their letters, they would return home | had been admitted with very large feeling that they had saved themselves some trouble on the week-day. It would make a happy home; and, if a young man received a love-letter, it would make him pleased; and they all knew that "One Sunday well-spent Brings a week's content." He did not believe in these arbitrary laws that they should not ride on a railway on a Sunday if necessity compelled them to. Amendment (Mr. Macdougall, East Elgin) agreed to. Resolution, as amended, agreed to. THE MILITARY COLLEGE. MOTION FOR RETURN. MR. LANGEVIN moved for a return showing the names of all the cadets that have been admitted at the Military College, Kingston, from the opening of said College, and giving the names of those that are now following the courses of that institution. He said he desired to call the attention of the hon. the Minister of Militia and Defence to this subject now as he had last year and the previous year called the attention of his predecessor to it. He had then pointed out that the regulations of the Militia Department, for the admission of cadets at the Military College, were so framed that young men of the French race, from the Province of Quebec, could not take advantage of that College. He had then stated that he did not ask for those young men any special regulations, but had contended that the regulations should be framed in such a way that they should not be excluded, but should be put on a similar footing with the others. He believed 40 or 44 young men had passed examinations and been admitted to the College; and, out of these, there was just one single French-Canadian, whose education had been men more English than French, and who was, therefore, able to find his way through. It was not that young from the Province of Quebec could not compete with others, and take degrees. He proud to say that Mr. Wurtele, who was of Scotch or English origin, was points, and that he had kept them and had continued at the head of the College, and had won, the other day, the medal given by the GovernorGeneral to the College. That showed that their young men were able to He was not compete with others. disparaging the others, who had done that, if these regulations were amended, very well indeed; but he was showing the French-Canadians also could go to the College. According to the proportion of the French population, there should have been fifteen pupils in the college instead of one. The Government certai. ly must wish that the young men from the French districts should be there competing with the others. MR. MACKENZIE: Hear, hear. MR. LANGEVIN said he had no doubt that the hon. gentleman's Hear, hear" was sincere. This was not a political question; it was one on He had which they must all agree. pointed out this matter to the present Minister of Militia, to the General commanding the Forces, and to Col. Hewitt, who was at the head of the College, and they all seemed to agree that the remarks he had made were correct, and to be disposed to meet his view, which they thought in the interest of the country. Supposing things remained as they were, and the Militia of the Province of Quebec had to be called out under arms, they would have 2,000, or 3,000 FrenchCanadians called out. How would they feel to be commanded by officers who did not know their language, who would not feel with them, who would not know their habits, or, if they chose, their prejudices? They would say, and it would be natural: cannot fight under those men, who do not know our language, our habits, or our customs; they don't understand us and we don't understand them.” Though they might not understand English, as a rule, so as to be able to speak it fluently, if they were under arms and were properly commanded, they would, as in the past, fight well and do honour to the country; but, if they were left without officers of their own language or blood, how could they " We have confidence in strangers to command them? He knew that other officers would occupy the chief position, but their immediate officers should be those who could speak their language and understand them; who could explain to them the words of command; who would, at all events, look after them; and the result would be to secure proper service, which, as things were, they could not expect. He called the attention of the House to these regulations. One of the points in reference to admission to the College was this: "The cadet must know his English grammar, and write English correctly under dictation." Let them reverse that, and suppose they said: "The cadet must know his French grammar, and write French correctly under dictation." How many of the English cadets, who came to the school, would know their French grammar, and write French correctly under dictation? He did not suppose there would be two out of a hundredperhaps not out of a thousand. If they asked the English-speaking members of this House to know French grammar, and write French under dictation, he was afraid a great many would be sent back, and would not pass their examination; and, if the other case were put to the French members, he feared many would fail. He suggested that the regulation should be changed to read that the cadet should know the grammar, either English or French, according as he should be of French or English, Scotch or Irish origin, and should write either English or French, as the case might be, from dictation; but, of the other language, he should know enough to read and write, though perhaps not correctly, and to understand others. He thought that was fair. They might have a FrenchCanadian officer who might not, as he (Mr. Langevin) and others did not, speak as good English as his hon. friends, but they were understood, and they were not too bashful on that point. If a French officer understood enough English to write a despatch or a report, that was all that was wanted. He would give an illustrious example of that. When the French Prince Imperial went to Woolwich, the great difficulty was that he did not know English thoroughly. Nevertheless, when the question was put to him whether some examination should not be passed by him privately, he would not consent. He worked harder and obtained private lessons in English and got through