The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-15 00:00:00

The Defence of Canada.

The following letter to the Secretary of State for
War, with reference to the defence of Canada, from
Lieut.-Col. Jervois, E R B
• '7 C • .7 Deputy-Director of
Fortifications, was issued yesterday :
War-office, Jan., 1865.
MY Loin,-1. Having in accordance with your
lordship's desire visited the British North. American
possessions during the autumn of 1863, to ascertain
the condition of their defences, I pointed out to your
lordship in my report, dated February, 1864, as the
result of my inspection in Canada, that the construc-
tion of certain works of fortification at Montreal
and Quebec was essential to enable the British troops
and local forces to resist an invasion by the Ameri-
cans with any prospect of success. In obedience to
your lordship's further directions, I again proceeded
to Canada in the beginning of September last, for
the purpose of affording to Lord Monck and to the
provincial government of Canada every information
in my power as to the measures which it is desirable
to adopt for the defence of that colony. I havenow
the honour to report as follows :

2. I embarked at Liverpool for North America on
the 3d September last, and after visiting Halifax,
Nova Scotia, and travelling through New Bruns-
wick en route to Canada, I arrived at Quebec on the
23d of the same month. I then communicated with
Lord Monck with reference to the object of my mis-
sion. I also proceeded to Montreal to confer with
Lieut.-Gen. Sir W. F. Williams, the general com-
manding the troops in British North America. Sub-
sequently I had interviews with several members of
the Government of Canada, who met at Quebec in
October to take part in the conference with the de-
legates from theprovince of Nova Scotia, New Bruns-
wick, Prince Edward's Island, and Newfoundland,
with reference to the proposed confederation of the
provinces of British North America.
3. On the 12th October I had a formal inter-
view with the whole of the executive council,
who then requested me to state my views
with respect to the defence of Canada.
A long conversation with the council took place in
consequence of my statement, which led to a paper
of question being addressed to me by the provincial
government. These questions rendered it necessary
for me to make a detailed examination of several
positions in Upper Canada. I accordingly recon-
noitred the country about Kingston, Toronto, Hamil-
ton, London, Paris, and other places. I then pre-
pared a report on the defence of the whole of Canada,
embodying my answers to those questions, which
report I submitted to the lieutenant-general com-
manding, who signified his approval in writing of
the measures recommended therein. On my return
to Quebec I placed my report in the hands of the
Canadian Government. After interviews with the
governor-general and some of the members of the
council, I left Quebec for New York and returned
to England at the end of last November.

4. Although the proposals which resulted from my
communication with the Canadian Government are
stated in my report to the council it may be conve-
nient that I should state briefly in this place the
iews which I expressed at my interview with the

5. I observed, that although, owing to the length
and nature of the frontier of Canada, it was impos-
sible to protect it throughout its whole extent, an
enemy must nevertheless acquire possession of cer-
tain vital points before he could obtain any decided
military advantage ; that there are only a few such
points—and that if proper arrangements were made
for the defence of these places by the construction
of fortifications, the provision of gun-boats, and the
improvement of communications ; the militia and
volunteer forces of the country, if properly organised,
and aided by British troops, would be enabled to
hold them during the period (only about six months
in the year), when military operations on a large
scale could be carried on against them, and thus
those forces could resist an attack with the
best possible chance of success. I pointed
out that under this view, the positions of
the greatest military importance in the country
are Montreal and Quebec ; Montreal, because, being
at the head of the sea navigation of the St.
Lawrence, and the focus of all communication by
land and water between the eastern and western dis-
tricts, it is the commercial and strategical capital of
Canada, and, from its position on the frontier, is,
moreover, the point upon which the enemy could
most readily make a grand attack ; Quebec, as
being the first point of military communication be-
tween Canada and Great Britain, and the point to
which the British forces must retire, if overpowered.
stated that with those two points placed in a con-
dition for defence, and the river between Montreal
and Quebec commanded by iron-plated vessels, a
successful resistance could be made to any attempt
to subjugate the country so long as Great Britain
had the command of the sea.

6. I observed at the same time time that, although
looking at the question from a purely military point
of view, the defence of Lower Canada was by far
the most important consideration, I was, neverthe-
less, aware of the objections that would be raised if
no provision were made for the defence of the coun-
try to westward of Montreal. I remarked that it was
quite possible, under certain conditions and with
sufficient men and means, to devise a scheme for the
defence of Upper Canada ; the conditions referred to
being that efficient communication should be estab-
lished with the western districts ; that the country
between Lake St. Louis and Lake Ontario should
be protected by naval in combination with military
means; that a naval depot shouid be provided at
Kingston, which place should be fortified, so as to
form a secure harbour for gunboats on Lake On-
tario. With the naval command of that lake, troops
acting for the defence of the western peninsula or
Canada might, if overpowered, fall back upon its
shore at Toronto, where, if proper works were con-
structed, they might act in conjunction with the
naval force for the defence of that position, either
until reinforcements arrived from other parts of the
country, or until the winter season obliged the
enemy to retire.

