nial Railway; and North-West Tra

x. Later in the autumn, representatives from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia visited Quebec and Montreal, and it was generally agreed that deputations from Canada and from the two Maritime Provinces should proceed to England. These deputations were, from Canada the Hon. Mr. Van Kou

w the Chancellor of the Exchequer that this was no new proposal; that, in fact, the Provinces had been led to believe that if they would find the money, the State would guarantee the interest under proper precaution, as the State had guaranteed the capital for the Canadian canals, every shilling expended on which had been honourably repaid." In fact, "this work was not a mere local work, but satisfied military and other Imperial conditions." The end of this, and many other,

ety, while losing personal baggage and almost everything else. At a critical moment Sir Allen McNab, who was on board the ship, also on his way to England, when the vessel was expected to go down,

tone. So, armed with a letter from the Duke, we went on to Cambridge House. We were shown into a room overlooking the court-yard, and had not long to wait for the veteran minister. He came, as usual, with his grey-not white-hair brushed up at the sides, his surtout buttoned up to his satin neck-tie, or,

t for such guarantees, which had always been punctually and fully met. Previous promises of previous Governments-sanc

ch gave a new force to it all. He then spoke of the various treaties with the United States. He spoke of the giving up of the fine Aroostook district, now part of the State of Maine, and with some heat said, that "the Ashburton Treaty was the most foolish treaty ever made." He replied

troops in winter, the conveyance of the mails, future closer relations of commerce between the Provinces, and, especia

s, saw us to the door, and, finally, wished us "success." Th

nst a canvasser or a dun. He might be thinking of the "Trent" affair. We stated our errand, and as I had, as arranged, to say something, I used the argument of probable saving in the Atlantic mail subsidies, by the creation of land routes, &c. He brushed that aside by the sharp remark, "Those subsidies are unsound, and they will not be renewed." He then spoke of the objectionable features of all these "helps to other people who might help themselves." He did not seem to mind the argument, that assuming this work to be of Imperial as well as of Provincial importance, unless aid,-costless to England, or, at the highest, a very remote risk, and not in any sense a subsidy,-were given, the work could not proceed at all. He struck me to be a man who thought spendin

ovember. On the 27th I took him to see

ike all the State papers of that distinguished man, and it was sent in to the Colonial Office on the 2nd December, 1861. Thus, a

, Manchester, Liverpool, Oldham, Ashton, and other places, endeavouring,

rmanent officials, whose geography, even, I found very defective,

ail ship, "The Trent." The country was all on fire. Palmerston showed fight, and the Guards and other troops, and arms and stores to the value of more than a million sterling, were sent out to Canada. The delegates were sent for to the War Office, and, as desired, I a

hed under the tone adopted, bluntly said, "Why, to fight it out, of course; we in Canada will have to bear the first brunt. But we cannot fight with jack-knives; and there are no arms in the country. You have failed to keep any store at all." This led to a deliberate note being taken by the Under Secretary, the present Marquis of Ripon. Other details followed, and then, finally, we were asked if we had anything more to propose? To which I answered "Yes; send out a man who may be truly regarde

h man-of-war, landed in England on the 29th January, 1862,-still it was decided to keep the troops in the Provinces, to reinforce them, to add to the armaments, and to adequat

s-our delegates and their wives felt hurt at the social neglect which they experienced. And I agreed in the truth of their complaints so much, that I formally addressed the Duke on the 31st December. He acknowl

t of every officer and man on the Grand Trunk, and no small anxiety, labour, responsibility, and exposure to storms and climate, inflicted upon myself, Mr. Brydges, Mr. Hickson, and the whole s

ose gave me the great

wer Lytton, and all

. The following letter,

will be read wit

N, DER

l 27,

DEAR

t has cramped and racked this wet season. And I fear I shall not be able to get away till the middle of May, unless it be for some special vote. But apart from this consideration, I doubt whether it would be prudent for any member of Lord Derby's late Government, with the support of those leaders who might very soon form another administration, to urge upon Parliament any new pecuniary burthen, nay, any new loan, in the face of a d

