The Ornaments Are Massive Rather Than Rich;
There Is A Plain Pendant In The Ear, And A Miniature Of The Prince Consort
Is Attached To A Necklace Of Very Chaste Design." - Morning Chronicle,
Quebec.
[See page 148.]
MILITIA UNIFORMS.
Canadian militiamen will be interested in the following letter which
appeared in the Toronto Globe.
SIR, - I observe in your "Notes from the Capital" a paragraph to the effect
that Major-General Luard has taken exception to the gold lace worn by
certain arms of the active militia. I am aware that this point has been
raised before, and perhaps it is not a very material issue; but there is a
feature - an historical one - in connection with the subject that deserves
attention, and I remember when the militia was more active than now, in
the face of danger to the peace of the country, this historical point was
brought into prominence. I simply suggest that a certain warrant signed by
the King after the war of 1812 be unearthed. I believe it lies somewhere
in the militia archives, having been transferred from the Public Record
Office. According to an old officer, now dead, who was familiar with it,
this warrant authorises the Canadian militia - a royal force, by the way -
to wear the same uniform as His Majesty's "Royal Regiments." Hence it is
that the characteristic features of the royal livery has been assumed by
the artillery and the other arms of the service. My informant, who had
served in 1812, also stated that it was owing to an accident that silver
was assumed in 1862, the contractor in London, who supplied, in great
haste, uniforms for the militia at the time of the Trent affair, assuming
that "militia" uniforms must be after the style of the English force,
which bears silver ornaments. The Canadian militia is, of course, on a
different footing, and takes precedence after the regular army. I think,
therefore, that for the sake of history and the prominent position of the
Canadian militia in a warlike sense, and in view of services rendered,
such as no other militia in the British service ever rendered, this point
is worthy of revival and investigation. Apart from this there is the fact
that a change of dress is a source of expense and embarrassment to
officers. I have served in various corps for seventeen years, and I know.
L. A. M. L.
[See page 24.]
HORSES.
"L'un des premiers soins du Monarque fut d'y faire passer (au Canada), a
ses frais, des chevaux, tant pour faciliter aux colons les travaux de
l'agriculture, que pour leur procurer leur commodite particuliere, attendu
que jusque-la ils n'avaient pu marcher qu'a l'aide de raquettes pendant
l'hiver. Le 16 juillet 1665 on debarqua a Quebec douze chevaux, les
premiers envoyes de France par le Roi. Il etait naturel que les sauvages,
a qui ces animaux etaient entierement inconnus, temoignassent une grande
surprise en voyant ces orignaux de France: c'est ainsi qu'ils les
appelaient, par comparaison avec ces animaux du pays, n'ayant pas de mots
dans leur langue pour les designer. Ce qu'ils admiraient surtout,
c'etaient qu'ils fussent si traitables et si dociles sons la main de leurs
cavaliers, qui les faisaient marcher a leur fantaisie. [333] Sa Majeste a
encore envoye des chevaux, ecrivait en 1667 la mere Marie de
l'Incarnation, et on nous a donne pour notre part deux belles juments et
un cheval, tant pour la charrue que pour le charroi. [334] "L'annee 1670,
le Roi envoya pareillement un etalon et douze juments, et les fit
distribuer aux gentilshommes du pays, les plus zeles pour la culture des
terres: une jument a M. Talon, deux juments a M. de Chambly avec un
etalon, une a M. de Sorel, une a M. de Contrecoeur, une a M. de Saint-
Ours, une a M. de Varenne, deux juments a M. de Lachesnaye, une a M. de
Latouche, une a M. de Repentigny, enfin la douzieme a M. Le Ber. Voici les
conditions auxquelles le Roi faisaient ces sortes de dons aux
particuliers, ils devaient les nourrir pendant trois ans: et si par leur
faute, quelqu'un de ces animaux venaient a mourir, celui a qui il avait
ete donne etait oblige de donner au receveur du Roi la somme de deux cents
livres. Dans l'autre cas, il pouvait le vendre apres les trois ans
expires, ainsi que les poulains qu'il aurait pu avoir; mais avec charge au
bout de trois ans, de donner au receveur de Sa Majeste un poulain d'un an
pour chaque cheval, ou la somme de cent livres. Il etait pareillement
ordonne que, lorsque ces poulains que le Roi faisait elever et nourrir
seraient parvenus a leur troisieme annee, on les distribuer ait a d'autres
particuliers, et toujours aux memes conditions. [335] Comme on le voit,
ces conditions ne pouvaient etre plus avantageuses aux particuliers, ni au
pays en general; aussi Colbert, qui avait tant a coeur de voir fleurir la
colonie, ecrivait a M. Talon, le 11 fevrier 1671. "Je tiendrai la main a
ce qu'il soit envoye en Canada des cavales et des anesses, afin de
multiplier ces especes si necessaires a la commodite des habitants." [336]
De tous les animaux domestiques envoyes par le Roi dans la Nouvelle-
France, les chevaux furent, en effet, ceux qui s'y multiplierent le plus,
quoique le nombre des autres y augmentat d'une maniere etonnante. [337] -
(L'Histoire de la Colonie Francaise en Canada, Faillon, Vol. III, p.
222.)
EXPORTATION OF CANADIAN CATTLE TO EUROPE.
According to the statistics furnished by Mr. McEachran, V.S., and
Government Inspector of live stock, the total shipments for 1879 from
Montreal and Quebec from toe opening to the close of navigation, as
compared with the two previous years, are as follows: -
The great majority of animals shipped from Quebec were forwarded by sail
from Montreal, and large as the increased shipments of cattle, sheep and
hogs this year are over 1878 and 1877, the exports next year will
doubtless show a still large increase as compared with those of 1879 -
[Quebec Mercury, 18th Nov., 1879.]
Mr. J. A. Couture, veterinary surgeon, the officer in charge of the Point
Levi cattle quarantine, furnishes the following figures regarding the
Canadian Cattle Trade during the season of 1879.
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