7. The proposals for permanent defences contained
in my report to the CanadianFGiGovernment may be
divided under two heads : the de
fence of
Canada so far as there is communication fo
steamships, i.e., as far westward as Montreal r ocean
inclu-
sive ; second, the defence of the country to westward
of Montreal. Under the first head it is proposed that
permanent works of fortification shall be constructed
for the defence of Montreal and Quebec. Under the
second head it is proposed to fortify Kingston, and
to construct certain permanent works for the defence
of Toronto and Hamilton against an attack from the
lake. My report also contains suggestions with re-
spect to the provision of gunboats, the improvement
of certain communications, and the construction of
works of defence which might be thrown up in time.
of war.
,8. I have had no official intimation of the course
_ .which the provincial government propose to adopt
with respect to the suggestions which I had the hon-
our to Em •
bunt to them ; but I have the best reason
of
ray
proposals,
they
for stating that concur generally in the whole
the ,tand that they are ready to meet
mother country carrying out the m in a fair and becoming spirit in
defence of Canadaeasures which are requisite for the
as
behrks for the defence of
9. I regard the •
and Quebec , ,naof
at £443,000
those tzh4e4 f most pressing importance.
Montreal
I estimate the cost
or Quebec at £200,000;
those for Montreal
and that the arms;
ments for the works at th3,(ll;aces will cost about-
fieation recommended
£1.00,000. The works of fortification
Hamilton will cost
at Kingston, Toronto, and
£500,000, and the armaments for those Places about
about
£lOO,OOO.

10. With respect to the condition of the local
forces of Canada, I have the honour to state for the
information of your lordship, that there already
exist in the principal towns of Canada several corps
of volunteer militia of the different arms of the
service, according to the last reports amounting in
the aggregate to 21,700* men : these frequently
turn out for drill, and are paid by the Go-

' The returns of previous years showed a force of about
35,000 volunteer militia, but a large number have been struck
off the roll during the past year, owing to their not having
given sufficient evidence of a desire to become acquainted
with their duty. Thus the number, which was nominally
about 35,000, has been reduced according to the latest re-
Ports to 21,700.

vernment for their services. I saw several
of the volunteer regiments turn out at Quebec ;
they were well dressed and appointed ; their appear-
ance was soldierlike, and they went through a field-
day very creditably. I have reason to l elieve that
the volunteer militia of Montreal, Toronto, and other
places are at least equal in efficiency to the volunteers
at Quebec. A great proportion of the officers of
these corps have obtained certificates of proficiency
from military boards before whom they have pre-
sented themselves for examination.

11. As regards the militia,* the attention of the
provincial government has during the last year been
directed chiefly to the establishment of military
schools of instruction for officers. The government
rightly judged that it is of the first importance in
providing for the efficiency of the militia service that
there should be a body of officers acquainted with
the duties of the military profession. Accordingly,
two schools of instruction for officers are now in
operation in Canada—one in connexion with the
17th Regiment at Quebec, the other with the 16th
Regiment at Toronto. The lieutenant-colonels (who
are directors of the schools) and officers of these
regiments specially told off to teach, are paid for this
service by the provincial government, and certificates
are granted by the colonels to the military pupils ac-
cording to the degree of proficiency they have at-
tained during the period allotted to each for instruc-
tion. A first class certificate is granted to an officer
who has made himself acquainted with the interior
economy of a regiment, and who is capable 'of ma-
nceuvring a battalion ; a second class certificate is
given to one who has learnt to drill and take com-
mand of a company. On the 17th October last, 139
first class and 207 second class certificates had been
granted. There were at the same time 764 appli-
cants for admission. The formation of additional
schools on the same principle as those which now
exist at Quebec and Toronto, and for sergeants as
well as officers, is much to be desired.
12. I should here observe that the prospect of the
withdrawal of the Imperial troops from the western
districts in accordance with the instructions from
this country previous to the confederation move-
ment, has a depressing effect upon the. efforts
that are being made for the improvement of the
organisation of the militia of those districts. As I
have already stated, a military school has been
established at Toronto in connection with one of her
Majesty's regiments, and with most satisfactory
results. If the British troops were taken away from
the western districts, the means of instruction for
the militia in that part of the country would at the
same time be withdrawn, and thus a very bad effect
would be produced amongst the people of Canada
generally.

