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Date: 1864-10-01
By: Edward Cardwell
Citation: Despatch from Right Hon. Edward Cardwell to Lieutenant Governor Arthur Gordon (1 October 1864) in Journal of the Legislative Council of the Province of New Brunswick (1865).
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Downing Street, 1st October, 1864.

SIR, —In a Despatch of this day’s date I have apprized you of the intended visit of Colonel Jervois to Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. But I prefer observing to you in a separate Despatch that the progress of the Militia in New Brunswick does not at present in any degree correspond with the spirit of patriotism and spirit of loyalty by which the inhabitants are known to be animated.

Although the population (of both sexes) consists of 250,000 persons, and the Revenue amounts to nearly £150,000 a year, the Militia exists chiefly on paper, being “undrilled, and meeting for muster” (only) ” one day in the year;” whilst the Volunteers, who form an integral part of the Militia, though they drill more frequently, number only 1738.

The Act, too, which raises and organizes this force appropriates only £2,000 per annum to this Service, and has been passed for the limited period of three years.

I should sincerely rejoice to learn from you that, on the re-assembling of the Legislature, your advisers will be prepared to take effective measures for remedying a state of things so little suited to the importance of the subject, and corresponding so little with the well known spirit of the Province.

I have, &c. (Signed) EDWARD CARDWELL.

Lieutenant Governor Hon. Arthur Gordon, &c. &c. &c.