PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.885
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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receiving hulk for the navy, I concur with the naval store-keeper that it should be the "Tenedos," because the officers' cabins of that hulk have had an undue sum for convict purposes spent upon them. The receiving hulks here are constantly required to accommodate officers as well as men, when ships of war come to Bermuda to refit.
For the work of deepening the water round the sea front of the forti- fications at the dockyard, I consider the number of fifty convicts, proposed by the Admiralty Engineer, greatly under estimated. This work consists of an unfinished break-water, surrounding the whole sea front of the defences of the dockyard, on which I think 3 or 400 men with sufficient means of direction might be employed. But the Naval Engineer Depart- ment at Bermuda is but ill organized to carry on extensive works economically. The Naval Department might continue to execute a small portion of this break-water, in order that they might always have a place whereon to occupy the convicts not wanted elsewhere; but the greater portion of this work, which is in reality an important work of defence, would be better conducted by the Ordnance Department.
There are other works designed to be executed both by the Ordnance and Naval Departments, which are not enumerated in the estimates for additional convicts given to me by the Ordnance and Naval Engineers. For instance, by the Ordnance, entrenchments are to be constructed to cover the Royal Barracks at St. George's Island. Store-houses are to be built on an extensive scale for the Ordnance stores belonging to the Fleet; and neither of these works have yet been begun. Some serious defects in Fort Cunningham are, I believe, to be remedied. A military hospital is to be built for the garrison of Ireland Island.
By the Naval Department, as I understand, the rising ground in front of the glacis at the dockyard has to be cut down. A church on Ireland Island is to be built; a house for the Chaplain to the convicts to be erected; additional tanks to be constructed for the fleet; and I believe that a dry dock, or something in lieu of it, is to be made. Only a portion of these designs have come officially to the knowledge of the Governor; and there may be still other works contemplated unknown to me.
Your second despatch on the same subject, No. 19, dated 25th May, 1846, informs me how anxious Her Majesty's Government is to find employment for convicts at Gibraltar or Bermuda, instead of at Van Diemen's Land, during the next two years. Money has been voted by the House of Assembly of Bermuda for the improvement of certain lines of roads. If these sums were to be paid over to the military chest, and the work allowed to be undertaken by the Ordnance with convict labour, 100 convicts might be employed on these roads. To place these 100 convicts properly there should be a hulk moored inside the Ferry passage, or in St. George's Harbour.
In addition to the colonial works I have mentioned, namely, of roads to be constructed, and on which I have said 100 convicts could be employed, there are also decided upon the construction of an inclosing wall to a new gaol at St. George's, and an hospital for insane paupers : so that if a sloop of war were to be sent out as I propose, as many con- victs might be employed at once on colonial works as she could bring out. To recapitulate. One line-of-battle hulk with 700 convicts be
may sent out at once, and placed in the Camleer of the dockyard, to take the place of one of the frigate hulks now there, to be removed near to the Navy Wells, in order to begin the new central barrack on Prospect Hill.
An old sloop of war with 100 convicts, or as many more as she could contain, might also be sent out at once, and moored in St. George's Har- bour, to be employed in colonial works, provided they be allowed to be directed by the Royal Engineer Department. This would provide employment for at least 800 additional convicts.
A second line-of-battle hulk, to be moored in the Camleer of the dock- yard, might follow as soon as the Naval and Ordnance Departments make the arrangements for commencing further works designed.
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Bermuda, July 15, 1846. Having shown what is written above to the Commanding Royal Engineer, he wishes me to state that an express authority from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury will be necessary to allow him to prepare to commence at once upon the Prospect Hill Central Barrack, or on any other of the works, consequent on employing an additional number of convicts; as it will not be possible for him to prepare all the plans in detail, which it is usual for the Board of Ordnance to require before they
authorize the commencement of works.
Lieutenant-Colonel Barry, the Commanding Royal Engineer, has sent me a further statement of the manner in which he could now employ 100 convicts more than he had at first estimated, if approved of by the Board of Ordnance; a copy of which statement is inclosed.
To conclude. Considering the large establishments which are designed for Bermuda as a naval station, together with the works of fortification to protect these establishments, I have myself no doubt that as many additional convicts as could be contained in two line-of-battle hulks could before long be employed here, provided the Naval and Ordnance Depart- ments determined to push on the works required. Detailed plans for many of these works have not yet been made. I have always thought that a sufficiently comprehensive view of what works will be required at Bermuda as a naval station, has not been entertained. I am not pre- pared to say what the limit should be in employing convict labour here. It may be enough for the present that I suggest that the "Tenedos" frigate hulk, which has now 342 convicts on board, should not hastily be given over for another service.
No. 6.
Extract of a Letter from Sir William Denison to Earl Grey.
Shrewsbury House, Shooters'. Hill, August 22, 1846.
IN compliance with the instruction communicated to me by letter dated August 14, 1 beg to submit the following remarks upon the subjects mentioned in the inclosed despatch from Lieutenant-Colonel Reid, the Governor of Bermuda.
Lieutenant-Colonel Reid states, as the result of the inquiries he has made, that 700 more convicts might be employed with advantage to the service; of these 300 will be allotted to the Ordnance, 250 to the depart- ment of the Director of Works in the Naval Department, and 150 to the general service of the dockyard.
As regards the amount of work to be executed by the Ordnance Department, and which may require this increase of strength, I am unable to give an opinion; but as regards the department of the Director of Works, I can speak most positively, having myself planned the works which are now in progress, and I am of opinion that 250, and even a greater number of convicts, might be employed with great advantage to the service. The additional 150 for the service of the dockyard, are, I conceive, more than can possibly be required, should a proper system of supervision and controul be exercised over them.
I must remark, however, that any increase in the number of convicts will of course require a corresponding increase in the sums annually appropriated in the Ordnance and Navy Estimates for the works in the colony, and should such an increase be granted, the duration of the work will be shortened in the same ratio. The estimates have been framed upon the supposition that only a certain amount of labour can be provided for the different works; if from other circumstances the amount of labour can be doubled, the annual expense will be doubled, and the time diminished by one half; and therefore although work might be found for 700 or 1000 additional convicts for a few years, at the end of that period there will be ao demand for their labour, and the whole body will be thrown back
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