13. I may observe, as an additional reason against
the proposed withdrawal of the troops from the
western districts, that an immediate expenditure of
nearly £20,000 for the accommodation of the troops
in Lower Canada would be thereby rendered neces-
sary, and that it would be unadvisable to incur this
expenditure at the very time when it is proposed to
provide additional barrack accommodation in con-
nection with the projected works of fortification at
Montreal and Quebec. I should add that although
the possibility of the troops being cut off would
render it dangerous to leave a small and unsupported
body of men in the western peninsula of Canada in
time of war, the objection -would be materially
diminished if there were a large and efficient body
of militia to act in conjunction with the regular
force.

14. I beg therefore respectfully to represent to
your lordship that the troops. at present in the
Western Peninsula should not be at present with-
drawn ; but that on the contrary, every encourage-
ment should be afforded to the organisation of the
militia in that part of the country by the presence
of an imperial regiment at such station, as the pro-
vincial government may select for the formation of
another military school on the same principles as
those which have been established at Toronto and

Quebec.
15. The estimated number of. militia men in
Canada of all ranks, incluSive of the reserve men
between 45 and 60 years of age, is 470,000. It
therefore appears that, with a proper organisation, a
large force could be made available for the defence
of the province, provided there were a sufficient staff
of educated officers and non-commissioned officers
to whom the men of the several battalions could be
attached when called upon for duty. According to
the . latest report from the province, the service
militia, as soon as the Government shall be in a
position to take the ballot, will consist, exclusive of
officers, of 88,245 men. . .

16. It appears advisable that some suggestions
should be made with regard to the application of
funds which the provincial government of Canada
may hereafter obtain from their legislature for militia
purposes. I have therefore consulted with Colonel
M‘Murdo, the Inspector-General oT Volunteers in
Great Britain, on this subject, and beg to submit
the following suggestions :-
17. It is proposed that the force should be orga-
nised throughout the country so as to bear as
equally as possible on the population of the several
districts ; that, in order that the officers and men
may be acquainted with each other, the officers
should be chosen, so far as practicable, from those
districts, and that their appointments should be con-
ditional on their qualifying themselves either at the
schools of instruction, which proved of so much
value, or in any other way that may lead to the de-
sired result, which should be tested by examination.
The force thus organised should be told off in com-
panies and battalions, somewhat on the principle of
administrative battalions of volunteers of Great
Britain. The companies would be drilled at their
respective head quarters, and might be assembled at
central points for battalion instruction without
necessarily involving an, absence of the men from
their homes for more than a day at a time. 18.
There should be storehouses for arms, accoutre-
ments,rand clothing at the head quarters of the seve-
ral companies, under the care of a sergeant-instruc-
tor, who should be permanently appointed to each
company. The storehouses may be of an inexpen-
sive construction, and, for the sake of security of
the arms should be surrounded with a palisade or
other enclosure. It would obvioth,sly be a great
advantage to have arms available at all times for
the practice of the men of the several companies
who might be disposed to profit by their use. With
a view therefore to afford encouragement both to
officers, non-commissioned officers, and men to work
at rifle instruction and prize shooting, there should
also be a range provided in a convenient locality for
each company, or portion of a company, as the cir-
cumstances of the locality rendered desirable. By
these arrangements the men would obtain a fair
knowledge of company drill and musketry obtain a
fair knowledge of company drill and musketry
practice, which would much facilitate their instruc-
tion as a battalion. 19. The permanent staff of a
battalion should consist of an adjutant and a ser-
geant-major for the battalion, with a sergeant-in-
structor for each company. The adjutant should in
the first instance be an experienced officer from the
regular army, and should from time to time visit
the several companies at their respective localities.
thdisattrtilicetscofounr country
concentration of the battalions into brigades and
t hn
ieern t
should be divided ipto
divisions, and that the several corps should be as-
sembled, if practicable, in camps for exercise. A
brigade and division staff should be appointed for this
purpose. 21. The permanent charges for this
t-iorga-
nisation would be the pay of the adjutants, the
sergeant-instructors
sergeant-majors, and the cost
of erecting storehouses
the provision of arms,
accoutrements, and clothing ; the pay of such _ ;
bat-
talions as might be called out annually for drill
and the outlay requisite for the education of officers
whennot
and sergeants at the schools of instruction as already
established. 22. It is for consideration whether,
grant in proportion to the certified eficiency. of the
members
oefmthbeodseveral
hce principle of a capitation
o
mpanies would not be de-
sirable.
(See Order •
Volunteer Regulatio in
Council, pages 36 and 43 of
the for Great Britain ; also Ar-
ticles 269 to 278 of
tsh
e
tributed). ame regulations as regards
the rules under which capitation grant
organ isais
tt-
-23. It believed

,)n
t In 1863 two militia acts were passed by the Canadian
Legislature—one, Act respecting the Militia ;" the
other, " An Act respecting the Volanteer Militia Force."
The word "militia," when used alone refers to the former.

on these principles would afford the means of
applying the funds at the disposal of the Canadian
Government for militia purposes to the best account,
and with the least amount of inconvenience to the
widely scattered population of the country.
24. Whether, however, this or any other possible
arrangement be made for the organisation of the
militia of Canada, it can scarcely be expected that
the force that could be mustered at an outbreak of
hostilities would be equal to withstand the enemy
in the open field. Works of defence are therefore
essential to enable our comparatively small forces to
hold the points against which the main attacks
would be directed. It is at the commencement of
a war that the greatest danger is to be apprehended,
and it is submitted that it is only by availing our-
'selves of the advantages afforded by fortifications
that we can provide against our troops being over-
powered at the first onset, or time can be obtained for
rendering the militia available for the defence of the
country. The question appears to be—whether the
British force now in Canada shall be withdrawn, in
order to avoid the risk of its defeat, or whether
the necessary measures shall be taken to enable that
force to be of use for the defence of the province.
25. The sum required for the construction of the
proposed works and armaments at Montreal and
Quebec would only be about one year's expense of
the regular force we now maintain in Canada. It
is a delusion to suppose that that force can be of
any use for the defence of the country without for-
tffications to compensate for the comparative small-
ness of its numbers. Even when aided by the whole
of the local militia that could at present be made
available, it would, in the event of war, be obliged
to retreat before the superior numbers by which it
would be attacked ; and it would be fortunate if it
succeeded in embarking at Quebec, and putting to
sea without-serious defeat. On the other hand, if
the works now recommended be constructed, the
vital points of the country could be defended, and
the regular army would become a nucleus and
support, round which the people of Canada
would rally to resist aggression, and to preserve
that connection with the mother country, which
their loyalty, their interests, and their love of true
freedom alike make them desirous to maintain.—l
have the honour to be, my lord, your lordship's
obedient humble servant,

Wm. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
The Right Hqn. Earl de Grey and Ripon,
Secretary of State for War, &c. &c.

Court of Aldermen.

THE CORNHILL BURGLARIES.

A special Court of Aldermen was convened yesterday,
for the purpose of receiving a petition from the inhabitants
of the ward of Cornhill, relative to the recent burglaries in
that ward, and praying that the court would immediately
adopt such measures as the serious exigencies of the case
required.

Mr. Alderman Sidney presided as locum tenons for the
Lord Mayor._
The petition having been presented by Mr. Alderman
Carter,

Mr. Alderman SrDNEY submitted a letter which he had
received from the Lord Mayor for the purpose of laying it
before the court. The 'letter was signed J. Walker, and
was addressed to the Lord Mayor, and was as follows
"As charges of carelessness and neglect affecting myself
and my assistants have been made by the Commissioners
of Police before a committee of the Court of Aldermen on
Friday last, when I had not the privilege of being present,
and Colonel Fraser on the same occasion thought proper to
contradict my statement as to the advice I had received
from a polled inspector, I consider it only a concession of
right and justice that I should be allowed an opportunity of
meeting the charges, and of proving the truth of my asser-
tions before the Court of Aldermen, at which the represen-
tatives of the press shall be present. I propose to attend by
my counsel, and submit myself and assistants for extimina-
tion, and I request that Colonel Fraser and the inspector of
police alluded to, and whose name I am prepared to furnish,
may be in attendance. The issue I shall then confidently
leave to the justice of the court and the opinion of the public.
I am anxious, however, that the inquiry should not bo
imited to a question chiefly personal to myself. lam pre-
pared to maintain that the present constitution of the City
police is insufficient, and that the force is unequal to the
responsible duties imposed upon it ; and I undertake to
offer evidence to support the charge which I deliberately
make of its general inefficiency. In addressing you, as chief
magistrate of London, I hope I shall-have your support in
facilitating the investigation I solicit, and that both your
lordship and your regpeeted brethren of the Court of Alder-
men will perceive that in assembling at my request you will
best show that which I know to be maintained—an earnest
solicitude for the protection of property and for the main-
tenance of a police worthy of the great city over whose
corporate councils you so ably preside."
After Mr. Walker's letter was read, Mr. Digby Seymour,
Q.C., said he attended as counsel for Mr. Walker, and he
wished to make an application to the court to be allowed
to produce evidence.
Mr. Alderman COPELAND thought such a proceeding
would be entirely out of order.

