CO885(1-2) — Page 47

61

I have been told by many intelligent officers of high rank, and believe it, that the debt with which the soldier is thus loaded, on his arrival in Canada, is one of the main causes of the desertion which unhappily takes place.

The Right Honorable Lord Glenely.

My Lord,

have, &c.

Inclosure in No. 22.

(Signed)

Sir George Arthur to Earl Durham.

DURHAM.

Government House, Toronto, October 24, 1898. NOTWITHSTANDING your Lordship's intention of immediate departure from Canada, I take another opportunity of conveying to your Lordship information of the actual state of this province.

In addition to the information contained in the communications from Mr. Fox, of which he informs me that he has inclosed your Lordship a copy, I transmit a deposition, made by an Englishman of most respectable appearance, and whose sincere and candid manner, together with the extraordinary coincidence of the facts detailed by him, with intelligence long since received, and with letters coming from friends, as well as from enemies, whose letters have fallen into our hands, leave now no room for doubt of the serious intentions of the enemy; but that an extensive secret organization has been in progress ever since the time of the destruction of the Sir Robert Peel, at which time we had the first rumour of it

Your Lordship may readily conceive in what a difficult situation I am placed, in a military point of view, with the small force at my disposal, which is necessarily detached for the protection of the exposed frontier, from Point à Bodette, on Lake St. Francis to Saut St. Mary, a distance of 1,000 miles, which the threatened invasion is sufficiently formidable to require concentration of the troops, or, at least, their combined movement in the field.

So long as the enemy confines himself within the United States, although he is in perfect security, he has, nevertheless, to act with some degree of secrecy, real or affected, this prevents the assemblage and perfect organization of his force; but his object undoubtedly is, to take possession of some point d'appui, and when he succeeds in this object, there is no calculating to what extent he may increase his force, as he has an immense population morally at his disposal, together with the formidable military resources, which can be derived from a people almost universally armed and accustomed to the use of arms.

The enemy must therefore be prevented, at all cost, from holding for any length of Lime a position in any part of this Province, which would enable him to form a large army of invaders, to call the disaffected to his Standard, and overawe the timid and indifferent; for, although I should not by any means doubt but we should succeed in beating him, a sanguinary and protracted struggle would take place; the effect of which upon the population of Lower Canada, as well as upon the unprotected portions of this Province, may readily be imagined.

I have, therefore, most reluctantly felt obliged to incur the responsibility of arming at once u portion of the Loyal Militia, to the number of 5,000 men, with some cavalry and artillery for the purpose of co-operating with Her Majesty's troops.

It has been represented to me, and my own opinion concurs in the representation, that it would be exceedingly difficult to induce good men to enlist for a shorter period: and, also, that when the expense of raising and equipping, and disciplining a force is nce incurved, it would be impolitie to lose the benefit of the measure by making the period of service too short, when there is no reason to expect that the time of trouble ind agitation, or at least of necessary precaution, will be over for some years.

I have, therefore, ordered the enlistment of a portion of the militia for a period of 18 months, so far as four Regiments are concerned, the remainder may probably be Ingaged for a shorter period.

most earnestly entreat your Lordship to use your influence with the United States Government to act with far more vigour, than it has hitherto done. It is really very ard upon the British Government, and this Pro.ince, if not altogether unprecedented, hat England should be at the expense of keeping in check, and resisting the inha- sitants of a friendly nation. It is a strange anomaly that a separate peace should be nade with a Government apart from its people, and one which in the nature of things annot long exist.

The desertion of so many of the regular soldiers has given me the deepest concern: t arises in some measure, undoubtedly, from comparison of the allowances and pay with

he ordinary wages to be obtained in this and the neighbouring country.

It is impossible to raise a militia force upon the same terms as the troops of the egular army, the Militiainen, consequently receive their rations free of expense, and a calousy most hurtful to Her Majesty's service, on the part of the soldiery, must be an nevitable consequence.

