142
Delegate to appear before the Commission, and that it is pointed out that a great part of the evidence taken by the Commission will be strictly confidential.
3. I request that you will bring this important question under the consideration of your Ministers with as little delay as possible, and that you will favour me with the reply of your Government at the earliest convenient opportunity.
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
No. 158.
Sir,
143
No. 161.
Colonial Office to Lieutenant-Colonel Hope, V.C.
Downing Street, March 8, 1880. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th February,* inclosing copies of a letter which you have addressed to the Secretary of State for War, containing an offer with reference to the manufacture of guns for Her Majesty's navy, and I am to inform you that in compliance with your request a copy of your letter has been transmitted to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
I am, &c.
1
The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Lord A. Loftus.
(Telegraphic.)
Downing Street, March 6, 1880. GENERAL Delegate on defences not desired, but it is wished to ascertain the views of each Colonial Ministry through Representatives selected by each Colony.
(Signed)
No. 162.
R. H. MEADE.
(Confidential.) Sir,
No. 159.
Foreign Office to Colonial Office.
Foreign Office, March 8, 1880. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, the accompanying copy of a despatch respecting the arrival of a Russian frigate at Suez.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.
Sir,
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, March 9, 1880. IN reply to your letter of the 4th instant, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, the maps which accompanied Lieutenant Morgan's Report on the Defences of Newfoundland.
These maps have been borrowed from the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, to which they had been communicated with Lieutenant Morgan's Report, and I am to request that they may be returned to this Office for the use of the Commission as soon as the War Office has taken copies of them.
I am to add that Lieutenant Morgan's Report has been communicated to the Admiralty as well as to the War Office and to the Commission.
Sir,
Inclosure in No. 159.
Sues, February 19, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to report the arrival in the Suez Roads this morning of the Russian frigate "Minin," flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Aslanbegoff, and of the Russian cruizer "Asia."
As these vessels came direct from Alexandria, where they have been for some time, I refrain from giving particulars concerning them, which are doubtless already in your possession.
I have, &c.
E. B. Malet, Esq., C.B.,
&c.
&c.
&c.
No. 160.
(Signed)
GEO. WEST.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
No. 163.
Sir,
Lieutenant-Colonel Hope, V.C., to Colonial Office.
Army and Nary Club, Pall Mall, March 9, 1880.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, t and to inclose four more copies of my proposal to the Secretary of State for War for the convenience of the members of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, to whom I learn with great satisfaction that my proposal has been referred.
Should the Commission desire it, I would, with pleasure, attend them at any time to give further explanations as to the principles governing the construction of the
Hope" gun.
I have, &c. (Signed) W. HOPE.
41
Sir,
Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, March 8, 1880.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel W. Hope, V.C., inclosing copies of a letter which he has addressed to the Secretary of State for War, containing an offer with reference to the manufacture of guns for Her Majesty's navy, which he has requested may be brought to the knowledge of the Commission.
(Signed)
I am, &c.
R. H. MEADE.
Sir,
No. 164.
Colonial Office to G. F. Smith, Esq.
Downing Street, March 10, 1880.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th instant,§ and I am to inform you that your proposals for establishing telegraphic communication with Bermuda have again been referred for the consideration of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
I am,&c. (Signed) JOHN BRAMSTON.
་
No. 147.
* No. 147.
+ No. 151.
‡ No. 161.
No. 155.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
mmmmmC.O. 885
4 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO