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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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My Lord,
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No. 3.
Lard Glenelg to Lord Hill.
Downing Street, December 22, 1838. HER Majesty's Government having had under their consideration your Lord- ship's letter of the 17th ultimo, on the subject of the present state of the army, and the provision to be made for the defence of the Empire during the year ending on the 1st of April, 1840, I proceed, in answer to your letter of the 12th instant, to communicate to your Lordship the advice which, on this subject, Her Majesty's Ministers have thought it their duty to submit to the Queen.
In my letter of the 4th instant, I conveyed to your Lordship Her Majesty's com- ruands, that those of Her Majesty's regiments of the line which had not already been ordered to be completed to their full establishment, should be forthwith recruited to that unount. The effect of this measure will be to add to each of sixty-two battalions eighty men, making in all an increase to Her Majesty's forces of 4,960 rank and file. But if this measure were unaccompanied by other arrangements, there would still remain to be carried into effect one principal object, to which their attention has been called by your Lordship, namely, the establishment of a more speedy and regular system of reliefs for battalions serving abroad. That object can be accomplished only by diminishing the number of those battalions. The addition to be made to their strength, will enable Her Majesty's Government, in several instances, to reduce that number without inconvenience to the public service; and the following are the changes which, with this view, it is pro- posed to effect during the approaching year :-
In the Island of Mauritius there are at present three battalions, amounting to 1,437 rank and file. This force, during the existence of slavery, was considered essential to the internal safety of the colony; but under the present circumstances of the colony, the maintenance of so large a military force in the Island appears unnecessary. One battalion will, therefore, be withdrawn, the two battalions that remain being at the same time in- creased to their full establishment. The garrison will thus be reduced from 1,437 to 1,118 rank and file.
In Ceylon there are at present four regiments of British infantry, and one regiment of Malay riflemen, mustering 1,600 rank and file. In compliance with the recommenda- tion of the Governor of this Colony, two regiments will be withdrawn from Ceylon, each of the two remaining regiments receiving the addition of eighty men. The reduction thus effected will be 798 rank and file; the strength of the regiments now there being 1,916; while that of those which will remain will be 1,118.
There are now at the Cape of Good Hope three battalions, or 1,437 men; but an additional battalion has been demanded by the Governor. To meet this requisition, it is intended to increase by eighty men each of the regiments now at the Cape, and to add to its garrison three companies of the regiment at St. Helena, which are not required for the defence of that Island, but which have hitherto been retained there only in order to avoid the inconvenience of detaching a part of a regiment to a distance from its head quarters. The addition thus made to the force at the Cape would be 529 men, being rather more than the former strength of one battalion,
In the Mediterranean there are at present thirteen battalions, distributed as stated in the margin.
Gibraltar
Malta Ionian Islands
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5 battalions 4*
2,395
1,916
1,916
6,227
The only change proposed, with reference to this force, is the withdrawal from Gib- rutar of one battalion, and the increase at the same time of the strength of the four remaining battalions. The nominal reduction thus effected would be 159 men; and if this trifling diminution should hereafter be considered inconvenient, the deficiency might be supplied, either by a small body of marines, or by sending an additional number of inen from the depots to the service companies of the four battalions which (will) remain raising those battalions to the same strength as the battalions serving in North America.
With respect to Malta and the Ionian Islands, as it appears unnecessary at present to increase their garrisons, it is intended that the recruits for the battalions serving on those stations, should be retained at the depots of the respective regiments.
One of these
In Jamaica there are at present five battalions, making 2,395 men. battalions has been ordered to proceed forthwith to Halifax, Novia Scotia; and another battalion will be withdrawn for service in North America, if Sir Lionel Smith shall be of opinion that it can be spared without prejudice to the public safety. Each of the re- maining battalions will receive an increase of eighty men.