t would be better that this very important question should be brought before the House by some one not in the late Cabinet-some great

nication can be defended on Imperial grounds-and would in itself, if not

d give me. I fear he will have left London before I return to it. But I should be very glad if he would write to

l communication' is a vast one. But I suppose practically it would limit itself before

ieve

y truly an

. LYT

letter was add

, "May

AR

my first object when I had the honour to preside at the Colonial Office was to attach all parts of that vast Empir

or Imperial interests, commercial and military, and for the vindication of the Imperial good faith which seems to me indisputably pledged to it, some efficient aid, or guarantees the completion of the line. I should willingly have undertaken the res

resources of British Columbia would, if properly directed and developed, suffice to commence the Railway that must ultima

ir decision can be known; and in that case the question can scarcely come before Parliament this Session. A mode of aid accepted by the Coloni

truly o

. LY

, as a first experience, though safe, if tedious. We were put in a canoe, really a disembowelled tree, and this was dragged, like a sledge, by a horse down to the margin of the river, where it was launched amongst floating ice, going up, down, and across the stream and its eddies. Our canoe men coming to a big piece of ice, perhaps 20 feet square, jumped out, dragged our canoe over the obstruction, and then launched it again. When getting jammed between the floating ice, they got on the sides of our boat, and working it up and down, like pumping the old fire engine, they liberated us. Sometimes we went up stream, sometimes down-all points of the compass-but, after an hour's struggle, w

iously, and they refused it." I replied, "Did your Grace offer it to Lord Lawrence, now at home?" The Duke put down his pen, turned from one side of his chair to the other, looked down and looked up, and at last said, "Upon my honou

e Fabian; and on the 5th April they decided to adjourn the House to the 23rd. So I went home in the "China" from New York on the 9th April with my son; saw the Duke of Newcastle, discussed the situation; saw the opening of the Great Exhibition of 1862 on the 1st May, and a few days afterwards sailed, with Lady Watkin, in the old Cunarder, the "Niagara;" arriving at Boston after a long and difficult passage, and then travelling on to Quebec. But, on the 20th May, an event occurred-caused, it seemed to me, as a looker on, through want of tact-which ended in the resignation of the Government. The circumstances were these. Under pressure from home, administered through the new. Governor-General, the Ministry had brought forward measures of defence. They prop

d by Sandfield Macdonald, sent for him. All sides believed that it would be a ministry of a month. But this astute descendant of Highlanders managed to stay in for nearly two years: two years of no good: two years of plausible postponement of all that the Duke had been so loyally wo

Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, when Mr. Rose and I called upon him at his lodgings, in St. James's Place, during my short stay in London, said, "I do not see what we can do. Had Canada helped us at all, we could have succeeded. Now every one will say, What is the use of helping such people?" And Mr. Disraeli said, in the Hous

duce the Government to take up the Intercolonial question where we had left it in the previous autumn: and in this he so far succeeded that it was agreed a delegation from Canada should meet delegations from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before the end of this year-1

colonial as that entertained by Messrs. Howe and Tilley; and further, that if a road and telegraph project could be carried on the broad lines laid down in so many discussions, their arrangements on both questions would be c

n Lombard Street, and we drew up a proposal, which these gentlemen corrected. We

tter assurance, we received

n between Canada and the Pacific, and to facilitate the carrying of mails, passengers, and traffic, the undersigned have the honour to state, that they are of opinion that the Canadian Government will agree to give a guarantee of interest at the rate of four per c

s as will secure the interests of all parties interested, and the accomplishment of the objects they have in view, such an organization will be highly

, 10 De

. SIC

. HOW

o

l

ns

ap

mar

tk

&c.

