At the same time, there was a general feeling existing that this whole thing aad been brought up by a conspiracy The report of the evidence showed who was implicated in that conspiracy; it was none of his business to say a word about that; but there had appeared in a newspaper of the previous day a letter supposed to have been written by the Assistant Clerk of this House, containing a most damaging accusation against the hon. member for South Bruce (Mr. Blake) and against the present Minister of Justice. It went so far as to make them believe that not only were there conspirators, but that the conspirators were on the Treasury benches, and that one of the conspirators was he who was charged with the justice of the country. He need not tell the House that he did not believe a word of that. He would not, for a single moment, believe that the member for South Bruce would lower himself to that position. The high standing of that hon. gentleman would not allow them to have such an opinion of him. Nevertheless, the charge was published; he would read the letter to the House, and the House might judge whether he was right in bringing it before them. He would translate it to the best of his ability. It was from La Minerve, and appeared to have been written by Mr. Piché, the Assistant Clerk.

MR. BLANCHET: When?

MR. MASSON said it was dated the 13th of March, 1876, when the first petition was brought before the House, and was not proceeded with. The writer said:

"We do not find Blake quite vigorous enough, and especially not diligent enough, though we have the certainty that he is de termined to turn Loranger out immediately after the Session. He is secret upon that, and does not like to see that any manifestation should be made in the House on this subject; but he has your petition, not as Minister of Justice, but as a political friend of those who have shown it to him. He seems struck with it, and regretted that all these details have not been put in the first petition presented to him. In the absence of Laflamme,-who is always absent, when we have so much want of him, but before leaving for Montreal has authorized us to receive the petition and to do for the best, waiting his return the Government have finished by thinking with me as follows:-As I said,

Blake seemed to regret not having these details sooner, and he does not like these public manifestations. On the other hand, there is no appearance that the affair makes much progress during the Session. Why should not you propose to him to send him the last petition, on the condition that Loranger does not ask his resignation before the end of the Session, and immediately the Session is over he will grant a Royal Commis sion and proceed to the trial on all the petitions versus Loranger; which realized, would bring to us more than the presentation of petitions to the House, the Session being so much advanced? This is why it has been telegraphed to you this morning, to ask your permission to address the petition to the Governor in case he would not; your answer in the absence of Laflamme stopping us from acting shall be Thursday next for the Court of immediately. I start for Montreal, where I Appeal, and shall have the pleasure of meeting with you. In the meantime, Dr. Pâquet will see Blake, and you will do well to have two pages of your petition re-copied on the same paper, and by the same hand, and ad. dressed to His Excellency. I have confidence that you will finish by succeeding; but I assure you that it is not a small job to move all these immovables. If you have your miseries, I guarantee you that I have mine; but, courage,-I will not say perseverance or tenacity, but patience and a little tact, and we shall infallibly succeed. The position, you see, is strong, and nobody will be able to resist you. As to me, you do not doubt that I am ever backward, that my vigilance and my diligence are never at fault, ing position allows me to do. Friend: hip and and that I do everything that my embarrassug position allows me to do. Friend: hip and kind regards to

Let us not be

discouraged; there is one that does and will do almost impossibilities for your deliverance. N.B.-The French find your petition famous and irresistible. Blake seems to find it the

same.

(Signed,) "E. U. PICHÉ.”

The address of the letter was-" Free. House of Commons. G. Brosseau, Esq., Advocate, Surrey." He did not say that this letter was genuine. He was not to indicate what was the duty of the Government, or what was the duty of the House in the circumstances. He would leave it to the Government and to the House to decide upon the point; he had done his duty.

An HoN. MEMBER asked if Mr. Masson knew whether the letter was genuine or not.

MR. MASSON: The hon. gentleinan asks me if I know whether the letter is gennine or not. I have just said I do not. I found it in the paper.

MR. BLAKE said his hon. friend was good enough to tell him a few moments ago that he was going to bring this letter before the House. He had only to say that he had never had any communication, direct or indirect, verbal or written, with the supposed writer of that letter, Mr. Piché. It was true that, in the course of the discharge of his duty as Minister, he was occasionally the recipient of some letters on the subject of the case against Judge Loranger; and also, in the discharge of his duty, he was the recipient of certain observations with reference to those charges; but it was not true that he ever, at any time, expressed his opinion upon the subject of these charges, except in this sense, that, it having been called to his attention during the Session, at a tolerably late period of the Session of 1876, that a petition was about to be presented, he represented to the hon. members who came to him his opinion of the responsibility which, in his opinion, devolved upon the hon. member who took that step. He stated to them that it was his opinion that the hon. member who took the very grave step of presenting a petition to this House complaining of the conduct of the learned Judge ought to satisfy himself, so far as it was possible for him to satisfy himself, that there was serious cause for the step which was proposed to be taken. He explained, verbally, his notion of the inconveniences to the general administration of justice of such applications, except for the gravest cause. The Government had several applications, they were pending before he came into office, and they were renewed while he was in office,-applications for procedure by the way of a Royal Commission. These applications were refused. There was a particular branch of the inquiry upon which it was thought not improper to address a communication to the learned Judge himself connected with the receipt of some moneys; but upon that he (Mr. Blake) very fully explained to the House, upon the occasion of the reference of the petition of Mr. Biron and others in the last Session of Parliament, the position of the Government and himself, as their organ, in that matter. He need hardly say that he never ex

