270 



the coast of Newfoundland, where we have an unquestioned right of fish- 

 ing, and where there is no controversy. Then there is the Devastation, 

 a steamer of six guns; the Arrow and the Telegraph, of one gun each; 

 and the Netley, of two guns, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence : making in 

 the whole seven vessels, with a total of 31 guns, sent by the imperial 

 government into these waters. If you add to this force the flag-ship of 

 Vice Admiral Seymour, (the Cumberland,) with seventy guns, there 

 arej altogether, one hundred and one guns. This is the naval force 

 which has been sent into the northeastern seas. 



, " Now, I desire the Senate to take notice what force was there before 

 this great naval force was sent. Last year there was the flag-ship, the 

 Cumberland, commanded by the same Sir Charles Seymour, with sev- 

 enty guns ; a frigate of twenty-six guns ; two sloops of sixteen guns ; 

 and one steamer of six guns: making in the whole si,xty-four gunsj 

 without the Cumberland; and, including the Cumberland, one hundred 

 and thirty-four guns. 



" Then this mighty naval demonstration which has so excited the 

 Senate and roused its indignation, and brought down its censure upon 

 the administration, consists in a reduction of the naval force which Great 

 Britain had in these waters a year ago from one hundred and thirty- 

 four to one hundred and one guns. What the British goveriunent has 

 done has been to withdraw some large steamers, because they were not 

 so useful in accomplishing the objects designed, or because they would 

 be more useful elsewhere, and to substitute in their place a large num- 

 ber of inferior vessels — either more efiicient there, or less useful else- 

 where." ' 



He added : " The Senate will understand me. I do not say that 

 this is the whole force which is in those waters. There is an increase, 

 I think, on the whole, which is furnished by small vessels of the dif- 

 ferent provinces — Canada having sent two or three. Nova Scotia three 

 or four, and Prince Edward Island, I think, one. But the question I 

 am upon, and the real question now is, what the imperial government 

 has done ; and so I say the British government has reduced the number 

 of guns employed."* 



* The Halifax Chronicle, in July, puhlished the following : 



"For the information of all concerned, we euhjoin a list of the cruisers our calciilating 

 neighhors are likely to fall in with on the coaBt — all of which will, we apprehend, dp their 

 duty, without fear or faror: 



Cumberland * 74 - ..Captain Seymour. ' 



Sappho 12 sloop Com. Cochrane. 



Devastation t 6 steam sloop r Com. Campbell. 



Buzzard 6 stfeam Bloop. — Com . 



Janust . 4 steam sloop -Lieutenent . 



Netley , 3 ketch Com. Kynaston. 



Bermuda - 3 schooner Lieutenent Jolly. 



Arrow, - brigantine .^ ■ 



Telegraph schooner . 



Haliiax 2 brigantine Master Laybold. 



Belle ^ 2.... ....brigantine Master Crowell. 



Responsible 2 schooner ■. Master Dodd. 



■Daaing y. 2 schooner Master Daly. 



"In addition to this formidable force, his Excellency Sir G. F. Seymour requires, we learn, 

 twa more, vessels, besides the Arrow and Telegraph, (two beautiful craft, of whose merits we 



* Flag, Sir G. F. Seymour. 1 300 hoiBe power, } 230 horac power. 



