72
service, could be drawn, drilled, and, in every respect, trained for the military defence of the Colony; and, with reference to the men residing in, or near to, Georgetown, at no greater expense than the cost of their jackets and rifles.
5. It is universally acknowledged that these men are a well-conducted, law-fearing, and orderly people, and, that they are so, the paucity of crime amongst them, as shown by the Records of the Criminal Courts of the Colony, afford abundant proof. That they are also, in great part, men of intelligence, may be gathered from the fact that, from their number, one has been recently chosen, and subsequently confirmed, as First Consul for Portugal; two are medical men possessing English diplomas, a large number carry on extensive business transactions with the United States of America; and the intelligence of others may be imagined from the numerous and efficient schools of which the Colony may justly boast.
6. As regards their wealth, it may be merely necessary to state that they are not only the owners of land-including cattle-farms-and contribute largely to the exigencies of the Colony in the taking out of licenses [one of the principal sources of revenue] and in the payment of taxes on their carriages, horses, and other similar property, but of the 1,100 or 1,200 freeholds constituting the city of Georgetown, they are marvellous as this may seem the actual owners of nearly two-thirds.
7. Possessing, then, property to the great extent I have shown, it is, it is submitted, but reasonable that they should contribute their aid for its protection, nor have I the smallest doubt, if called upon, that they will be found both ready and willing to do so, not only indirectly by the payment of the taxes I have enumerated, but also, as has been suggested, in person.
8. I am fully aware of an objection which may, possibly, be urged, namely, that these men, or at least a portion of them, must be regarded as aliens, and, as aliens, are ineligible for military service in a British Colony, but it is respectfully submitted that a local Ordinance conferring on those not otherwise entitled to such privilege the rights of natural-born subjects may, with every hope of success, be submitted for confirmation under the 33 Vic, cap. 14. Of course it would be necessary in thus naturalizing them that they should swear allegiance to Her Majesty, and it may be also desirable that they should have been, for some time previously, permanent residents of the Colony, and should undertake to conform to such rules and regulations as, on consideration, it may be found expedient to enforce.
9. By the provisions of an Ordinance No. 11 of 1857 (the last but one, if my memory serves me), which provided for the military defence of the Colony, amongst other exemptions, men are exempted from service who are exempt by any Act of the Imperial Parliament. If this provision was intended to refer in any manner to aliens, or to justify the exclusion, as aliens, of the class of men under consideration, it ought not to have been forgotten that when the Colony was surrendered by the Dutch in 1802 a condition in the Articles of Capitulation was assented to, to the effect that all laws and usages should in future be as much observed, enforced and maintained (or words to this effect) as they were then established and known; and that by the Roman Dutch law which, in part, prevails in the Colony, aliens are peculiarly favoured, enjoying privileges which are unknown to the resident aliens of any other British Possession; nor is it irrelevant to notice that the tendency even of Imperial legislation-as may be gathered from the first and other sections of the Statute 33 Vic., cap. 14—is to relax, rather than otherwise, the exclusion in this behalf previously acted upon.
10. These-in brief outline are the suggestions I solicited the liberty to offer for consideration, in the firm belief that, by their adoption, Her Majesty will be afforded, for the mititary defence of an important dependency, a very large number of additional men.
73
Canadian manufacturers, procure the necessary drawings of wrought iron carriages and
slides for the guns ordered by the Canadian Government.
I beg to say that I will pay for the necessary drawings.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
EDWARD PALLISER.
No. 90.
Colonial Office to Secretary of Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, and to War Office and Admiralty.
Sir,
Downing Street, January 9, 1880.
13th December last,"
WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the
1st November last,
1st November last,
I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the infor- mation of the
Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad,
Secretary of State for War,
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty,
a copy of a despatch+ from the Governor-General of Canada inclosing a Report of a Committee of the Privy Council adopting a Report of the Minister of Militia recommending that a certain number of smooth-bore guns now in Canada be made available for coast defence by conversion on the Palliser principle into 64-pounder rifled guns.
A
to the
copy of the accompanying despatch, and of its inclosure,† has also been transmitted
Secretary of State for War and Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad and to Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Ditto, ditto, ditto, and Secretary of State for War.
I am, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
No. 91.
The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G. (No. 11.)
Downing Street, January 9, 1880.
Sir,
WITH reference to your despatches No. 268 of the 15th September,‡ and 343 of the 31st October,§ I have the honour to inform you that the Crown Agents for the Colonies have been authorized to invite tenders for a second line of steamers between Mauritius and Europe, as requested in the first-named despatch.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
No. 92.
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HASTINGS C. HUGGINS.
No. 89.
Captain Palliser to Colonial Office.
Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, January 7, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to request that you will have the goodness to procure permis- sion for me to visit the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and in compliance with the request of the
Sir,
F. Napier Broome, Esq., to Colonial Office.
7, Glendower Place, S.W., January 10, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that his Excellency Sir George Bowen has instructed me, with the sanction of the Right Honourable the Secretary of State, to make inquiry and report in the matter of the extension of the South African telegraph to Mauritius.
If Sir Michael Hicks Beach sees no objection, I should be very glad to carry out his Excellency's wish to the best of my power by perusing any papers which may be accessible at the Colonial Office, and by seeing the, gentlemen principally connected with the South
↑ No. 83.
Not printed.
Inclosure 3 in No. 150.
• No 73.
[1093]
J
X
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
וות
Reference :-
C.O. 885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO