The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-23

Of the foreign country in preference to
her own, Whilst her tonnage employed
in trade with European States has fallen
of, that employed in trade with her
colonies has constantly increased. Nor
is the necessity of an outlet for her SUI
perabundant population one of the least
important requirements of her condition.
With redundancy of human life on
that small island, increasing rapidly
every day, all of its multitudes, in great
degree, dependent, directly or indirectly,
on foreign commerce, how is her popula-
ton to be maintained; how is society to
be saved from the social, political and
physical evils which, in such country,
menace its existence; how is a ruinous
explosion from the forces generated BY
its own order and energy to be avoided,
if the outlets of commerce and emigra-
ton are closed up?
These considerations lead us to doubt
decidedly the report that the British
Government seriously contemplates the
REIMBURSEMENT of Canada. Its popula-
ton is as loyal as any in the world. Its
invasion by the Americans in the war Of
the Revolution and in 1912 resulted only
in failure. If America is stronger for
aggression now than formerly, Great
Britain is also stronger for defence. We
think another report is much more likely
to be true-namely, that the British Co.
vernment is employing thirty thousand
laborers in constructing an extensive
system of fortifications in Canada. The
experience of its own efforts to wrest
Canada from the French must have salts
fed the British Government of the i'm
portance of such system to the preser-
vation of the province from foreign inva.
sion. In 1890, Massachusetts, fleet Of
thirty-four vessels and ten thousand
men made an unsuccessful effort to re.
duce Quebec, thong h the defences were
then of the slightest character. Costly
expeditions were fitted out in 1904,
1907 and 1909, resulting again in failure
In I'LL, land forces of twelve thousand
men and fifteen ships. of:war again at
tempted the conquest of Canada, and
again accomplished nothing. In 1745
an expedition, consisting of six thousant
provincials and eight hundred seamen
and a combined naval force Of near seve,
hundred guns attacked Louisburg. Th'
garrison consisted Of only six hundrst
regulars and one thousand militia, with Al
armament not one-third Of that brought t
bear against it. Yet the place held ou
forty y~nine days, and at last was surren
dered through the want of provision
and the disaffection of the Inhabitants
In 1866, there was another invasion, I'm
der favorable auspices, with ample pre-
parations, and vast superiority Of force
but the superiority was again counter
balanced by the faulty plans Of the Ems
,ish and the tortitcatioms Of tho Frenc]
The three succeeding years witnesse
similar invasions, with similar result
from similar causes. In this last can
: paign, the English had fifty thousan
men and tho French only five thousan'
but the result was the same. Thus Fl
in these wars the English were vast
l superior in strength and numbers; IL
7 whole population of the French colsni
G of Canada and Louisiana did not exce'
Q fifty-two thousand, whilst that of Il
8 English colonies amounted to upwar'
J, of one millien, yet the French not on
y retained their possessions in the Mort
!" but extended their jurisdiction to t
G mouth Of the Mississippi, and laid clai
a to the whole country west of the Al
:, chany mountains. This result is just
S attributed, by high military authori'
: not to any superiority Of tho French
n bravery, but especially to their fortife
}; tions, which pursued interior and &c
70 trail lines, while the English followed
l. terror and divergent lines. 1t was Z
h till, in an evil hour, the French conse
'r ed to forego the advantages Of their f
n tifications that England obtained fox
hold in Canada.
h Tho country thus defended by
e, French is now occupied by the Knglis