PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
سائلسلسا
19
Reference :-
C.O. 882
1
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Enclosures No. 15
and 16, pages 51 and 52.
6
me no reason to dissent, for although it might have been required in the earlier days of the colony to entertain this staff, certainly now that there can be but few more buildings necessary for the public service, the same expense on this BCCount must be uncalled for.
32. Being desirous of ascertaining if any further works were in contemplation in the military department, I requested the Major General commanding to cause required; and Enclosures Nos. me to be supplied with a return showing what 15 and 16 will show the nature and description of works that have been suggested as requisite to be completed during the year ending March, 1850. The first, the ordnance estimate, amounts to 12,1021. Os. 8d. which has been reduced to 4051. 9s. 11d.! The second, the barrack estimate, amounts to 40,464L 98. 5d. but has been subsequently reduced by the department on the spot, by instructions as I understand from the Master-General of the Ordnance, to 2,1951. 9s 4d. This reduced estimate has not however been sanctioned, and will be curtailed in the same manner that the ordnance estimate has been: I
presume and if so, affords an additional proof of the present strength of the engineer department being altogether unnecessary.
+
33. It may probably appear somewhat beyond my province to make any remarks on these estimates, but as it strengthens the position I have advanced as to the objectionable nature of the present system, I would draw your Lordship's atten- tion to items Nos. 3, 7, 8, and 9, in the ordnance estimate. These items are on account of a magazine that it had been proposed to erect at an expense of 8,475l. 68. 7d. which is estimated to contain I understand 4,000 barrels of pow- der. During the past year the entire expenditure of powder on account of the army and navy amounted to 23,159 pounds, and of ball and blank ammunition 206,283 rounds. The amount of ball cartridge (for small arms) now in store is no less than 2,093,079 rounds, and considering that the expenditure of this one item last year was only 100,212, it is clear that of ball ammunition for small arms we have nearly twenty year's supply. It is therefore totally impossible that such a magazine can be required for a force of about 1200 men and a squadron, if it can be so called, of a frigate, two steamers, aud four brigs, all of which vessels arrive here fully equipped, and which if requisite can always receive There is also a storekeeper's house, estima- further supplies from Trincomalee
ted to cost 3,1561. 6s. 4d. and a landing pier and crane to cost 3,7001. 158. 11d. neither of which do I conceive to be at all necessary, although the first no doubt would prove convenient to the storekeeper.
34. The abstract barrack estimate appears to have amounted in the first instance to 40,4641. 98. 5d. for the year ending March, 1850; and 22,08ɔl. 15s. lld. would have been further required to complete the buildings This expenditure on which it was intended to expend the first-mentioned sum. however has been reduced by orders from home to 21,9251. 98. 4d. as has been already explained; but no part appears to have been sanctioned, although it was forwarded home in August last. I find however that it is proposed to build additional barracks for married soldiers, at an expense of 9,5001. and that 12,8091. 9s. 3d. be laid out on the Albany barracks, which buildings were trans- ferred to the military authorities by my predecessor, and cost only 4,2311.! Again, 1 observe quarters for the royal engineer department, for the commanding royal engineer, the barrack master and the principal medical officer, estimated at 16,8341. 12s. 6d. of which 9,5001. were to be expended this year, and 7,3341. 12s. 6d. None of these buildings do I consider necessary, as the officers during the next. can, in the same way as do the civil officers of Government, hire houses in the town, as is the case at present, and for which I imagine due remuneration is made through the barrack department, although it does not appear in any of the documents furnished to me.
35. The repairs proposed for the barracks at Stanley are estimated to cost 5,0701. There are at present stationed there three officers and sixty-six men, and no more can ever be required. It having come to my knowledge that an outlay was contemplated by the engineer department on these barracks, I Enclosure No. 17. addressed so far back as the 12th of March last, the annexed letter to the Major-
General on the subject.
153.
36. A sum of 68491, 58. 4d. is also proposed to be expended on commis- sariat buildings in 1849-50, and a further sum during the ensuing year of 3,7511. 3. 5d., aggregating 10,6001. 8s. 9d.; and yet the Assistant Commissary General has by his own letter, only stores to the value of 2,4241, 198. 4d. In
this estimate 2 3981. 168. 4d. are put down for a bakery. Ever since troops have been stationed here, they have been supplied with fresh bread, (as is the navy), by Chinese contractors. Why then a bakery should now be required is not to me evident.
37. It is unnecessary to make any further remarks on this part of the expendi- ture. I will therefore recapitulate the expenses as they at present stand for what may be termed the military staff of the colony.
Engineer Department
Ordnance Department
Commissariat Department, including Offices and Stores Barrack Department
To which I add the-
Naval Storekeeper's Department
Total
£ J. 4,846 15 5
4,163 6 7
2,285 1 3
1,014 18
0
£12,312 1 3}
2,365 17
1
£14,677 18 4
38. In my despatch, No. 10, of the 25th January, I have recommended that the force of this colony be fixed at 1,200 men, and I am satisfied that a larger one can never be requisite, except in case of war with an European foe; when I take it for granted that the colony must depend on the navy for its protection, and this I find was the opinion of Sir Henry Pottinger, who also considered that a force of about 1000 men would be adequate to maintain the peace of the colony. See despatch No. 53, of 16th of October, 1842, to the Foreign Office.
39. The present barrack accommodation is estimated to contain a force of 1,333 men, and I strongly recommend therefore that instead of adding to this accommodation, should it be reported insufficient for the present force, that the force be so reduced as to render any further barrack accommodation unnecessary.
40. I inclose the last weekly statement furnished to me by the Major-General Enclosure No. 18, Commanding, by which it will be seen that the duties of the place are by no page 54.
For the maintenance of internal tranquillity, I again repeat that
means onerous.
I consider 1,200 men ample; but should it be considered otherwise by those whose peculiar province it is to decide on the matter, and who must be more competent than myself to form a fair judgment, then I would recommend that either a fifty or a cut-down seventy-four gun ship with steam apparatus, armed similarly to the " Ajax," "Blenheim," "Edinburgh," and other steam-guard ships be stationed in this harbour. This arrangement would moreover render the services of the frigate ordinarily stationed here to be available elsewhere, and the colony would be perfectly secure against any piratical attack on the part of the Chinese, (of which I entertain no fear), and in case of war such vessel would I presume be equally efficient for its protection, with any batteries that could be constructed at a reasonable expense,; and in fact render all further outlay on account of fortification entirely unnecessary.
41. While on this subject I would observe that a plan and estimate for a large battery proposed to be erected in the very centre of the town has been sub- mitted to the home authorities. By a letter from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, No. 3, dated 2nd of January, 1847, to the address I believe, of Major-General D'Aguilar, I see Her Majesty's Government have decided that its construction be postponed. This battery was to have been called the Central or Royal battery, and although it would have been no doubt very ornamental, I must say that I consider it would have been altogether useless, and I cannot therefore recommend that either it or any other fortifications be constructed.
42. In conclusion, my Lord, I would respectfully observe that I am well aware that my comparative ignorance of a subject embracing so many interests as that to which this despatch relates may have rendered my observations open to remark by those whose peculiar province it is to investigate and judge of such matters, and I will therefore only add that in framing this despatch I have been alone actuated by a desire to reduce the expenses of this Colony to as low an ebb as I consider they can be consistently with real efficiency.
I have, &c.
(Signed) S. G. BONHAM,