THE RED RIVER EXPEDITION. 227 



From what has been already stated regarding their 

 views and aspirations, it may be inferred that a love 

 for progress is not included in their political belief, 

 so their political ascendancy promised no good for 

 the country. 



Although the Manitoba Bill passed through both 

 Houses of Parliament with but little opposition, still 

 the Government policy as expressed by it was 

 denounced by all the leading and all the indepen- 

 dent English newspapers in Canada as altogether in 

 the interests of the French rebel party. 



The 300,000 was paid to the Hudson Bay Com- 

 pany ; and the Queen's proclamation transferring the 

 whole North - Western territories to the Dominion 

 was shortly to be issued. 



The Imperial Government consented to co-operate 

 in the military expedition to the Eed River; and 

 the strength of the force was, after a lengthened 

 telegraphic correspondence, fixed at one weak bat- 

 talion of regular infantry, two battalions of Canadian 

 militia, and a small detachment of Eoyal Artillery- 

 men and of Royal Engineers ; about one-fourth of 

 the total expense was to be defrayed from the home 

 treasury, the remainder to be paid by the Dominion. 

 Colonel "Wolseley, then on the staff in Canada, was 

 appointed to command it, and its organisation and 

 equipment were rapidly pushed forward. 



Having given a rough sketch of the political events 

 that rendered necessary the despatch of a military 



