BRITISH NORTH AMERICA. 



75 



distant day, they may be resumed with a better pros- 

 pect of ii .-iiiisf.u-tory result. 



Wr have the honor to be your excellency's most 

 obedient su-r\ 



A. T. t. \I,T. Minister of Finance, Canada. 



\V. ]'. MOWLAM), Postmaster-Uen'l, Canada, 



\V. A. IIKNKV, Attornev-Gen'l, Nova Scotia. 



A. J. SMITH, Attorney-tieu'l, New Brunswick. 



nJiitn Trade with the West Indie*, Bra- 

 ei7, <nnl Mexico. When it became evident that 

 i ho reciprocity treaty between the United 



ami Canada would be abrogated, ft con- 

 leiliTat.- council of trade was held in Quebec 

 September, 18(55, at the suggestion of the Im- 

 perial authorities, and a committee- appointed 

 to investigate the trade of the West Indies, 

 Brazil, and Mexico, with a view to obtain new 

 commercial advantages for Canada. This coni- 

 mittiv, which proceeded on its mission in De- 

 cember of that year, was composed as follows: 

 From Canada, Hon. William McDongall, M. 

 P. P., Provincial Secretary ; Hon. Thomas Ryan, 

 M. L. 0. ; J. W. Dunscombe, Esq., Collector of 

 Customs for Quebec, and A. M. Delisle, Esq., 

 Collector for Montreal; from Nova Scotia, 

 Hon. James McDonald, M. P. P., Financial 

 Secretary, and lion. Isaac Levisconte, M. P. P. ; 

 from New Brunswick, William M. Smith, Egq., 

 Collector of Customs at St. Johns ; from Prince 

 Edward Island, Hon. Wm. H. Pope, M. P. P., 

 Colonial Secretary. The party sailed for 

 St. Thomas, West Indies, and there divided 

 into two ; Messrs. Dunscombe, Levisconte, and 

 Pope going to Brazil, and the others visiting 

 the West Indies. The services of a war-steamer 

 were placed at the disposal of the latter body 

 by the admiralty. Tho commissioners were 

 instructed to report " the nature and extent of 

 the productions of the respective countries they 

 visited," and particulars as to their "trade, 

 tariffs, and all other burdens imposed upon 

 commerce, the ordinary prices current," etc., 

 and to offer suggestions tending to remove ob- 

 structions to the rapid increase of direct trade 

 between British America and tropical regions. 

 In the West Indies, the commissioners made 

 an agreement with the Governors of Devnerara, 

 Trinidad, tho Windward Islands, the Leeward 

 Islands, and Jamaica, that "customs, duties, 

 and port charges on the produce and shipping 

 of the respective colonies, should be levied 

 solely for revenue purposes, and for the main- 

 tenance of indispensable establishments ; and 

 that the several governments will be prepared 

 to consider, in a liberal spirit, any complaint hav- 

 ing reference to imposts that may bo preferred 

 by another government, on tho ground that 

 such imposts are calculated to obstruct trade." 

 They also made a conditional agreement to aid 

 in the establishment of improved postal com- 

 munication. In Brazil tho commissioners hast- 

 ened the throwing open of the coasting trade 

 of the empire, and other concessions were 

 promised, to follow, in due time, the close of 

 the war with Paraguay. On their return, the 

 commissioners submitted to the Provincial 

 Parliament a report containing the desired de- 



tails of information, and offered tho following 

 suggestions : 



1. To establish promptly a line of steamer* suitable 

 for the carriage of mails, passengers, and freight, 



;i Halifax. Nova Scotia, and bt. Thomas, in 

 the West Indies, touching (until the completion of 

 tho Intercolonial Railway; at Portland, in the United 

 States, BO as to insure regular semi-monthly com- 

 munication between the ports mentioned. 



2. To make a convention or agreement with tbo 

 postal authorities of the United States for the prompt 

 transmission of letters, etc., from Canada and the 

 maritime Provinces, by every United States mail 

 which leaves the ports of Boston or New York for 

 the West Indies, Brazil, Mexico, etc., and also for 

 the transmission through United States mails of cor- 

 respondence originating in those countries. 



8. To establish a weekly line of f trainers between 

 Montreal and Halifax, and to complete as soon as 

 possible the Intercolonial Railway. 



4. To procure, by reciprocal treaties or otherwise, 

 a reduction of the duties now levied on flour, fish, 

 lumber, pork, butter, and other staple productions 

 of British North America, in the West Indies, and 

 especially in Brazil and the colonies of Spain. 



5. To obtain, if possible, from the Spanish and 

 Brazilian authorities a remission of the heavy dues 

 now chargeable on the transfer of vessels from the 

 British to the Spanish and Brazilian flags. 



6. To procure, by negotiation with the proper au- 

 thorities, an assimilation of the tariffs of the British 

 West India colonies in respect to flour, lumber, fish, 

 and the other staple products of British North 

 America, a measure which would greatly facilitate 

 commercial operations, and may well be urged in 

 view of the assimilation about to be made in the 

 tariffs of Canada and the maritime Provinces. 



7. To promote by prudent legislation, and a sound 

 fiscal policy, the rapid development of the great nat- 

 ural resources of the British North American Prov- 

 inces, and to preserve as far as it lies in their power, 

 the advantage which they now possess, of being able 

 to produce at a cheaper cost than any other country, 

 most of the great staples which the inhabitants of 

 the tropics must procure from Northern ports. 



Fenian Disturbances. Tho colonies were 

 much agitated at times during the year by raids, 

 actually, made or expected to be made, by Fe- 

 nians upon their soil. A concerted and for- 

 midable attack from that mysterious organi- 

 zation was anticipated on St. Patrick's day. 

 Fourteen thousand volunteers responded to the 

 call of the Canadian Government within twenty- 

 four hours. The towns and villages along the 

 frontier were strongly garrisoned. The United 

 States authorities acted promptly to prevent an 

 invasion across tho Maine boundary. The day, 

 which was awaited with much anxiety on both 

 sides of tho line, passed off without any hostile 

 demonstration. The volunteers were gradually 

 sent home. On the 1st of June, however, an in- 

 vasion of Fenians really took place. A band 

 of between 1,000 and 1,500, under General 

 O'Neil, crossed in canal-boats near Buffalo 

 and took possession of Fort Erie. Volunteers- 

 from various portions of Canada were hurried 

 forward to meet them ; and on the 2d of June 

 the battle of Limestone Ridge was fought, in 

 which nine Canadian volunteers were killed, and 

 a large number wounded. The volunteers re- 

 treated, and the Fenians, after remaining a 

 short time in possession of tho field, fell back, 

 and, reviving no reinforcements, for the mo** 



