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(Secret.) My Lord,
365
Inclosure in No. 107.
Sir A. Musgrave to the Earl of Kimberley.
King's House, Jamaica, July 23, 1881. I HAVE had the honour to receive your Lordship's Circular Secret despatch of the 8th June* on the subject of colonial defence.
2. In accordance with your directions, I have requested Colonel Hackett, the Staff Colonel in command of the troops, Commodore Brown, R.N., and Major-General Mann, R.E., the Colonial Director of Roads and Surveyor-General, to act together as a Committee and to make the required Report.
I have, &c.
No. 108.
(Signed)
A. MUSGRAVE.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, December 12, 1881. I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, an extract of a despatch from the Governor of Jamaica with reference to the consideration of the defences of that Colony by the local Committee which has been appointed for the purpose.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
Inclosure in No. 108.
Sir A. Musgrave to the Earl of Kimberley.
(Secret.) (Extract.)
King's House, Jamaica, November 9, 1881. 5. IF the plan and construction of these proposed fortifications are to be considered as colonial questions, I must confess that I regard the appointment of the Committee as unnecessary. The Colony does not require works which it cannot defend, and which would only invite attack.
"6. If, on the other hand, the question is a national one, and, looking into the future and having reference to the construction of the Panamá Canal, it is desired to make Kingston Harbour a really strong port of refuge and place of arms, then I venture to think that too much care could scarcely be bestowed upon the composition of the Committee to report upon what should be done for this purpose."
No. 109.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, March 11, 1882.
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Com- mission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Jamaica, inclosing the Report of the local Committee on the defence of Port Royal, and I am to request to be furnished with the usual number of copies of the despatch, and of its inclosures, when printed.
I am, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
(Secret.) My Lord,
Inclosure 1 in No. 109.
Governor Sir A. Musgrave to the Earl of Kimberley.
King's House, Jamaica, February 13, 1882. REFERRING to your Lordship's despatch marked Circular, Secret, of the 8th June last,* I have now the honour to inclose to your Lordship the Report prepared by the local Committee upon the measures necessary for the defence of Port Royal.
2. I see no reason to dissent from the opinions expressed by the Committee.
3. I have only to add that I regard the questions involved as entirely national, and not much affecting the Colony itself. From a Colonial point of view I think it would be preferable not to have any works constructed which would draw attention to the place or invite attack.
4. Jamaica is not in these days of such value as a productive dependency that any Power would be likely to undertake to annex, or even to disturb the Colony on account of its own importance.
[1103]
* No. 10 in Appendix No. 1, First Report.
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5 A
199
Appendix No. 4.
JAMAICA
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