§ MR. CARDWELL,in laying upon the table copies of the Official Correspondence which has taken place on this subject, said, these papers will be found to consist of a despatch from the Governor General of Canada, enclosing a Minute of his Executive Council recommending the appointment of four Members of that body to proceed to England to confer with Her Majesty's Government on four questions of importance — namely, the proposed Confederation of British North America, the Defence of Canada, the Reciprocity Treaty, and the North Western Territory. On the arrival of these gentlemen in England, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Secretary for War, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary to the Colonies, were appointed to confer with them on the part of Her Majesty's Government. Several conferences were held, and the result of these conferences was embodied in a despatch to the Governor General of Canada, which has been adopted by Her Majesty's Government, and by the deputation from Canada as a record of the views expressed. The papers are already 440 in type, and will be circulated to Members of the House to-morrow.
§ Papers relating to the late Conferences presented [by Command]; to lie on the Table.—Parl. Paper, No. [3426.]