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of Panamá) that I have received from Mr. R. Revett, master of the steam-ship "Medway," one of the Appendix No. 4. steamers belonging to the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, whose offices are at 18, Moorgate Street, London.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
F. H. STIRLING, Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-chief.
ISLANDS NEAR PANAMA.
(Inclosure to Letter F.)
Mr. Revett to Rear-Admiral Stirling.
Sir,
Royal Mail Packet " Medway,” at Colon, November 11, 1879. Since I had the pleasure to convey you to the Isthmus of Panamá, I have had the sale of the Island of Gonzales placed in my hands (one of the Pearl Islands in the Bay of Panamá), and as I believe there is an excellent harbour for any number of ships, with good anchorage close to the shore, and fresh water in abundance, I am induced to offer it to Her Majesty's Government through you.
Should you consider it an eligible place for a naval station for ships of war in the southern part of the Pacific Station, and entertain the proposal, I shall feel obliged if you will favour me with an early reply, as I await your decision before offering it elsewhere.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
RICHD. REVETT.
Sir,
Inclosure 10 in No. 137.
Admiralty to Commander-in-chief, Pacific (Rear-Admiral Stirling).
Admiralty, July 10, 1880.
I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you that they have had under their consideration the offer made to you (as reported in your letter of the 25th November last*) by Captain Revett, of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's ship "Medway," to sell Pedro Gonzales, one of the Pearl Islands in the Bay of Panamá, to Her Majesty's Government, if considered an eligible spot for a naval station.
2. Their Lordships have had a personal interview with Captain Revett during his stay in England, and the matter has been fully discussed, with the result that the offer to sell the island has been declined, as, unless accompanied by sovereign rights,f it is considered that such a purchase would be of little value.
Inclosure 11 in No. 137.
I am, &c.
(G.) Commander-in-chief, Pacific (Rear-Admiral Stirling), to Admiralty.
(Confidential.) Sir,
June 24, 1880. WITH reference to your letter of the 14th May last, stating that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will be glad to receive any observations I may have made on Charles Island or others of the Galapagos Group, I have the honour to report that Charles Island was the only one of the group visited by me in the "Triumph."
2. The best anchorage off that island is undoubtedly on the south-west side, in Post Office Bay,
but it is open to the westward, and only partially protected from the prevailing wind by Daylight Charles Island. Point. This anchorage may be approached with confidence, and a heavy-draught ship may drop anchor (Galapagos Group.) in about 7 fathoms of water at a distance of from 6 to 7 cables from the shore. There is another anchorage on the western side of the island off Black Rock Beach, but, being exposed on fifteen points of the compass, and entirely unprotected, it is not to be recommended.
3. Charles Island is ill-adapted as a station for the supply of coal or other necessary stores for ships, the difficulties of landing or embarking in Post Office Bay being very great in consequence of the heavy rollers which are prevalent throughout the year, and which wash with a dangerous surf the west coast of the island, rendering at those times landing in a boat dangerous and almost imprac- ticable.
4. The climate of the Galapagos Islands, considering the Equatorial situation, is far from being unpleasant, for there is generally a cool refreshing breeze, which effectually dissipated the warm humid air that would otherwise render the climate both disagreeably hot and unhealthy. During our short stay at Charles Island (five days), although in what is termed the wet season, we enjoyed a comparative immunity from rain, the little that we experienced falling during the night.
5. The island is covered with a dense, and in some cases almost impenetrable, scrub, consisting chiefly of "Euphorbiacea," but acacias and other trees are abundant. These are in all probability
*Inclosure 9.
+ Captain Revett stated, in letter of May 22, that he had had the opinion at Panamá of a lawyer of high standing, to the effect that the Government of Colombia would not raise any objection to Great Britain having an arsenal at Gonzales, as the Americans had already one at Chiriqui Lagoon, in the Caribbean Sea, and at the Gulf of Dolce, in the Pacific; but that they would not grant territorial rights.
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