"On Friday last, the 21st instant, our Parliament was prorogued. We
have had a very hard and laborious session. For my part, I had charge
of the two most difficult measures, the Militia and the Fortifications
measures, which I carried through successfully, and which were
sanctioned on the 21st instant. Without being considered guilty of
boasting, I can say, and every man in Parliament will say, that
I was the only one who could carry through these measures. My Lower
Canada Parliamentary strength supported me nobly. I consider that in
carrying these two measures to successful issue, I have rendered a good
service to Canada, to England, and to British transactions. I wanted to
write you last week, before the closing of our session, but really I
could not find a moment for so doing. During ten days we sat three
times a day, and we had to attend our executive sittings during the
very short intervals allowed us. I have not as yet answered your so
kind letter of the 24th April last, nor your also kind former one of
March last, and I hope you will have the goodness to excuse my delay.
My dear Mr. Watkin, I do really not know how to thank you for all that
you have done for me with regard to the injustice done me in the matter
of the distribution of honors to the Confederation delegates, and with
regard to the baronetcy which the Queen intends to confer on me. As you
remark in your last note, I became aware of Her Majesty's intentions by
a cable telegram to Lord Monck, and the last mail has
brought a despatch to Lord Monck from the Duke of Buckingham to apprise
me officially of Her Majesty's intentions, and to request me to
send to the Colonial Office my pedigree and my coat of arms, for the
preparation of the letters patent to be issued. I am now procuring all
the information and things required by the Heralds' College. The first
telegram to Lord Monck was to offer me the baronetcy, and to ascertain
if I would accept of it. I took a few days to consider the matter, as I
would not do anything which might not have been approved by Galt and
Langevin. Both of them urged me to accept; and consequently I made Lord
Monck aware of my acceptance. A few days afterwards came another
cable telegram, informing Lord Monck that the Queen had
conferred on me the baronetcy dignity, and the C.B. on Langevin. When
the Queen's pleasure was announced in the House, there were cheers and
approbation from both sides of the House. I have not the least
doubt that I am under obligation to Lord Derby and to Lord Wharncliffe
for their interference in my favour; and I must add, that I feel under
stronger obligation to you for the honor conferred on me, first, for
your having moved so kindly and so urgently Lord Wharncliffe,
and, secondly, for your so chivalrous disinterestedness in having
yourself declined the royal mark of favour offered to you by Mr.
Disraeli, on the ground of the injustice at first done to me. My dear
Mr. Watkin, I cannot forget such friendly and disinterested conduct on
your part. I hope it will be in my power, in return, to be useful to
you. Very likely I will have to go to England on the question of
defence before the next Session of our Parliament, and I will
not fail to say the proper words to the proper quarters; and if
it were possible for me to do something by correspondence, I would
gladly do it; but I don't know how to proceed, and whom to move.
Besides, I would not like to do or write anything which might not meet
your wishes. I would like very much to know your views on that delicate
question. I thank you for your suggestion to write a few lines to Lord
Wharncliffe. I enclose you a letter for him, which I leave open, in
order that you should see it. If the letter meets your views, be kind
enough to seal it and to mail it to Lord Wharncliffe. I was so pleased
the other day to hear from our friend Brydges, that your dear son had
arrived in Montreal, and that his health is improving. I have not
failed to let Langevin know your kind congratulations to him. He feels
very thankful for the interest you take in him. I showed him your last
note to me. I have duly transmitted to Mrs. Cartier and my daughters
your kind message, - and they all feel grateful to you. I enclose you
the Militia and Fortification measures as they finally passed. I
enclose you also the return to an address for the correspondence
and despatches on the defence-fortification question. You may, perhaps,
like to have all these papers. I enclose you also the return to
an address for the correspondence on the C.B. matter, and the report of
the Select Committee upon it; you will find the report of the
Committee in the Notes and Proceedings of the 15th of
May. It seemed to me, that you might like to have these documents, as
you took such a degree of interest in Galt and myself. Do me the
kindness to present my best regards to Mrs. Watkin, and to remember me
kindly to your daughter when you write her.
"We are threatened with a Fenian invasion in the course of
June next. We are preparing to meet it. It is too bad that the
Imperial Government should allow such an hostile organization to
be formed in the United States without a word of remonstrance.
In the hope of hearing from you at your earliest convenience,
"Believe me, my dear Mr. Watkin,
"Your sincere and grateful friend,
"GEO. ET. CARTIER.
"E. W. WATKIN, Esq., M.P. London."
PERMITTED INVASION.
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