F.—B.

Monsignor Laflamme, of Laval University; and Benjamin Suite, ex-President of the Royal Society of Canada. We fiud also in this group the names of Sir William C. Macdonald and Dean Bovey, of McGill University; Sir William P. Howland, P.C., and Colonel Denison, of Toronto; Professor Adam Shortt, of Queen's University; and the late Sir Kobert Thorburn, formerly Premier of Newfoundland. It is interesting to note, by way of illustration, the views expressed by some of these gentlemen. Their testimony on such a matter is too valuable to be confined to a parliamentary blue-book. Thus, His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario writes: "The dissemination of more information regarding each other among the colonies than at present prevails is a condition precedent to any successful effort being made for a closer Imperial union. I may venture to say that the people of the Motherland require to be educated regarding this subject quite as much as do the colonies; the ignorant indifference of apparently intelligent persons in Britain regarding the vast interests involved in the unification of our Empire is lamentable. The plan you advocate for the telegraphic transmission of intelligence among our various dependencies must commend itself as one which will do much to prepare the minds of the people for at some future time adopting some plan for carrying out a closer union between the numerous nationalities which form our great Empire." Monsignor Laflamme writes: " You are right in saying that before trying to unite the various national elements of the Empire it is prudent and even necessary to make these elements acquainted with each other. I imagine that by going too fast we might reach the opposite extreme. A solid public opinion, the only kind on which one can safely count, is not a thing that can be improvised : still less can it be imposed. It can only be reached by iong and patient effort. Evidently the first step to take is to circulate abundantly all information calculated to spread knowledge throughout the Empire and make known the mind of the various populations. Then only we may be able to say what scheme is fit for realisation, and in what measure. Allow me to say that the Province of Quebec would be specially glad of the creating of such a bureau of information." M. J. G. Garneau writes: "I believe that it is in the common interest of England and her colonies to draw as closely as possible the ties of commercial relationship, which give a practical basis for that feeling of interdependence and solidarity which is the best safeguard of the common weal. As the glorious Constitution under which we live was gradually evolved from the teachings of experience, so must the idea of Imperial unity be arrived at by the aspiration of the component elements, united by the comprehension of their common interests. In order to arrive at this comprehension it is essential that ignorance and prejudice be dispelled, and any means tending to this end must be a step in the right direction. The British Empire embraces many races and languages, and the spirit of loyalty to a common Crown and Government must be fostered by a broad and just tolerance of the individual characteristics and legitimate aspirations of its component races. An Imperial Intelligence Department, such as suggested, to centralise and distribute reliable information, cannot but do much good, and your idea about the chain of Empire cables seems a very practical step towards the realisation of that object." Sir William C. Macdonald writes: " I can find only words of commendation for what you have written, especially the point you make of laying as speedily as practicable a chain of State-owned cables and telegraphs to link together the Mother-country and all her outlying colonies. This is really the first step to be taken, binding together with cords of steel and affording time for reflection as to what should "follow next. These cables will be to the Empire what the nerves are to the human body." M. Benjamin Suite writes: " The great question of the day is the unification of the Empirethe more perfect union of all the parts. But the parts do not know one another. So long as this ignorance of one State or Province in regard to another remains, with all the prejudices it engenders, so long will it be perfectly impossible to accomplish anything practical and lasting. Let us commence by getting to know one another. It is too early for a Council; it is just the time for an Intelligence Department, together with a cable service linking the principal groups of the colonies to the Mother-country. This first step being taken and some knowledge acquired thereby, we will see how to proceed further in the direction of mutual arrangements, if then found possible." Group B consists wholly of Judges, headed by Chancellor Sir John Boyd, President of the High Court of Justice of Ontario, and it includes distinguished jurists from the Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan, and also from Newfoundland. Chancellor Sir J. A. Boyd expresses more or less closely the sentiments of the other ten Judges who are included in this group when he says, " I favour any method or movement which will bring or tend "ta bring the Mother-country and her outlying members into closer and more sympathetic relations. The scheme suggested by you of a system of telegraphic ocean cables whereby intercommunication may be had amongst all parts of the Empire with the maximum of speed and the minimum of expense recommends itself as furthering greatly this end of bringing all parts into closer touch with the centre, and the centre with all the parts. Besides this, let all other means be used to dispel the common ignorance of each other now so greatly prevailing, and to bring in mutual knowledge and confidence which will follow better acquaintanceship. Care being taken on all sides to avoid any revolutionary jar, the future appears full of promise for the steady growth of a closer and more intelligent union between England and the English-speaking colonies, which shall shape for itself that outward form best fitting and expressing the living political organism which it embodies." The Hon. Justice Landry, of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick, writes, ' I have no hesitation in arriving at the conclusion that the scheme is in the best interests of the Empire, if the details can be worked out. The subject is very important. My best wishes are with you and its promoters for its success,"

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