the school after a while; but he (Mr. Langevin) had no doubt that, if he had had to go through this examination, and to know his English grammar and write English correctly under dictation, he could never have been admitted. And yet he (Mr. Langevin) thought that young gentleman would have been a credit to any military college. His professors had given the best testimonials in his favour, and what proved that they acted impartially was the fact that he passed the same examination as the others, and stood very high on the list. He (Mr. Langevin) believed that, though his FrenchCanadian countrymen were not princes of the blood, they were able to compete with others in the examinations, if they were given the chance. He had made other observations to the hon. the Minister of Militia, which he would not renew at present; but he called the special attention of the Government to the fact that this was the third year he had brought up this question; he did it as a matter of duty, and he hoped that this time justice would be done. MR. JONES (Halifax) said he presumed the object of his hon. friend was to place the views before the House which he had again so ably expressed in regard to the preliminary examination of the young French gentlemen on entering the institution at Kingston. His hon. friend might be well assured that the only object of the Government was to render the College as available as possible to students from all parts of the Dominionto the young French gentlemen as well as the English; and the regulations had been modified from time to time to meet that object. The particular point which the hon. member for Charlevoix (Mr. Langevin) had referred to had already engaged the attention of the Department, and regula tions tending to meet that view had already been adopted. It was some. what difficult to establish a different 1 code of examinations on all branches of to a greater extent. A large and in the College which would put the efficient staff of professors had been cadets of the different nationalities on engaged, and, if the number of pupils an equal footing; of course, it was an was larger, the expense pro rata object that, as a rule, they should be would not be much greater. The examined, as far as possible, on those Government was anxious to place the branches on the same authorities. College on a high standard, and it But, at present, there seemed to be to might be in the interests of the Coldifficulty in acceding to the views lege to look to the Imperial Governwhich the hon. gentleman had so ably ment to see if they could not obtain laid before the House, that, in the pre- some recognition in favour of young liminary examination at least, those men who might come out of that instiyoung gentlemen who did not under- tution with honours. Colonel Hewitt stand the English language sufficiently had made a very favourable report of well to write it from dictations should the cadets; he had stated that, for phybe examined in the French language. sical development, mental culture, and That, he was prepared to admit, was ability in the different branches of the only a reasonable request, and one to institution, the young gentlemen eduwhich the Government would cheer-cated in this College, and who would fully give acquiescence, to meet which complete their course in a few years, the Government had already made rules. would, in his opinion, be qualified to But the hon. member would see that. fill any position in the Imperial serperhaps, it would not be wise vice, as well as gentlemen coming to carry that alteration beyond the from any institutions in the Old Coun preliminary examination at present. try. That opinion ought to be very The time might come when more satisfactory to this country, coming cadets would offer than could be from an officer of such high standing. admitted, and when a competitive or The one object which the Government compulsory education would be neces- had in view was to make the College sary. Then, and not until then, could useful for the objects for which it was any difficulty arise, because, at present, started, and they had already changed the great object was to get cadets into the regulations as to the preliminary the College and not to keep them out; examination in a way which, but, when the whole number for which thought, would meet the objections of the College was contemplated was the hon. gentleman on that point. obtained, a compulsory and competitive examination would be necessary. The alterations which had been made in the regulations would remove the complaint of his hon. friend, and allow young gentlemen of French origin, who did not understand English sufficiently well to write from dictation, to undergo the preliminary examination in their own language. The hon. member was, of course, aware that, in working out an institution like this, which was new in the country, they had to go on from year to year, and accommodate their rules to the neces sities of the case. There were no cast iron rules about it which could not be changed, and the Government was extremely anxious to meet every reasonable proposition which might be made from time to time. The College, so far, had proved eminently successful, and it was a matter of serious regret that it was not taken advantage he The MR. LANGEVIN said he had been much pleased to hear the statement made by the Minister of Militia. hon. the Minister of Militia had already intimated to him, after an interview they had had together, that he would probably meet his views. He hoped the hon. Minister had also not forgotten the question of text-books, which was an important matter. Of course, there were a number of colleges, high schools, and seminaries, and the books were not always the same; and the books used for these examinations should be the same as those used in other colleges and schools. At the same time, when these regulations were properly drawn and published, as he had already suggested, they should be circulated in such a way that every college, high_school, and seminary should have French and English copies, so that the professors there should know the examination required of these young men when | for admission to the College than it was they came to be admitted to the Coi- prepared to