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The Imperial reserve was contemplated to consist at first of about 4,000 men, and I submitted a complete Memorandum in detail to the Canadian Government on that head on the 27th March, 1880.* This was further supplemented by a copious Memorandum on the 24th April, 1880,† called for by his Excellency the Governor-General. I retain copies of these Memoranda.

I am still of opinion that an Imperial reserve would be successful in Canada. I am now, however, less sanguine about the formation of three permanent corps. Since I have had the honour of discussing that question at home, I am persuaded it would be nearly hopeless to expect a rotation with a regiment of the line for obvious reasons. I am told also that difficulties not easily surmounted would lie in the way of a periodical relief of Canadian battalions for home duty; and so the important benefit of a tour of service in home camps or garrisons with British troops would not be attainable.

Since leaving Canada, I have been reliably informed that every newspaper of note, from Halifax to the Great Lakes, has strongly written against the organisation of regular battalions. Money is said to be the foundation of the opposition, as well as a feeling of jealousy that expensive battalions of regular troops would sap the resources, and supersede the standing militia of the Dominion.

This is, of course, entirely a matter for the consideration of the Government. I have already frequently pointed out from practical experience and observation on the spot, the unfairness of calling upon militia battalions periodically to risk a collision with the inhabitants of cities in which they reside, when required to quell riots in which there may be relatives and friends in hostility on both sides. I do not hesitate to repeat that a small force of regular troops is, therefore, highly neces- sary for internal protection and home duties in Canada.

Since returning to England another question has arisen in correspondence with persons of experience in Canadian military affairs.

The Imperial Government has, through the Royal Military College of Kingston, generally opened the army for Canadian officers; why not open the same door for soldiers? I am informed that some of the best recruits in the service of the United States are Canadians; why not, therefore, give these men the option of serving under their own flag? It is to be regretted they should be lost to their country, but there is no opening to service for them at home; and, bold and adventurous, they go where they are gladly welcomed.

The theory of "localization of forces" of Great Britain and Ireland is under trial, though it seems an unsolved problem how far it can succeed in the sister island, at times approaching to rebellion against constituted law and order. But in loyal and orderly Canada I have no doubt it would be responded to with alacrity. Therefore, I submit that the depôt of the 100th Royal Canadian Regiment should be established in Canada and allowed to retain a strength of 200 or 300 men, for duty there as required, and also to serve as a primary school of instruction for regimental officers and non-com- missioned officers of the militia.

The want of such a school of instruction is one of the greatest and most prominent defects of the Canadian militia. By this means the militia would have a standard to follow, and perhaps in a few years, when the country and its public men had come to recognize the advantage of the presence of a few hundred regular troops, the project of a local permanent force might have every prospect of success. By this means, too, a nucleus for an army reserve would follow with the establishment of a corres- ponding reserve which I before suggested through the Canadian mllitia.

The transport of recruits for the 100th Regiment from Canada, and of time-expired men back to the reserve, would, of course, be a source of some small expense to the Imperial Gevernment; but surely such an additional tie between Great Britain and her largest Colony would be worth a trifling outlay. There is railway communication from all parts of Canada to Halifax, where troop-ships call every year during the troop relief season.

Four important points may be considered as the station for this depôt, viz., Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, and Toronto.

Quebec I consider too far east and surrounded by a French Canadian population, who, however, make very average good soldiers in their own country. Montreal has no barrack, but there is a good one at St. John's on the River Richelieu, an important strategic point south of Montreal. Kingston has the Royal Military College and a battery of permanent artillery for a gunnery school. There would be ample accommodation for a depôt in Fort Henry, an excellent casemated work in good repair, and which would be much improved by permanent occupation and constant fires. Toronto, the capital of Ontario, is in the midst of an English population where, perhaps, the best recruits could be pro- cured; it has a good barrack for 300 men in the new fort.

I prefer Kingston as the most central, with existing military establishments and extensive fortified works; also near excellent recruiting ground.

Appendix No. 6.

CANADA.

Thames Ditton, November 11, 1880.

(Signed)

E. SELBY SMYTH, Lieutenant-General.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Inclosure 10 in No. 1.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, January 17, 1881.

I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 10th and 18th Decembert with reference to the question of raising a Canadian contingent for Imperial service, and I am to request that you will state to Mr. Secretary Childers that Lord Kimberley proposes, with his concurrence, to submit the whole of the correspondence on the subject for the consideration of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad;

+ Inclosure 5.

*Inclosure 3.

Inclosures 7 and 8.

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