§ MR. ADDERLEYsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Canadian Parliament is prorogued, and the raising 5,000 additional Militia is to be considered their final and ultimate measure of preparation for the defence of their country, in co-operation with the 12,000 troops we have sent for that purpose; and whether it appears that that force is to be actually embodied and put under training, or only enrolled; and whether any answer has been sent by the Canadian Government to the offer of a British guarantee of 4 per cent interest to their Railway Loan of £3,000,000 made by the Duke of Newcastle, in substitution for their original proposal, that they should aid this country in undertaking their railway?
§ MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUEreplied, that the Canadian Parliament had been prorogued, and he was sorry to say that it separated without raising a force of active Militia, formed and clothed at the expense of the Canadian Government, 350 beyond 10,000 men; the number proposed by the Canadian Ministry being 50,000. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that every Canadian capable of bearing arms was enrolled as a militiaman, and was liable to be called out in case of danger; and all persona acquainted with Canada knew that in the event of the appearance of danger there would be no difficulty whatever in raising a very large force of most admirable materials—men accustomed to the use of fire-arms, who would come forward with readiness and spirit. With respect to the latter part of the question, he said that no answer had been received from the Canadian Government to the offer of the British guarantee.