2
Under that law, the Governor proposes to raise, by voluntary enrolment, 1000 men for the defence of the fortress of Valetta; and extending the opera- tion of the law to the villages of the island, and to Gozo, he calculates upon obtaining the services of 2000 men.
Of the force to be raised in Valetta, six com- panies are to be specially affected to the artillery service. Arms and accoutrements have been placed at the disposal of the corps for Valetta, together with a liberal supply of ammunition. Clothing has been ordered to be defrayed out of a sum of 10001., reserved out of the annual revenue, which is held at the special disposal of the Secretary of State for contingencies.
The Governor has applied for authority to enrol about 100 pensioners of the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment.
GIBRALTAR.
That part of the population of Gibraltar which is composed of natives of the United Kingdom, is exceedingly limited in number, and the natives of Gibraltar are generally of foreign extraction. It must be extremely doubtful, whether a force could be raised from the native population which might safely be entrusted with arms.
3
150 men should be incorporated into an artillery corps.
Clothing and arms are to be provided by the colony.
A question has lately been raised, whether a small portion of this force which was called out to aid the regular troops should be paid out of the military chest or by the colony. The Treasury have decided upon paying the charge incurred upon the occasion; but this must be considered an exceptional case.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
HEPELTIC.O.
885
May 8, 1950.
SIERRA LEONE,
For some years past a militia bas been embodied in this colony. No difficulty has been found in enrolling men for the service, because it is extremely popular. The African loves military pomp, and the pay is a great additional inducement. The law now in force was passed in 1850.
All persons between the ages of 18 and 45 are liable to serve.
But as it was considered more desirable to have a small but really efficient body of men well drilled and ready to turn out on a short notice, than to have a large ostensible force on paper, their number has been limited to 250. They are divided into five companies of 40 men, with an artillery company of 90 meu, and are liable to be called out ninety days in each year. Their pay, clothing, and arms, are provided by the colony.
1PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE LONDON
GAMBIA.
A law was passed in the year 1848 for consti- January 25, 1848.
tuting a militia; and some time afterwards a second
law was enacted, for amending and continuing in October 18, 1848.
force the former law. The principle of this enact- ment is, that all male inhabitants between the ages
of 16 and 30 are liable to bear arms; but it was deemed sufficient to provide that the whole number to be called out should not exceed 450 men: 300 from Bathurst, 100 from Mc Carthy Island, and 50 from the settlements under the guns of Fort Bullen, which is on the other side of the Gambia, opposite to the town of Bathurst.
Of that force the late Governor proposed that
No. 1 of 1846, 8th of June.
ST. HELENA.
The last ordinance which was passed for regu- lating the militia of St. Helena is dated in 1846.
All persons between the ages of 15 and 55 are liable to serve.
The militia forms one regiment of 22 officers and 300 men, and is liable to be called out for drill six times in the year.
When called out and embodied, they are paid out of the funds of the colony, as the militia in England.
The Government has hitherto defrayed the cost of providing clothing for this militia, once in every
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