"2\ll

3,10 in!

_ \I\r

\Vednesday, July i2. 1865.

’l'iii: billowing Despair-h, dated tho L’lth ultimo. and ad- dressed to His l-Ixm'lh-in-y ‘IliniHJZ IN xms. lisoi'init. by the liirht llon. l‘l. t'.\i:iiwi;i.i.. .\l. l’.. Her Majesty‘s l'rim-ipal Na-i‘t-tarv of State. was this day received by His l‘lXt-t-llcncy. and Irv-his command is published. together with itsen— ‘ for the iiilorination ol' the inhabitants of this Jiv command.

' .1. w. Monnisox,

Deputy L'ol. Sec'y.

closures, bland.

on. July. inofi,

Prince Edward Island. No. 3.3. Downing Street, 21th June, 1865.

"\ TIL—I have the honor to transmit to you the Copy of Corres- b i‘ondcncc between \'isCouiit .\lonck and myself. on the affairs ot llritish North America. which have lately tormcd the subject of Conferences between ller Majesty's Government and a Dcputa- tion from the Canadian Government.

This Correspondence having been prescnted to_botli Houses 0ft the Imperial Parliament, by Command of Iler Majesty, I have to direct you to communicate it also to the Legislature of Prince Edward Island at its next meeting.

You will at the same time express the strong and deliberate opinion of Her Majesty’s Government that it is an object much to be desired that all the British North American Colonies should agree to unite in one Government. In the territorial extent of Canada, and in the maritime and commercial enterprise of the Lower Provinces, Iler Majesty’s Government see the elements of power which only require to be combined in order to secure for the the Province which shall possess them all a place among the most considerable communities of the world. In the spirit of loyalty to the British Crown, of attachment to British connection, and of love for British Institutions by which all the Provinces are ani- mated alike, Iler Majesty’s Government recognize the bond by which all may be combined under one Government. :Such an Union seems to Her Majesty 5 Government to recommend itself to the Provinces on many grounds of moral and material advantage, as giving a well founded prospect of improved administration and increased prosperity. But there is one consnleration which Her Majesty 3 Government feel it more cspecmlly their duty to press upon the Legislature of Prince Edward Island. Looking to the determination which this Country has ever exhibited to regard the defence of the Colonies as aniattcr of Imperial concern, the Colonies must recognize a right, and even acknowledge an obligation, in- cumbent on the Home Government, to urge with earnestness and inst authority the measures which lhcy_consider to be most ex- pedient, on too part of the Colonies, thh a View to their own defence. Nor can it be doubtful that the Provinces of British North America are incapable, when separate and divided from each other, of making those just and sufficient preparations for national defence which Would be easily undertaken by a Province uniting in itself all the population and all the resources of the whole.

I am aware that this project so new]. as well as so important, has not been at once accepted in Prince Edward Island with that eordiality which has marked its acceptance by the Legislature of Canada; but Iler Majesty’s Government trust that after a full and careful examination of the subject in all its bearings, the Maritime Provinces will perceive the great advantages which, in the opinion of Iler Majesty's Government, the proposed Union is calculated to

‘1 won them all. com“ [I I have, &c., &c., (Signed) EDWARD CARDWELL.

Lieut. Governor Drains, doc. Jrc. &c.

Papers Relating to the Conferences Wnicn nave TAKEN PLACE nurwens Han MAJES'I‘Y’S GOVERNMENT ANI) A Darwin-ion ivnoii 'rna Exectrrivu UUI'Nt‘IL on CANADA APPOINTED 'ro coNriia wrru Ilnn Maaasrr's Govnasnaxr on banners or Iiii'on'raxcu To run Paovixen.

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. 19th June, 186.3.

No. 1. a DeSpatch from Governor General Viscount Monck to the Right Honourable Edward Cartlwoll, M. P. (No. 83.) Quebec, 24th March, 1865.

Copy of

(RAZI‘I'VI‘IC.

