parties at 
 periods of political excitement ; and, if there were no other 
 object in view, a small force should be stationed there to keep these 
 parties in order. But when a communication shall be estab- 
 lished between the Ottawa and Lake Huron, by means of the 
 chain of lakes and rivers extending from the former above 
 Allumette Island to Georgian Bay, and the country along it 
 being to attract settlers, which, at the present rate of progress of 
 the province, will be at no distant period, Bytown must become 
 a place of very great commercial importance, and by its facilities 
 in one direction for moving troops to Montreal and Quebec, with 
 both of which it will soon be connected by railway, and in the 
 other for moving them to tlie northern shores of Lake Huron, 
 which are being fast occupied by the miner, the lumberer, the 
 farmer, and the merchant, and will be ultimately connected with 
 Bytown Ijy railway as well as by a water communication ; while 
 it is already within a few hours' reach of any point upon a line 
 of frontier 150 miles in length, it would offer a most favourable 
 position for a moveable reserve much larger, could it then be 
 afforded, than that of the two companies here proposed to be 
 quartered there. Considering its situation and the natural 
 strength of its position, it is strange that Bytown should not have 
 been long since made, not only a military station of some strength, 
 but a strongly fortified post. Notwithstanding the present ap- 
 pearance of internal and external quiet to the province, it might 
 hereafter be desirable to erect additional fortifications ; in which 
 case permanent works might well be constructed both at Bytown 
 and upon Burlington Heights, in rear of and commanding 
 
I 
 
 13 
 
 Hamilton, at the head of Lake Ontario. The latter position 
 would be a most admirnble one for a reserve to any troops en- 
 gaged in the Niagara or London peninsulas, as, indeed, it proved 
 upon several occasions during the war of 1812, when our army, 
 in reduced numbers, retired upon it, which the enemy dared not 
 attack, and continued in undisturbed possession, though in the 
 j)resence of the enemy, until the arrival of reinforcements, when 
 it again advanced, and drove everything before it. When the 
 position thus proved of so much importance in a totally unforti- 
 fied state, and at the most critical periods in the war of 1812, 
 how much more valuable it would become were it occupied by 
 permanent works and a small garrison. Though its shelter 
 twice saved the upptM- province from being entirely overrun, and 
 led to the release of that portion then already in the possession 
 of the enemy, it has ever since been utterly neglected by the 
 military authorities. 
 
 Having shown how the duties of the present army quartered 
 in Canada could be performed by a small provincial force, and 
 how the latter should be distributed for performing them efficient- 
 ly, it now remains to notice one or two further arrangements 
 depending upon the withdrawal of the former. 
 
 Many may imagine the Canadian Rifle Regiment to belong to 
 tlu; j)rovince, and be surprised at any recommendation for with- 
 drawing it ; but, beyond its name, and it having been formed for 
 service alons the Canadian frontier, chiefly as a check to deser- 
 tions from the other regiments, it belongs no more to Canada 
 than they do while stationed in the province, and should be 
 withdrawn with tlie rest, for the chief object for which it was 
 raised will then no longer exist. It is paid by the Imperial 
 Govennnent, at the same rate as the Guards ; its officers are ap- 
 pointed by the Horse Guards, the same as other regiments, 
 without CDiisideration to applications from Canada for commis- 
 sions (tliere only having been two or three Canadians appointed 
 when it was lirst organised) ; and the men are taken from the 
 line, in which they must have served for 10 years. It is, in fact, 
 a veteran corps, employed principally as a military police. As 
 troops belonging to the province, and enlisted for a short term, 
 with certain advantages held out to them at the end of that term, 
 
u 
 
 either to re-onlist or to become settlers upon newly opened out- 
 land, would not be liable to desert, there would be no occasion 
 for a corps of this description, and if there were, the Imperial 
 Government should not be put to the expense of maintaining it. 
 It should, therefore, be withdrawn witii the rest, and be formed 
 into a reserved battalion of the 60th Rilles, whose facings it 
 wears. Like every other regiment of the British Army, whether 
 in Canada, or in any other part of the world, it has behaved 
 admirably, and would do full credit to that distinguished corps. 
 
