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Inclosure 1 in No. 26.

Sir John Colborne to Lurd Fitzroy Someract.

Head Quarters, Sorel, September 4, 1838. 3RET the delay that has occurred in transmitting my observations relative to the hich my attention is particularly directed, by desire of the General Commanding- your letter of the 29th of December, and I beg leave to acquaint you with re- that communication, that being persuaded that the scheme of forming a veteran proposed entirely as a preventive measure in consequence of the numerous from the regiments serving in the North American colonies, I adverted er of the 8th of May, 1837, chiefly to the impressions which

young eive in this country of the advantage to be gained by passing into the United 1 to how far they might be counteracted if men of that class were assured ould either obtain their discharge, on their regiments quitting the colony, or would be allowed to transfer their services to companies intended to form å ve- lion.

I have, &c.

Azroy Somerset, K‚Č‚B.

(Signed)

J. COLBORNE.

Inclosure 2 in No. 26.

as on the modified plan for forming a Veteran Battalion for service in Canada

accompanied Lord Fitzroy Somerset's Letter of the 25th February, 1837.

the battalion be formed as there

y selecting from regiments of the ecommendation of the command- men of fourteen years' service and cter. Vacancies in the corps to the same manner.

the men be paid 1s. 3d, for each y employed.

the soldiers (except in cases of be allowed at their own wish to days in each week at their own

them, at their option, he allowed their whole pay without stoppage, ir own food. If called upon to referring to receive their rations, furnished with then at the cost

each soldier have his separate t without land, or with only small tending in front of the rows of

his service reckon towards his

Assuming that the principal object in the proposed modification of the original scheme is to form a corps composed of sol- diers who from the advantages conferred on them will be placed beyond the temptation of desertion to which soldiers in these pro- vinces are frequently exposed, and also that the scheme has in view the important con- sideration of establishing

a corps which shall be so organized that the condition and prospects of soldiers transferred to it will be essentially improved. I entertain no doubt that the project may be adopted with great advantage to the country, and that the sol- diers selected for the corps will be grateful for the reward offered them for their past services and good conduct.

This rate of pay should, I think, be received by them, whether they are actually employed or not.

I should recommend that the soldiers may be allowed to work at any time with the permission of the commanding officers, and that the proportion of men absent should be called in when required for any particular duty.

I should apprehend that were soldiers of the Veteran Battalion permitted to find their own food, many of them would suffer from their careless and improvident habits.

Cottages might be built for the Veteran Battalion at Kingston, Toronto, Niagara, and Amherstburg, at which stations troops will be required for some years. These separate apartments would add greatly to the comforts of the men, and the indulgence would be greatly appreciated by them.

His service should reckon towards his pension, and claim to a certain number of acres of land, to be granted conditionally.

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7. In order to provide for officers' ser- vants, &c. let the companies consist of 120 men, who, it is presumed, being generally stationary, and old soldiers of good character, might be easily managed by the ordinary number of officers to a company, and let the companies be concentrated as much as cir- cumstances will admit of.

8. The corps to be denominated "The Royal Canadian" " or " American Veteran."

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The companies of the Veteran Batta- lion, consisting of 120 men, might, I am of opinion, be kept in good order by a captain and two subalterns.

The "Royal Canadian Veteran's" would, I think, be the denomination preferred.

With respect to the rate of pay it must be recollected that any good labourer in the Upper Province may obtain 38. per per day and his food.

If a lot of land should be granted to a soldier (100 acres) I should recommend that the gratuity proposed to be granted to him should be expended under the superintendence of an officer of the battalion, in crecting a house for his future residence, and in clearing for each a few acres, and that while he received rations he should be considered under the control of the superintendent, his actual residence on the lot being one of the conditions of his re- ceiving the grant, and also the gratuity. With the prospect of becoming a settler, soldiers

J. COLBORNE. (Signed) might be induced to allow their pay to accumulate when at work.

Commander of the Forces. Head Quarters, Sorel, 4th September, 1838.

No. 27.

My Lord,

Sir J. Colborne to the Marquess of Normanby.

Government House, Montreal, April 16, 1839.

I HAVE the honor to transmit to you the accompanying returns, Nos. 1. and 2., of the volunteer corps which have been employed during the winter in this province; and also a return of the reduced force which I have directed to be continued embodied after the 1st of May.

The outrages committed on the frontier of Rouville by American brigands, and refugees, and the encouragement which they receive from the patriots, as they are called, of the adjoining States, have occasioned so much alarm generally among the Canadian farmers near the border line, that it will be necessary to continue on per- manent duty a provincial force sufficient to form a connected chain of posts along the frontier from the Township of Stanstead to Missisquoi Bay and the Seigniory of Toucault, and from Lacolle, on the left bank of the Richelieu, to Hinchinbrook, and St. Regis.

With this view I have directed 750 Infantry, and 300 Cavalry, to be engaged for one year's service.

The American Authorities now appear to be desirous of affording their assistance in preventing a repetition of Border outrages; and the officers of the United States' army stationed on the frontier, are vigilant and active in their pursuit of the parties of Brigands when they approach the Border Line.

I beg to transmit to your Lordship a copy of a letter which I have addressed 10 Sir George Arthur upon the subject of the future defensive measures which I think should be adopted in the Upper Province under existing circumstances. In this communication I have recommended the militia which were called out on an emergency to be disem. bodied; persuaded that at present there is no danger to be apprehended from the attempts to disturb the Colony which may be made by the Brigands reported to be organized in the neighbouring States.

The Marquess of Normanby.

I have, &c.

(Signed.)

Inclosure 1 in No. 27.

J. COLBORNE.

Sir,

Sir J. Colborne to Sir. George Arthur.

Government House, Montreal, April 16, 1839.

I HAVE the honour to acquaint your Excellency, with reference to your con- fidential communication of the 19th ultimo, that I am persuaded that the corps of the militia of the Upper Province which have been compelled to serve ou permanent duty during the winter must necessarily he allowed to return to their homes, and that they may now be disembodied without exposing the frontier to any immediate danger from the movements of the associated Brigands of the adjoining States. 1 concur with you in opinion that the hostile feeling of which we have had experience, appears to have in no respect abated among certain classes of the Citizens of the United States, and that the utmost vigilance is required on our part to counteract the projects of a vicious popu- lation prepared to take advantage of any occurrencc adverse to our interests or which may affect the tranquillity or welfare of the Colony.