admit. lege. For example, there was Ger- MR. LANGEVIN said they might man, a knowledge of which was have a larger number of pupils than required in certain cases. It was true last year, and then the examiners that it was optional, but, nevertheless, would have to compel these young it was not only for show it was put cadets to pass in that examination. among the branches there; there must In that case, those who had to pass an be some reason for it. In some of the examination In some of the examination after the preliminary examinations it might be required, examination would have the advantage. and, therefore, it was very necessary He asked that the French-Canadians that the different seminaries should of Quebec might be placed on the same know that German was a language in footing as military students from other which examination would be made parts of the Dominion. before the College examiners. Another matter which deserved conside ration by the Government was that, after making these changes in the regulations, they would require the help of the fourth estate. If the newspapers did not come to the relief of the Government or Parliament, these regulations would not be known. They must be widely circulated, and, as this was a matter not in any manner connected with politics, they should be published in the different newspapers of both parties, so that every one would be informed of those changes. Having said so much, he hoped that, when these regulations were properly known and circulated, a different result would be apparent. They could not expect twenty or thirty French-Canadians next year, but, if five or six or eight entered the College, he would say that the time of the House had not been lost in discussing this question. MR. JONES (Halifax) said that, with regard to the text-books, the Government thought that, at present, there would be no necessity to change the text-books for the preliminary examinations, because the German grammar was not compulsory; and, in the branches which were laid down for the preliminary examination, the public examiners would have a certain latitude given them as to the books on which those examinations were to be made. He was not prepared to deal, at once, with the proposed change in the text-books for the compulsory or competitive examination. He had stated, he believed, that the Government did not think it necessary to do that until there were more applicants MR. JONES said that it would require some little time to consider DISTRICT OF QUEBEC MARINE. MOTION FOR LIST OF EMPLOYÉS. MR. TASCHEREAU, for Mr. FRECHETTE, moved for a list of all the employés of the Department of Marine in the District of Quebec since 1861, excluding the men employed in the River Police Force, with their salaries and respective places of residence. Motion agreed to. BIRD ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER. MOTION FOR CORRESPONDENCE. MR. CAMPBELL moved for correspondence regarding the removal of Mr. Angus Ross, lighthouse-keeper of Bird Island Light, county of Victoria, Nova Scotia. Motion agreed to. MALPEQUE BREAKWATER. MOTION FOR RETURN. MR. STEPHENSON, for Mr. POPE, (Queen's, P.E.I.), moved for a return of copies of specification for construction of Malpeque Breakwater; copies of tenders, with names of sureties offered for performance of contract; also copies of all correspondence in connection with said work or contract. Motion agreed to. MOTION FOR CORRESPONDENCE. MR. CAMPBELL moved for correspondence in connection with the change of contractors for the enlargement of the St. Peter's Canal; also statement showing what funds are still in the hands of the Government belonging to Mr. Tuck, the original contractor, and whether the Government are taking any steps for the payment of labour and materials supplied to Mr. Tuck before transferring his contract; showing also how many years the present contractor is allowed to finish his work, and if the enlargement has been let by tender and contract. He said he should like to know how many years this canal was to be under construction. It was a small affair in the beginning, but it had been two years under construction and was hardly begun. It was supposed that the Government had security from the contractor before the contract was given, and that they had kept back part of the money due to Mr. Tuck under the contract, and, if so, it would be well for them to consider the claims of the labourers who had worked all the summer on the canal, and had not been paid. He also thought the country should understand what arrangements had been made with the present contractor; there was a good deal of mystery about it that ought to be explained. MR. MACKENZIE said this motion was a grotesque mixture of motion and question, and it was quite impossible for it to be passed unless it was amended. MR. MACKAY (Cape Breton) said that, while the hon. gentleman (Mr. Campbell) was amending his motion, he would like to make a few remarks with regard to the labourers upon this He of MR. MACKENZIE said he was sorry to say that it was entirely out of the power of the Government to make any provisions for the payment of labourers employed by a contractor; there contracts. But, in Lower Canada, it was no such provision in any of the local authorities, that workmen had a was the law of the land, under the whatever that could be laid hold of, lien upon the materials or anything in connection with the contracts which the Dominion Government were enamight exist. Under that provision, bled, in one case, to pay all the work men on one of the river contracts there. With regard to Mr. Tuck's men, in the first place, the Government never received any notice that men were unpaid until after they heard that Mr.Tuck had failed to proceed with his contract. At that time, there was a balance in the hands of the Government, on account of Mr. Tuck, of about $800, but, of this sum, $400 had to be taken to pay some obligations. for which the Government were re sponsible, and the only money in the hands of the Government at present was $400. The contract had not been let afresh to Mr. Kennedy, the present contractor, but had been assigned to him by Mr. Tuck, and Mr. Kennedy had previously proved himself to be an | excellent contractor, and the Govern · |