7 APRIL 1855, Page 1

Authority, we are now informed, has been sent out to

the Go- vernor of Wye Scotia to raise a foreign legion for active service under the British Crown ; two regiments to be composed of natu- ral-born subjects of the Queen. It is supposed that similar an- thorit3r has been sent out to the Governors of Canada and New Brunswick. Thus we have from the other side of the Atlantic a satisfactory answer to the remark which we made last week, that the spontaneous offers of the colonists to assist this country with men as well as money ought to be frankly met and accepted. Lord John Russell's absence from Downing Street has not had the effect of retarding the proper response.

The materials for such a force are reckoned to be peculiarly abundant and available in North America. In -the Briabh Colo- nies there is a militia, though it is not constituted upon quite so large a scale in proportion to the population as in the neighbour- ing Republic. But it is in good condition. In common with all British. Colonies, especially those of a temperate climate, the North American can display an unusual proportion of men in the prime of life and strength. There is some reason to suppose that numbers of the emigrants who do not settle down at once might readily accept the opportunity of touching a present sum as bounty and of taking a soldier's in lieu of a workman's career. In the 'United States there has been an agitation to keep out the immense numbers sent over from Europe ; and mul- titudes of working men feel the disagreeable consequence of this state of feeling, in moral discomfort, and in the want of employ- ment. The • great Know-nothing movement has aggravated. this Anti-British or Anti-European feeling ; and here again are num- bers who, strongly conscious of personal discomfort, would probably grasp such an opportunity as that afforded by the recruiting-ser- geant. It is probable, therefore, that the recruiting in Canada will call in many from the other side of the border : and this cal- culation is confirmed by the opinion of the New York Tribune, a journal which states facts with a sense of responsibility and forms its conclusions on practical subjects with judgment. The formation of the legion is likely to be successful, and the measure will have the advantage of meeting the wish of the colonists to stand by the side of their British fellow subjects in combat with the enemy.