Imperial Government merely gave land and did not take one-third of the

e undersigned have the honour to state, in answer to the letter of Mr. Watkin of the 17th instant, that in their opinion the Government of Canada will grant to a Company organised as proposed in the paper

an Government of this payment of interest ought to secure the moneys required at the rate of four per cent, and t

20 Decemb

. SIC

. ROW

IN, Esq.,

Great Britain. At first Mr. Gladstone insisted on such a short term of repayment, and therefore so heavy a put-by, that his terms took away the pecuniary value of the guarantee itself: that is to say, that what the Colonies would have annually to pay, would have amounted to more than the annual sum for whi

, "8 Dec

DEAR

y each subsequent meeting-that Mr. Sicotte is a traitor to the cause he has come over to advocate. I am unable to make out whether he is playing false on

sible pretext. His whole aim has been to find some excuse for throwing up the railroad and saying it was the act of the Imperial Government. As for Mr. Gladstone bein

en you did 'drop in' I felt obliged to say nothing about it till your card was brought, a

o importance to either party. I hope and expect that Mr. G. will give way; but I su

otte going over to Paris and dictating to the editor of 'La France' an article upon a despatch of mine to Canada on t

sire to thwart by obstacles in details a measure upon which his views have been overruled, and it would be ungracious to show distrust where none at present has been merited. I may dif

that my health is not very fit for the commencement of a Session; but whenever you are passing between London

very si

CAST

y I had the

, "9 Dec

DEAR

done, especially as I do not know whether Mr. Gladstone is sti

d advise Messrs. Howe and Tilley to see Mr. Gladstone, perhaps with you; but I can

hree days ago, for though I think. Mr. Gladstone's stipulation wrong,

uncovered loan' is not very intelligible, but I

ay' may have been recovered through Sir F. Rogers and Mr.

a railway journey, which I find injurious, but my decision is altered by your difficulty. I will be at Thomas' Hotel to- morrow night at 10 o'clock, i

t matters right, if we can only prev

t go by the 9 a.m. train to attend the funeral at Deep De

yours s

CAST

my diary of 10th

nswick)after. Very satisfactory. Duke said Gladstone had expressed strong approval of Pacific, &c. affair-and had added, 'that it was one

we appeared to be at a dead lock. After several le

, "6 Jan

DEAR

m so disheartened about the result of all the trouble I have taken with the 'delegates,' tha

nsent, that the money should be invested in Colonial securities. Thus matters stood until the day the Canadians embarked, when (avoiding an interview with Sir F. Rogers, and everybody else) they sent me in a paper, couched in terms offe

of the Session, it is manifest that the measure will be sold for party purposes; and in tha

sh it, or any day next week if, on your way to or from Manchester, it we

sion which impedes legislation this Session, except that requiring a previous survey, whi

Sir F. Rogers can show

dinary paper, if

my de

s sin

CAST

r" of Messrs. Sicotte and Howland, and yet Mr. Howland

"3_rd Apr

DEAR

is not legal, unless approved by the Governor and Council. I am not aware of the circumstances stated by you, but presume, that if the Provincial Secretary called for your tariff, it was because it had not

produced any unpleasant feeling on the part of his Grace: however important the Intercolonial railroad may be, the opening up of the N. W. Territory would increase its value, and, in fact, afford much stronger grounds for its construction

at country than the people of England or Canada have hitherto shown. The description given of the climate appears to have been compiled from reliable data, and affords the clearest information upo

the Governments of Canada and England: this memorial is accompanied with a very clear statement of the condition and prospects of the country, and a report upon the propos

security that the country should be opened for settlement, and at the same time afford an inducement to the parties who might become the purchasers. It would truly be a great project, and if the Company woul

ith work, and somewh

faith

P. HO

WATKIN

road Stree

strictures of the Duke, always bearing in mind the trouble, responsibility and expense

Y'S OFFICE, QUEBEC,

S

of the 27th ultimo, addressed to the Hon. John S.

