The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 18, 1863.

" Ancient Order of Foresters," but the result of the
inspection was most unsatisfactory. Scarcely
more than a hundred of all ranks were
assembled, their uniforms, as well as accou-

trements, betrayed great discrepancies, and their
want of drill and knowledge of their business could
not be concealed by the most assiduous efforts of
the sergeant. The consequence was that upon
the conclusion of their very unsatisfactory
manoeuvres, the inspecting officer administered to
officers and men a most unqualified rebuke, telling
►hem that he should fall short in his duty if he did
not report to the War-office the very inefficient
state of the corps. It is to be regretted that this
corps, which took a creditable part in the display of
last year, should have so far fallen off, but although
the rebuke they received was probably a source of
considerable mortification to them, we cannot
lament that our inspecting officers should do their
duty and not suffer the annual inspection to de-
generate into a mere form. The Government and the
country must not be trifled with, and gentlemen
who undertake such duties should feel that they
are assuming a degree of responsibility, and not
merely taking up a pastime for their leisure
hours.

HITDSON'S BAY COMPANY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN,

SlR,—Rich discoveries of gold have been made
in British territory on this side of the Rocky Moun-
tains, said to be equal to those on the other side in
British Columbia. Why, then, should not the
Crown at once take the management of those lands
and form a new colony ? The tenure of the Hud-
son's Bay Company expired a few years ago.
The Canadian press, by the tau mail, are all up
against the renewal of the monopoly or exclusive
privileges, and giving, as stated by Mr. Fortescue,

a country larger than half of Europe to an irrespon-
sible private company. Canada claims, as repre-
senting the old French settlers, all the lands to
Lake Winnipez, and on the banks of the Red River,
and will not permit her rights to be bartered away
by any Colonial Secretary against her interests,
and those of the Crown and public.

The prospectus of the Hudson's Bay Company
and International Financial Society, sec. 2, claims
as theirs the vast country between Canada and
British Columbia, with fertile lands double the ex-
tent of France, and a territory larger than half of
Europe. It behoves the British Government at
once to put an end to such assumptions and declare
that these territories shall be opened into colonies
as intended by the es-Colonial Secretary, Sir Ed-
ward Bulwer Lytton.
The Colonial Office will soon find the opinion of
the Canadian Parliament on this subject, through
their Under-Secretary, in reply to Mr.Wyld, stated
" that Canada did not complain."

While all British subjects in British America
should be placed on an equality by withdrawing
or abolishing all monopolies and exclusive privi-
leges, everything should be done to forward
railways, roads, canals, steam lines, and other
works of improvement. The Government should
invite tenders from capitalists by the grants cf
alternate sections of land for railways and canals,
giving sufficient publicity in the British and colo-
nial papers, and thus the Hudson's Bay Company,
or other capitalists, may have fair opportunities for
expending their capital. By such means the
Illinois Central, and other railways, have been
made throfitOr the Western States, where there
was little or no population. TRAVELLER.