SIR,-—I have the honour to transmit for your information a so”: of an approvod Minute of the Executive Council of Canada, up-\

4033

pointing a lit-putation from their body who are to proceed to t-Lngland to corner with Her Majesty's Government on subjects of importance to the l’i‘ovinc:.

'J‘hc gentlemen named on that deputation propose leaving by the steamer which sails on the 5th April.

I have, dc, (Signed) MUNCK.

The Right Honourable Edward L‘ardwell, M. P., dc. dc.

Enclosure in No. 1.

Copy of a lieport of a Committee of the Honourable the Executive Council, approved by His Excellency the Governor General on the 24th March, Info.

Tilt-z Committee respectfully reciimmend that four members of your Excellency’s Council do proceed to England to confer with ller Majesty‘s Government:

lst. Upon the proposed Confederation of the British North American ProvinCcs, and the means whereby it can be most speedily ctl'ccted :

2d. Upon the arrangements necessary for the defence of Canada, in the event of war arising with the United States, and the extent to which the same should be shared between Great Britain and Canada. :

3d. Upon the steps to be taken with reference to the Reciprocity Treaty, and the rights conferred by it upon the United States:

4th. Upon the arrangements necessary for the settlement oi the

North-West Territory and Hudson’s Bay Company‘s claims :

5th. And generally upon the existing critical state of affairs by which Canada is most Seriously affected :

The Committee further recommend that the following Members of Council be named to form the Delegation, viz., Messrs. Mac-i donald, Cartier, Brown, and Galt.

Certified, WM. II. LEE, 0. E. C. No. 2.

Copy of a Dcspatch from the Right Honourable Edward Cardwcll, M. P., to Governor General Viscount Menck.

(N0. 95-) Downing Street, 17th June, 1865.

MY Loam—I have the honour to inform your Lordship that several Conferences have been held between the tour Canadian Ministers who were deputed, under the Minute of your Executive Council of March 24th, to proceed to England to confer with Iler Majesty’s Government, on the part of Canada, and the Duke of Somerset, the Earl De Grey, Mr. Gladstone, and myself, on the part of ller Majesty’s Government.

On the first subject referred to in the Minute, that of the Con~ federation of the British North American Provinces, we repeated on the part of the Cabinet the assurances which had already been given of the determination of Iler Majesty’s Government to use over proper means of influence to carry into effect without delay the proposed Confederation. '

0n the second point, we entered into a. full consideration of the important subject of the defence of Canada, not with any apprehen- sion on either side that the friendly relations now happily sub- sisting between this country and the United States are likely to be disturbed, but impressed with the conviction that the safety of the Empire from possible attack ought to depend upon its own strength and the due application of its own resources. We re- minded thc Canadian Ministers that on the part of the Imperial Government we had obtained a vote of money for improving the fortifications of Quebec. We assured them that so soon as that vote had been obtained the necessary instructions had been sent out for the immediate execution of the works, which would be prosecuted with dcspatch; and we reminded them of the suggestion Icr Majesty's Government. had made to them to proceed with the fortications of Montreal. '

The Canadian Ministers, in reply, expressed unreservedly the desire of Canada to devote her whole resources, both in mtn and money, for the maintenance of her connection with the Mother Country; and their full belief in the readiness of the Canadian Parliament to make known thaLdetermination in the most authentic manner. They said they had increased the expenditure for their Militia from 300,000 to 1,000,000 dollars, and would agree to train that force to the satisfaction of the Secretary of state for War, provided the cost did not exceed the last-mentioned sum annually, while the question of Confederation is pending. They said they were unwilling to separate the question of the works at Montreal frtni the question of the works West of that place, and from the question of a naval armament on Lake Ontario. That the execution of the whole of these works would render it necessary for them to have recourse to a loan, which could only be raised with the guarantee of the Imperial Parliaev ment. They were ready to propose to their Legislature, on their return, a measure for this purpose, provided that the guarantee