Page 111
58
83
the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a despatch which he has addressed to the Governor of the Cape requesting him to take steps for the formation of a local Committee to inquire into and report upon the question of the permanent defences of that Colony.
I (Signed)
am,
&c.
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
Appendix No. 4.
CAFE OF GOOD HOPE.
Inclosure 1 in No. 18.
(Secret.) Sir,
Sir M. Hicks Beach to Governor Sir Bartle Frere.
Downing Street, October 22, 1879.
I HAVE the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter from the War Office,* inclosing a copy of a despatch from Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford respecting the defences of the Table Mountain Peninsula. I also transmit to you the accompanying printed correspondencet which took place last year between this Department and the Colonial Defence Committee relative to the defences of the Colony.
2. I request that you will, as soon as possible, appoint a local Committee under your direction, composed of Officers named by the General Officer Commanding and your Government, to report upon the various points referred to in the inclosed letter from the War Office, and to prepare an estimate of the cost of the various works requisite to carry into complete effect the proposals of the General Officer Commanding, and that you will transmit to me the Report and estimate at your earliest convenience, with any observations which you may have to offer upon them, in order that they may receive the early consideration of the Royal Commission for the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
3. Your Government will, however, of course understand that, in the absence of such full particulars as a Committee assembled on the spot is alone competent to furnish, Her Majesty's Govern- ment cannot be bound by the principle recommended by the late Colonial Defence Committee in their Report of the 7th June, 1878, as to the apportionment between this country and the Colony of the cost of providing such defences as may decided upon, however equitable that principle may be under the conditions assumed by the Committee.
No. 19.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad to Colonial Office.
13, Delahay Street, November 1, 1879.
Sir,
I AM desired by the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd October,‡ transmitting a copy of a despatch which the Secretary of State has addressed to the Governor of the Cape as to the formation of a local Committee to consider the question of permanent defences, and to say that the Commission have learnt with satisfaction that steps have been taken to give effect to the proposal of the Secretary of State for War.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HERBERT JEKYLL.
No. 20.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, December 31, 1879. WITH reference to your letter of the 8th October,§ I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, inclosing copies of telegrams which have passed between himself and Sir Garnet Wolseley with reference to the appointment of a local Committee to consider the question of the defences of the Colony.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W, HERBERT.
* Colonial Office Correspondence,
$6
Miscellaneous No. 38," No. 19.
+ Colonial Defence Committee Report, April 4, 1878; Colonial Office to Colonial Defence Committee, May 31, 1879; Colonial Defence Committee to Colonial Office, June 7, 1879; Colonial Office to Colonial Defence Committee, June 24, 1879; Colonial Office to Colonial Defence Committce, June 25, 1879; Colonal Defence Committee to Colonial Office, June 26, 1879; Memorandum by Sir J. L. A. Simmons, July 27, 1879.
No. 18.
§ No. 17.
Page 111
Page 111
Page 111