Mr. Alderman SIDNEY said the Court of Aldermen had
not the slightest reason to blame the conduct of Mr. Walker,
and his character had not been impugned in any way that
he was aware of. Mr. Walker was only before them by a
communication from the Lord Mayor which had been read.
After some discussion, which resulted in its being decided
that Mr. Digby Seymour could not be heard, that gentle-
man left the court.

The TOWN CLERK then read the communication. from
Colonel Fraser, the Chief Commissioner of Police, which
was very lengthy, and in which he said it was quite clear
Mr. Walker's shop had not been broken into, but that the
thieves had availed themselves of a door in Sun-court—
always open—leading into the house in which Mr. Walker's
shop was situate, and gone upstairs, and possessed them-
selves of a key to one of the rooms, which was always kept
outside, locked themselves in the room to which the key
belonged, and so had been enabled to remain in the house
without being disturbed. With regard to the noise which
it was alleged must have been made in opening the safe,
he said no noise had been heard by the neighbours imme-
diately behind the shop in which the safe was kept, and
he referred to the opinion of an engineer, which was to
the effect that the safe might have been opened with very
little noise. With regard to what had been said about
the safe being visible through the hole in the shutters,
so that the police must have seen it had been broken open
if they had been diligent and looked thus into the shop, as
they ought to have done, he referred to what had been
said by Mr. Walker's foreman himself, which was that
when he first looked at the safe he thought it had not been
touched, and it was not until he went close to it that he
saw what had been done. Touching the insecurity of places
i
mlf2oaun nnder insecure,
monthsi n
hewhichh a
and
dt hhaea
great yd aren no
fastened,nl es s thet c
ni t
308 a
stated
reportsdt e ht
he
acareless
tfplaces
during
proportion of them were places where there were no
nightly residents. In reference to the augmentation of
the force, he did not see the least necessity for it ; but with
regard to the question of increase of pay, he thought such
a proceeding was highly desirable, especially when it was
considered the class of men that was wanted, and the fact
that since the police had been established the value of la-
bour of all kinds had very much increased. Appended to
this communication was a report from Inspector Hamilton,
of the Detective division, which was signed by that officer
and Superintendent Foster, and also a report irom police-
constable Hallett, 647. Sergeant Hamilton's was to the
effect that he had inspected the back shop in Mr. Walker's
premises where the iron safe was placed, and from which
the watches and jewellery were abstracted, and had in-
quired of the foreman the exact position in which he found
the safe on Monday morning, and the foreman made a
statement which he had repeated several times, viz., that
on entering the front shop he looked round, as he always
did, to see that all was right, and, all being right, he went
towards the back shop, and on opening the door a hole in
the floor attracted his attention, and feeling that a robbery
had been committed, he directly looked up towards the
safe, exclaiming, " They have not broken the safe," but
on going close to it, he found it had been broken open.
The report of police-constable Hallett was to the effect
that he was on the Cornhill beat from May, 1862, until
September, 1863, and knew Mr. Walker's premises, as his
attention was drawn to them when he was placed on the
beat, and he was told there was no nightly resident in the
house,
could
ot would
d be
t te r s
,distinctlyrequireand
theironsafe, which
sspecialeen
through attention.
a
sinh an
otp, e shuhdholewas He
found
in
the
the
holes
back
shutters in Sun-court. A few months after he had been on
the beat he found the door in Sun-court, leading to the
upper part of the housa in which Mr. Walker's shop was
situate, open, and he was placed in charge of the premises
all night. A few weeks after that he found that a partition
had been erected in the back shop, which almost entirely
obstructed the view of the safe. Only a small portion of
the top of it could be seen. In September, 1863, ho was
removed from the beat at his own request. About eight
months since he was patrolling Cornhill, and Mr. Walker's
foreman asked him if ho was on the beat, and he said
" No." The foreman pointed out to him that the safe was
repainted, and that a reflection of it could be seen in a mirror
placed obliquely for that purpose. He told the foreman that
the alterations made some time back were bad, and referred
to the partition, and told him that the glass was often so
dull that it could hardly be seen through. The foreman
concurred with him with respect to the alterations, and said
if the glass could be altered. Shortly after
he would see
that one of Mr. Walker's workmen was talking to him about
some robbery that had taken place in the neighbourhood,
and he told him then that his master's premises were very
dangerous, and that a man could easily conceal himself be-
hind the partition which bad been erected, and he concurred
with him. The 'report concluded with some remarks in