It is to be considered that the soldiers speaking the summe language with the people of the United States, and having many countrymen, and even near relations in America,

R

| || | ||

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

885

1

PUBLIC

RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

62

are exposed to temptations to abandon their flag which it is not surprising should, in numerous instances, be found too strong to be overcome.

In this state of things, what a change might be effected if your Lordship could venture upon the responsibility, in the existing state of the Province, to authorize as a parting boon in Her Majesty's name, a free ration to the soldier. Of course, your Lordship would only do this after conferring with the Commander of the Forces, and receiving his advice and recommendation; but, the responsibility of suggesting it I readily take upon myself. It may put an end to desertion, than which, nothing is more desirable.

I cannot avoid remarking the impetus that has been given to all the measures of these brigands, from the knowledge that has now been gained of the disallowance of your Lordship's ordinance relating to the prisoners in Lower Canada. The intelligence has been received with acclamation among all the conspirators against Canada, as a triumph over the Government of these provinces.

I have, &c.

To Earl Durham.

(Signed)

G. A. ARTHUR.

No. 23.

Sir George Arthur to Lord Glenelg

Government House, Toronto, October 31, 1838 My Lord,

WITH reference to my despatch, No. 78, of this date, I have the honour to inclose a general militia order, which notifies the amount of the sedentary militia force to be called out for the temporary defence of the province.

There is a great deficiency of good arms, and we have no supply of great coats, of clothing, bedding, or blankets, all of which must be purchased at a great expense.

I have already respectfully urged that there should be in Upper Canada a distinct branch of the commissariat department, and I am confident the public service suffers from the want of it exceedingly.

I also beg to inclose copy of a letter which I am on the point of despatching to Mr. Fox, in which I have drawn his attention to a possible, and even probable result of the employment of an armed naval force on Lake Eric and Lake Ontario,

This subject is of so much importance that Her Majesty's Government will most pro- bably deem it right to negociate upon it from London.

It may be that the American Government will announce, on Mr. Fox's representation, that no protection will be given to vessels employed by the brigands, but I scarcely expect it.

Nevertheless, the elections will be over in a few days in the States, and then the Government may possibly act with more decision in this matter.

To Lord Glenelg.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

GEO. ARTHUR.

Inclosure 2 in No. 23.

Sir,

Sir George Arthur to H. S. Fox, Esq.

Government House, Toronto, October 31, 1838,

1 HAVE the honour to acknowledge your Excellency's confidential communication of the 21st instant.

Since I last addressed your Excellency, I have continued to receive intelligence of the plans and proceedings of the conspirators, against this Government, resident within the boundaries of the United States, and I avail myself of this opportunity, to inclose the de- positions of three informers, and an extract from the letter of a very respectable inhabi- tant of the district of Niagara, whose partner in trade has recently visited Ohio.

In addition to the circumstances stated in these inclosures, I have learned that Smith, of Cleveland, the individual nominated for the presidency of the projected republic of Canada, recently made a tour through parts of this province and there is reason to believe, that a considerable number of French Canadians have been collected for hostile purposes on the southern side of Lake Erie.

Having daly reflected on all the facts which have been brought to light, I have thought it prudent to lose no time in placing the province in a state for repelling the threatened aggression, by calling a certain proportion of the militia into active service, and increasing the naval force on Lakes Erie and Ontario.

Besides the steamer experiment, which has been for some time employed on Lake Ontario, and the river St. Lawrence, Captain Sandom, who commands the royal navy on the Lakes, has chartered two other British steamers for this service, which he is about to arm. On Lake Erie, Captain Sandom purchased for the use of Government, last summer, an American steamer, which is now stationed near Amherstburg; and as there are no British steamers on those waters, it is intended that another American steam vessel of superior power and speed, shall be immediately chartered, and placed under the command of Captain Drew, for the protection of those parts of the Niagara and Talbot districts which border on Lake Erie.

1