 There are still about 600 enrolled pensioners in Upper Canada, 
 principally in the neighbourhood of Toronto and London, to be 
 disposed ol. As they are only paid when they assemble for a 
 few days' drill in the course of the year, or upon any sudden 
 emergency, such as a riot, or the expectation of ore, they are 
 little expense beyond their pensions (which they would receive 
 whether employed or not,) and their little plots of land provided 
 by the Imperial Government, and also the expense of the two or 
 three officers in charge of them. The Imperial Government 
 might, therefore, very well afford to leave them in the province 
 as a reserve, and an example to the small army of the latter, in 
 drilling which they might be made of much use. But, while 
 employed upon this or upon any other duty, the Provincial 
 Government, no doubt, would willingly pay them, should the 
 former Government object to the expense of retaining them in 
 their present organised state. It was formerly intended to in- 
 crease their number in the province to 1,000. Even this number 
 England might well afford to maintain in Canada, considering 
 that, by withdrawing her forces from the provinces together with 
 all the expensive departments and establisliments connected 
 with them, she would save about half a million sterling an- 
 nually. 
 
 The militia of Canada consists of nearly three hundred thou- 
 sand men. With a little expense to the province, this large, and, 
 in times of invasion, truly valuable force, might easily be divided 
 into classes of different degrees of efficiency, so as to make a 
 portion of it available for immediate service upon any ordinary 
 emergency, and the whole of it available for any very great 
 emergency, such as an invasion, or a threatened invasion, of any 
 part of British North America. It might also be made a school 
 
15 
 
 for the regular army of the province, the more eilicient class 
 (which should be trained for a month, at least, in the course of the 
 year) supplyinsj; voliuiteers lor the i'ornicr, and tlie number of 
 orticers that niiglit be re'iiiiied beyond thoi^e who slioidd luive 
 obtained admittance to \\ oolwic-li or Sandhurst under llie arrunc'e- 
 ment to be made by the provincial authorities for their admission 
 to those academies. The existing staUr, however, of the Canada 
 militia is no subject for boasting ; for the annual muster and diill 
 of one day is worse than useless, bringing the whole force into 
 ridicule and disrepute. There are certainly some volunteer 
 corps of cavalry, light infantry, and artillery in various parts of 
 the province, which turn out oftener, and make a little noise and 
 show: but their doing so dej)ends entirely upon their ollicers — 
 upon their having a taste for soldiering, and the pecuniary means 
 necessary to enable them to indulge it, and not u|)on the 
 system, or upon any assistance or encouragement from the 
 Government. During the height of the Oregon dispute, in 1846, 
 when a war with the United States was looked upon as inevitable, 
 and little but hard knocks could be expected, some of these 
 corps became very (IFicient, entirely through the zeal, the un- 
 remitting exertions, and the pecuniary resourses of their ollicers. 
 From these corps alone a force for permanent service might be 
 formed. With so large a militia as Canada now possesses, 
 placed upon a proper footing and animated with the spirit which 
 led her militia, in the war of 1812, to repeatedly defeat the 
 regular forces of the enemy twice their number, Canada of her- 
 self would not be quite t^o powerless as she is generally repre. 
 sented to be. Her means of defence increased, by the presence 
 of a few regiments from England, or by a small regular army of 
 her own, which, after a few years service, could be made quite 
 as efficient for every purpose as any British force of the same 
 strength, s! e would be a formidable country to invade, even to 
 her powerful neighbour — it being borne in mind that she would 
 be fighting upon her own ground and for her own hearths. Tl'.ough 
 the people of tlie United States inherit and show upon all oc- 
 casions the bravery of the English, the people of Canada ought 
 to become beUer soldiers than the former. Their fine healthy 
 northern climate ; their fearless exposure to it ; their more power- 
 
16 
 
 ful frames and healthy bodies ; their powers of endurance, and 
 even their more simple and wholesome tastes in food, &c., 
 should make them capable of becoming so. Give them time, 
 and they may yet prove themselves the true Northmen of this 
 continent, should any attempt be made to bring them under the 
 American eagle. The people of the United States will not 
 lightly quarrel with England or invade Canada; but if they 
 should, they would get from the latter as warm a reception as 
 they experienced in 1812. The Canadian militia then behaved 
 as loyally and as gallantly as any troops could behave ; and, 
 with vastly increased strength and resources, it will be ready to 
 do so again whenever another occasion may occur. At their 
 present rate of progress Canada and her sister provinces will 
 soon be able to command attention and respect everywhere. 
 The latter, whose militia amounts to nearly 100,000 men, could 
 well afford to place it upon an efficient footing, and also to main- 
 tain between them a permanent force equal to that proposed to be 
 raised by Canada. But it is probable that the whole of these 
 provinces will soon be united by a federal or a legislative union, 
 when one militia and one regular force for all British North 
 America should be organised. The interests and wishes of the 
 provinces all point to their union, which will be much accelerated 
 by the railway now -about to be constructed between Quebec and 
 Halifax. 
 
