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2. As a fort it is useless, and quite obsolete, and I considered it better, from every point of view, Appendix No. 4. that the whole of the infantry detachment (two) companies should be concentrated at the sepoy lines.
3. When Major-General Donovan made his last annual inspection I spoke to him on the subject, recommending the withdrawal of the detachments at Fort Cornwallis.
J. H. PARNELL, C.B., Lieutenant-Colonel,
Commandant, Straits Settlements.
Singapore, August 24, 1881.
(Signed)
PENANG.
Inclosure 5 in No. 79.
Sir,
Penang, August 18, 1881. I HAVE the honour to inform you that the detachment of artillery stationed at Fort Cornwallis, Penang, having been withdrawn, I consider it desirable that the guard furnished to that post by a detachment of the "Buffs" should also be withdrawn and join the detachment of their regiment at the sepoy lines, and, further, that the Colony should provide storage room and quarters for the com- missariat at the sepoy lines, as it is there that the stores will be ultimately issued, it may be presumed that an economy of transport will be effected.
Fort Cornwallis is quite obsolete as a defensive work; the fort, buildings, and commissariat stores are at the mercy of any armed vessel that night enter the roadstead. It is inadmissible, there- fore, to keep it as a military post.
I propose to level the glacis, drain the ditch, which is objectionable in a sanitary point of view, and use part of it as a station for Sikh police and European constables. It will be an admirable position for them in case of any outbreak as a base of operations, whilst the European troops con- centrated at the sepoy lines at the other end of the town are in communication with Fort Cornwallis and the public offices by electric telegraph. I also propose to keep a set of quarters in the fort for the Governor, Chief Justice, or other official visiting Penang on duty.
When General Donovan was here I informed him generally of the arrangements I had in con- templation, and I believe that his views on the subject concur with mine, and wk en Major Hamilton, commanding the detachment, "3rd Buffs," at Penang represented to him the advantage, in a military point of view, that would accrue by the concentration of the men at the sepoy lines, and the relief it would afford in relation to guards and duties of non-commissioned officers, the General, I am informed, replied that it rested with the Governor to say if he considered it necessary that the guard at the fort should be maintained.
Colonel Parnell, commanding the troops in the Straits Settlements, has been requested by me to express his views on the military part of the question, and I append a Memorandum by him,* and also one on the state and value of Fort Cornwallis by Captain McCallum, R.E.,f now Acting Colonial Engineer, who was formerly sent to this Colony to assist General Sir William Jervois in reporting on defence works, and who had recently been a member of the Commission appointed by me under instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonics to make a Report and recommendation on questions of defence.
I have, &c. (Signed)
FREDERICK A. WELD, Governor and Commander-in-chief, Straits Settlements.
His Excellency the Officer Commanding Troops,
China and Straits Settlements, Hong Kong.
Inclosure 6 in No. 79.
Memorandum on the Defence of Penang.
GEORGE TOWN, the capital of Penang, is situated on the southern side of a projecting Position. promontory at the north-east corner of the island.
The roadstead is a most convenient one, deep water being found close to the town. It is approached by two channels, the northern and the southern, the latter of which is seldom used by Approaches ships of heavy tonnage.
The north channel is broad and deep, though the water shoals considerably on either side along the shores of Penang and Province Wellesley respectively.
The breadth of navigable channel immediately opposite the town is 2,400 yards, whilst at a distance of 3,000 yards due north of Fort Cornwallis (which stands at the extremity of promontory referred to) the breadth is 4,300 yards.
The south channel is very narrow, the greatest breadth navigable for vessels drawing 18 feet of water being little over 2,000 yards.
Practically nil. To the best of my recollection Fort Cornwallis is a quadrilateral bastioned masonry Existing defences. work, with stone scarp and counter-scarp and wet ditch. The bastions are narrow and confined, and the faces and curtains are much exposed to enfilade and reverse fire. The armament is light, and for purposes of defence against rifled artillery almost useless, and in its present condition I consider the fort untenable if exposed to accurate firing.
In considering what should be done to prevent an enemy's cruizer requisitioning the town, it will Proposed scheme of be desirable to discuss the subject under two heads: first, whether the available armament in the defence. Straits Settlements can be employed with advantage for defensive purposes at Penang; and, second,
* Inclosure 4 in No. 79.
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Inclosure 3 in No. 79.
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