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Inclosure in No. 114.
Amended Memorandum submitted to Lieutenant-General commanding.
Colombo, April 16, 1878.
SUGGESTED that the following distribution of guns for the defence of the harbours of Ceylon be made, viz. :---
Colombo.
One 40-pounder Armstrong gun at Eukhuysen.
Three 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns at Battenburgh; two 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns at Mutwal. On 8-inch smooth-bore carriages and platforms.
Galle.
One 7 inch breech-loading rifled gun at Utrecht Bastion, in addition to a similar gun already mounted there.
Trincomalee.
Three 64-ton 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns in Prince Regent's Battery, Fort Osten- burgh; one 40-pounder Armstrong gun in ditto; two 6-ton 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading gun in Fort Frederick to protect the Back Bay and Dutch Bay anchorages.
No mention has been here made of three 68-pounder smooth-bore guns now at Trincomalee; these might perhaps be utilized at that station if there are traversing platforms for them. They do not seem to be well adapted for the defence of the Colombo roadstead, their range being insufficient.*
There is a wood garrison carriage with sliding dwarf platform in store at Colombo, which is available for the 7-inch breech-loading rifled gun to be brought from Trincomalee to Galle.
The five 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns would have to be brought from Trincomalee to Colombo; also one 40-pounder Armstrong with carriage, &c., and one 7-inch breach-loading rifled gun to Galle.
Two 8-inch smooth-bore guns at Galle would have to be dismounted, and their carriages, platforms, and racers brought to Colombo.
The five 6-ton rifled muzzle-loading guns proposed to be mounted at Forts Ostenburgh and Frederick, Trincomalee, have naval slides and carriages complete. Fastenings would have to be improvised for these similar to those used for gun slides on board ship.
Suggested that application be made to the Admiral to have the five 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns, one 40-pounder Armstrong gun, and one 7-inch breech-loading rifled gun brought round in one of Her Majesty's ships on the first opportunity.
(Signed) J. G. JERVOIS, Colonel, R.E., Commanding
Royal Engineer.
T. P. SMITH, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding
Royal Artillery in Ceylon.
Possibly the "Serendib" may be able to bring round these guns, the weight of which is approximately: 71 cwt., 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading gun; 82 cwt., 7-inch breech- loading rifled gun; 35 cwt., 40-pounder Armstrong gun.
J. G. J. T. P. S.
There are also four wrought iron rifled breech-loading guns of screw 8 cwt., two of which might prove very useful in the defence of any of the detached harbours along the coast.
Suggested that two of these with limbers complete in all details, including 100 rounds of ammunition and petty stores, be brought round at the same time.t
This may be an after consideration, as they do not seem well adapted for the purpose. This I would defer for the present.
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J. G. J. T. P. S.
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