 Another expense which the Imperial Government might save 
 in Canada is that of the charge and management of the large 
 property it possesses in the province, in unoccupied barracks 
 and other buildings, with extensive and most valuable ground 
 attached to them, and lands (generally in the most valuable 
 spots) reserved or purchased for military purposes, which are 
 neither used nor ever likely to be required for those purposes, 
 but which occasion a great expense, by the necessity for employ- 
 ing persons in each locality to look after them, besides the 
 general supervision of the ordnance department. In Quebec, 
 Three Rivers, Montreal, Bytown, Kingston, Toronto, London, 
 and upwards of 50 other places along the frontier and through- 
 out all parts of the province, almost always in the most valuable 
 situations in each locality, the Imperial Government possesses 
 such property, which could well be disposed of, and which, from 
 
17 
 
 tin.' a:cncv!il ris(> of pv()|)erty in the country, lias risen to nn enor- 
 nions valiif. VVt-re it jiulicMoiisly dispo^scjil ol, if. woiikl reiilisf. 
 ill k'iist n|nvnr(ls of a million sterling; n siimi wliicli, if invested 
 in ])rovineiaI secvirities at the usual interest of six per cent., 
 wouhl bring in upwards of G0,000/, annually. At Three Rivers, 
 lialj-way l)et\vcen Quebec and Montreal, there are large barracks, 
 and five acres of groinid attached to them, in the heart of the 
 town, which have not been occupied for upwards of 10 years. 
 Kven there, properly has much risen in viilue, through (he increase 
 of the lumber establishments up the lino river St, Maurice, 
 wliieh ilows into the St. Lawrence at Three Rivers ; such in- 
 crease being consequent upon the late imj)rovements in its navi- 
 gation ; yet this property is about the smallest, and the least 
 valuable, for its size, of any possess(;d by the Imperial Govern- 
 ment in the leading towns of the province. In some of them it 
 has several hundred acres of land, each acre being worth ten 
 tinres the value of an aero at Three Rivers. Such are those 
 which compose the extensive military reserve at Toronto, and 
 the large |)urchases made by the military authorities in Montreal 
 a few years ago. The fortifications, barracks, and land, ifcc, 
 necessary to be retained might be handed over to the Provincial 
 (iovernment, which would leave for s;ile j)roi)erty to an inmiense 
 amount. Were tlu; useless walls of the upper town of (Quebec 
 levelled, which would admit of the town being enlargril and 
 im])roved, the groiuid which they cover could be dividctl int<' 
 building lots, and be sold for several hundred thousand pounds. 
 Even Quebec, which has been so long stationary amid lli(> 
 general progress of Canada, has taken a start, and will, upon 
 the completion, in about a couple of months, of the railroad from 
 Point Levy, on the opposite shore of the St. Lawrence, to Rich- 
 mond, in the eastern townships, have conuuunication by railway 
 with INIoiitn^al, and with Portland, Boston, New York, and all 
 the principal cities of the United States. Hy the railroad about 
 to be connnenced to connect it with Halifax, the terminus oi 
 which is also to be at Point Levy, it will become an important 
 post on the line of a vast trallic b(!tween Europe and l'j)per 
 Canada and the Western States. Proj)crty, both there and at 
 Point Levy, is rapidly increasing in value. The latter should 
 
18 
 
 properly be eonisiclcred a part of Quebec, and be called " Soiitii 
 Quebec." The Halifax Railroad, by running from this point 
 abng the shore to Trois Pistoles about 130 miles from Quel)ee, 
 to which vessels can come at all seasons, will give Canada an 
 open port all the year round, which will be an immense gain to 
 the whole province. L'poti the commercial and general progress 
 and prospects of British North America, inuch might be added 
 here ; but for an article professing to treat of military matters 
 only, sufiicient has been said upon those heads to show that 
 Canada, aJ least, is in a condition to provide for what military 
 ])rotection she may recpiire, so long as no extraordinary events 
 shall occur to disturb all that is working together for her good- 
 ail that is tending to make her one of the noblest countries in 
 the world. 
 
 A. R.