In the Windward and Leeward Islands there are eight battalions, making a total of
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3,832-men. One battalion is under orders for Halifax, and the remainder will receive the augmentation of eighty men each. The force, therefore, instead of being diminished, will receive a slight addition, being increased from 3,832 to 8,913,
In Bermuda there is one battalion of 479 men. It is not intended to make any change un this station; and the men who, according to the general instruction, are to be recruited for this battalion, will accordingly be detained at the depot.
In North America, in Australia, and in India, no change is at present contemplated. Such are the arrangements which Her Majesty's Government have felt it their duty to submit to Her Majesty for the distribution of the army during the year commencing on the 1st of April, 1839. Her Majesty having been pleased to approve that arrangement, I have to convey to you Her Majesty's commands for carrying it into effect. Your Lordship will, however, understand, that it is the desire of Her Majesty's Government that the contemplated reductions in the garrisons of the Mauritius and of Ceylon, should not be carried into effect before the month of April or May next.
I have, &c.
To the General Commanding-in-Chief,
Lord Hill, K.G.C.B.
My Lord,
No. 4.
Lord Hill to Lord Glenelg,
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(Signed) GLENELG.
Horse Guarda, January 7, 1839. HAVING carried into effect, in so far as my authority extends, all the arrangements consequent upon Her Majesty's commands, as conveyed to me by your Lordship in your several communications, dated as per margin. I now proceed to lay before you the state November 30. of the army, abroad and at home, as it will be when the several movements therein di- December 4. rected (and now going forward) shall have been finally completed.
The main principle regarding the establishment of the infantry of the army, appears to have been to place each regiment of infanty upon the same strength as to numbers of rank and file (739). The cavalry was completed in 1838; as also were the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards. The Scots' Fusilier Guards continue 128 under the establishment.
The numbers of this establishment of 739 rank and file, are, however, to be dis- tributed in manner following:
The service companies of one regiment to be withdrawn from Jamaica, as also from the Leeward Islands, and to be sent to British North America. The service companies of each of the regiments remaining in the colonies of Jamaica and the Leeward Islands, to be completed to 559 rank and file, while the service companies of each regiment in British North America, are to be completed to 600 rank and file.
The service companies of two regiments to be withdrawn from Ceylon, and of one regi- ment from Mauritius, and those remaining to be completed to 559 rank and file; but as it is stated, that these contemplated reductions are not to be carried into effect before the months of April or May next, and, consequently, as those service companies, if withdrawn, could not be expected to return home before October next, those garrisons must be con- sidered, in this statement, as on their present footing.
The service companies of one regiment to be withdrawn from Gibraltar, and those re- maining to be completed to 559 rank and file (the exact period of this arrangement remains to be ascertained).
The Cape of Good Hope to be reinforced by three companies from St. Helena, and the service companies of each regiment, at the Cape and St. Helena, to be completed to 559 rank and file.
All the other service companies of regiments abroad are to remain as at present.
The following abstract will show your Lordship a summary view of these arrange-
ments :-
British North America
Gibraltar
Jamaica
West Indies
Cape
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St. Helena
Ceylon Mauritius Bermuda
Mediterranean
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18 battalions of infantry, of 600 rank and file each, exclusively
of two battalions foot guards of 800 rank and file each.
4 battalions of 559 rank and file each.
ditto, to be withdrawn.
4 battalions of 559 rank and file each.
7 battalions of 559 rank and file each.
3 battalions of 559 rank and file each, and
3 companies and head quarters 91st regiment, (280 rank and
file.)
3 companies 91st regiment from the Cape, (279 rank and file.)
4 battalions of 479 rank and file each. į Estimated as at present for
3 battalions of 479 rank and file each. I the reasons above stated.
1 battalion of 479 rank and file.
8 battalions of 479 rank and file each.
54 battalions, exclusive of
20 in India, and
5 in and going to New South Wales.
Total
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79 abroad.
C
December 4. December 4. December 6. December 21. December 22.
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Exclusively of pho Valøse Fencibles.
Reference :--
C.O. 885
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