pressed, or felt, or entertained any opinion himself upon the subject of these charges. He had felt it his duty, as he had no doubt it was the duty of every hon. member of the House, to keep his mind perfectly unprejudiced with reference to accusations made against any person, and still more against a person occupying the position of the learned Judge, which were to be supported by evidence, when they might be of no weight at all. Nor did he ever express or intimate, or entertain the slightest opinion whether Judge Loranger ought or ought not to be removed. He did not know,-having heard the hon. gentleman (Mr. Masson) read the letter cursorily,-whether he had answered all the expressions contained in it. contained in it. No doubt a misapprehension of communications of conversations with him had occurred; but he desired to say generally that he had made no statement whatever inconsistent with his duty as a member of Parliament, as a member of the Government, and as Minister of Justice. His own view and wish in the matter was shortly explained by him when it came up before the House, and on the reference to a Committee, when he said it was the hope and belief of every hon. member that the inquiry in this matter would result in the refutation of every charge which might tend to affect the honour, the integrity and the standing of the learned Judge, and the administration of justice in the district. He might add that he never had any communication with his hon. friend, the present Minister of Justice, on the subject at all.

MR. LAFLAMME said he did not think it necessary for him to say anything, as his learned friend, in the letter, as far as he understood the reading of it, accused him of being continually absent at the time, and that he could not reach him. All he could say was that he heard of the accusations frequently, and they were of a very serious character. He had no connection whatever with the management, with the direction, or with the inspiration of anything connected with this matter.

secured upon the subsidy, and to be repaid by a Sinking Fund,

"The Minister states that he considers it inexpedient that the Dominion Government should undertake a loan on the terms specified; but that there is no doubt that if the Province wishes to enter upon local improvements and borrow money for the purpose, it could be done on more favourable terms in the manner proposed than by procuring a loan elsewhere; and he suggests that the same object can be gained in another way, which would be quite legitimate: That the excess of the debt allowed over that outstanding at the date of the Union is in fact a debt of the Dominion, upon. which it has to pay five per cent. annually on the subsidy, and that there can be no objection to the Dominion, if it thinks proper, redeeming this debt by paying the money to the Province.

"The Minister, therefore, recommends that authority be given to advance to the Government of British Columbia, for local improvements, such sums, from time to time, as may be applied for, to be charged against the debt of the Province to the extent of the amount by which that debt falls short of the debt allowed. Should the Provincial Government at any time wish to refund any portion of the advances so made, the refund, the Minister observes, would, on the same principle, be credited to the debt.

"The Committee concur in the foregoing recommendations, and submit the same for your Excellency's approval."

to

He desired to direct the particular attention of the House to the words, “such sum or sums as may from time to time be applied for." There was no promise or suggestion whatever that there would be any influence brought to bear against or any exception taken to any application made by the Province of British Columbia to take over the difference between the actual actual and the and the allowed debt. They had, therefore, the fact that, when the late Administration retired from office, there was an arrangement made by the Province of British Columbia with the Dominion obtain for surveys, reads, and bridges, &r., the means for opening up that extensive Province, an arrangement by which a large sum of money-nearly a million dollars-might be obtained from the Dominion at a lower rate of interest than the Province could obtain it elsewhere. Shortly after Parlia ment met, the Ministry of the day resigned. His mission was not merely to the Dominion Dominion Government, but it extended also to England, with regard to the Graving-dock. Before proceeding to England, he thought it would be wise on his part to obtain a confirmation, from the present Government, of the arrangements with

"MY DEAR SIR,-Your proposal to the Dominion Governmeut respecting the payment to the Local Government of British Columbia of such sums as may be applied for from time to time, to be expended on local improvements to be charged against the debt of the Province, until the sums sp advanced will, with the existing debt, reach the amount of the debt allowed by the terms of the Union, is one which will require the sanction of Parliament. This being the

case, no absolute promise can be given until Parliament meets. I see no serious objection, however, to the proposal, and we will submit a measure to Parliament to carry it into effect.

"I am, &c.,

"A. MACKENZIE."

The House had then before it the fact that the late Government and the present Government of the Dominion, with a view, he believed, at that time of advancing the interests of Canada, and the Province of British Columbia in particular, had agreed to advance. the money at a lower rate of interest than it could be obtained elsewhere, and in the same way as the Dominion had obtained guarantees for its bonds from the date of Confederation from the Imperial Government. The House had the fact before it that this and the late Government had agreed to advance the difference between the actual and allowed debt. The next question arising was what was the difference between the actual and allowed debt? The actual debt of British Columbia at the time of the Union was $1,000,405; the allowed debt, increased by the Act of 1873, was $1,946,284. The difference between the actual and allowed debt in 1873-4 was $945,878. And the agreement for the advance of money, in the nature of a loan, with a right of repayment of the whole or any portion, covered this amount. The next point was as to the Statute. In order to carry out that agreement, chap. 17, 37 Vic. was enacted, the 2nd section of which read as follows:

"The Governor in Council may, in his discretion, advance from time to time to any Province of Canada, such sums as may