ostal communication across the Continent of British North America have not, as yet, been placed before the Provincial Government in such

ficiently matured scheme shall be submitted for their cons

e honour t

t obedien

. MER

ant Sec

W. WATK

ntr

Duke's last letter,

EWARK, "8

AR MR.

ing the Western project, I think you will see that I cannot answer it without consulting my colleagues. I cannot grant a subsidy, and on the other hand I should be unwillin

dine and sleep a night at Clumber on his way to Liverpool. Unfortunately I must be all day on th

urs very

CAST

etters in the

, "15 Ja

AR MR.

mation of a Naval Station at Esquimault, but I will now write

m, but fully expecting he would stay till to-morrow reserved several things for to- day. It was not till breakfast was over tha

urs very

CAST

UMB

6

an see Mr. Cameron in town any day. I was in London last week, and saw Mr. Ma

rs,

N

ING S

eby.

AR MR.

d have given you any answer respecting t

ication would be more satisfac

morrow about 2.30, or,

tel-betwee

very si

CAST

ING S

arch,

DEAR

fficulty in agreeing to it,-if indeed the Imperial Government

ok into this and see you if you like

morrow morning for,

yours s

CAST

March, 1863, was in re

HILL,

27th,

LORD

we may go through the Imperial territory for a more or less considerable distance. It therefore strikes me, that what I have before suggested, as to the desirability of Imperial assistance, may not be reconciled with Mr. Gladstone's desire to avoid an Imperial contribution of money. I therefore suggest to your G

the proposed Bill which we are to send to Canada, and that thus invited to the scheme by a contribution of land, power to purchase or control should be directly giv

es in aid of works to extend their rail and wat

y's report, and, also, copy of the Minutes of Counc

e Hudson's Bay Company, and forms, mainly, a po

the Empire, by connecting the two oceans by telegraph and by road. The despatch which I copy-dated Downing Street, 5 March, 1863-distinctly says, in its th

EET, "5_th M

S

etter of the 27th of December, and to express his Grace's regret that so lon

make to you the fol

ated with so much public spirit by the gentlemen represented by you for carrying a telegraphic and postal communication from the confines of Canada to the Pacific, they do not concur in the opinion of

l value to the Imperial Government, and that whenever a scheme of the former kind is renewed, it is almost certain that this country must be called upon to

e has no doubt of ready acquiescence, that British Columbia and Vancouver Island shall pay the sum of L10,000 per annum, as the

race should be informed what provision will be proposed as to the duration of this subsidy; what conditions as to the right of purchasing the line, and to what authorities th

other provisions which

your obedi

F. E

WATKI

ly concurred in. These long discussions were not abortive, for they led up to the great question of the buying out of the Hudson's Bay Compa

REET, "1_st

S

losing the heads of a proposal for establishing telegraphic and postal communication between Lake Superior and New Westminster, thr

that if the Imperial Government and that of British Columbia should find on further inquiry that some o

hts' stipulated for are so indeterminate that without further explanation they could scarcely be promis

sed by the Company, provided that the liability of the Colonies is clearly limited to 12,500_l_. per annum. Nor does he think it unfair that the Gov

lengthened period, an annual sum of 12,500_l_. without receiving the corresponding benefit, that is to say, the

ge on the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia the large annual guarantee which this project contemplates, unless there were good reason to expect that the kindred enterprise of connecting Halifax and Montreal by railway would be promptly and vigorously proceeded with. It will also be requisite to sec

spension above mentioned, any time during which any part of the line should be in occupation of a foreign enemy. But injuries from the outbreaks of Indian tribes and other casualties, whic

urporting to be granted to the Hudson Bay Company by their charter. His Grace must clearly explain that Her Majesty's Government do not undertake, in performanc

orce in the uninhabited districts through which their line would pass -but he would consider favourably any proposal for investing the officers

rtake the responsible functions proposed to him, but he will agree to do so if by those means he

Company's proposals, and is prepared to sanction the grants of land contemplated in the 3rd Article. He intends to communicate the scheme, with a cop

your obedi

FORT

WATKI