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5. From the above Mr. Hardy will readily perceive that Lord Carnarvon is at present only able to conjecture from imperfect information the probable amount of force which will be necessary; but he does not see any likelihood of effecting a greater reduction than I have indicated. If, therefore, the Goorkha regiment should also be obliged to return to India about or soon after the same time as the 3rd Regiment his Lordship apprehends that it must be replaced by another regiment; for there appears to be no ground for expecting that the Government will be able for another six months at least, if even then, to dispense with some addition to the old establishment.

SIR,

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT G. W, HERBERT,

No. 152.

ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

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Admiralty, February 22, 1876. WITH reference to your letter of the 31st ultimo, and to previous correspondence, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit for the infor- mation of the Secretary of State for the Colonies copies of two further despatches, Nos. 13 and 20, of the 17th and 20th ultimo respectively, from Vice-Admiral Ryder, Com- mander-in-Chief in China, on the subject of the recent naval operations in the Malay

Peninsula.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

Admiralty, February 22, 1876. THE following Despatches have been received by the Secretary of the Admiralty from Vice-Admiral Alfred P. Ryder, Commander-in-Chief on the China Station:--

THE SERVICES OF THE ROYAL NAVAL BRIGADE IN THE MALAY PENINSULA. (No. 13.) SIR,

"Audacious," at Singapore, January 17, 1876. THE letters from Commander Francis Stirling, of Her Majesty's ship "Thistle," which I transmitted for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in my letters No. 406 of 25th November last, and No. 425 of 8th December 1875," will have informed their Lordships of the state of affairs in the Malay Peninsula and the services rendered by the Naval forces taking part in the operations up to the 16th November, 1875.

2. Captain Alexander Buller, in Her Majesty's ship "Modeste," having arrived on the scene shortly after that date, assumed the direction of the naval operations, and his letters, dated the 19th and 29th December 1875, which he informs me he sent direct to their Lordships, will have carried up the account to the latter date.

3. I have now the honour to transmit for the information of their Lordships, a copy of a general letter from Captain Buller, dated the 8th January 1876, summarising the services of the Naval Brigades, and the ships under his orders, and reporting the reembarkation of the brigades.

4. At the same time, I transmit to be laid before their Lordships reports of pro- ceedings from Commander Edmund St. J. Garforth, of the "Philomel," dated 13th December 1875 and 5th January 1876, showing the services performed by the Naval Brigade under his command attached to the Laroot field force, and employed up the river of that name, and also reports of proceedings from Commander Francis Stirling, of Her Majesty's ship "Thistle," dated the 21st December 1875 and 7th January 1876, showing the services performed by a third Naval Brigade under bis command, which penetrated in Sunghie Ujong, and was employed on the Linghie and Lukut rivers.

I should mention here that on Captain Buller's arrival in the Perak River, the Naval Brigade, which had been landed under Commander Stirling, was re-embarked, and the ship was sent down to carry troops to Malacca, on account of disturbances in Sunghie Ujong.

• No. 181.

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5. There were thus three Naval Brigades attached to different forces: That under Captain Alexander Buller, accompanied by Commander Uvedale C. Singleton, of the Ringdove," and comprising officers and men of the "Modeste" and "Ringdove," which co-operated with Major-General Colborne on the Perak River; that under Com- mander Edmund St. J. Garforth, of the "Philomel," comprising officers and men of the "Modeste," "Philomel," and "Ringdove," which co-operated with Brigadier-General Ross, in the root field force (northern attack); and that under Commander Francia Stirling, of H. Majesty's ship "Thistle," which co-operated with Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, in Sunghie Ujong, and in the Sunghie and Lakut Rivers.

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6. In addition to this, a blockade of the coast, north of the Perak River, to prevent the ingress of arms and provisions, was established under the direction of Commander John Bruce, of Her Majesty's ship "Fly."

7. The services of the various Naval Brigades appear to have been highly appreciated by Major-General Colborne, Brigadier-General Ross, and the Colonels commanding the various corps to which the brigades were attached. The naval officers and men were fortunate in being employed on expeditions calculated to call fully into play their sailor. like qualities.

8. The heavy work performed by our seamen in the Perak consisted in poling (oars were no use) numerous boats laden with guns, ammunition, and stores for many couse- cutive days against a strong current (4 knots), the river being very shallow, but full of deep holes, under a broiling sun (latitude 3o N.), and in carrying guns, rockets, and ammunition, in addition to their own accoutrements, through the jungle over roads so nearly impassable, that only 7 miles could be gained each day.

9. The rapidity of the successes of the various expeditions was owing, I learn from officers of rank who have reached Singapore from the front, mainly to the special and professional nature of the aid given by the Naval Brigades as rocket and gun parties, and in fitting and managing the country boats, which alone could be used.

10. It has been most gratifying to me to hear from all quarters only one opinion of the conduct of the blue jackets and marines, their constant cheerfulness in undertaking the heavy daily work which fell to their share, their intelligence and zeal. I have not received a single complaint of their conduct.

11. For nearly a month the brigade under Captain Buller had nothing to eat but preserved meat, supplemented occasionally by wild buffalo-no vegetables or bread; the men were constantly wet through by rain, they had frequently to wade through water and mud over their waists. For the last three days of their advance on Kinta they had to thread their way in a thick jungle, which, during the whole of that time, allowed them no sight of the sky. During the ten days' advance they had no cover of any kind, but slept in the "open." Captain Buller attributes their entire immunity from any disease previous to the attack on Kinta to his having fortunately been able to provide them with waterproof sheets, the great importance of which in a tropical campaign I had pressed on his attention previous to his departure from Shanghai some months ago.

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12. I am very glad that I was able to detach so strong a force to the south, as there was not a man too many for the work that had to be carried out by the Naval Brigade.

13. It is my pleasant duty to draw their Lordships' attention to the names of those officers who were fortunately placed in positions where their good qualities were brought prominently into notice. Captain Buller mentions with praise the Commanders, and they have specially named various officers who accompanied thein. I alone can speak of Captain Buller. He has been throughout the service of several weeks with Major-General Colborne. They have co-operated in the most cordial manner. Captain Buller, while engaged with the expedition that penetrated furthest into the country, had to make such arrangements regarding the other brigades, the blockade of the coast, &c., as were best calculated to be conducive to the general success of the joint operations.

14. I cannot too strongly recommend Captain Buller to their Lordships' favourable consideration. By his forethought and skill in organisation he has contributed largely to the successes of the various expeditions, which successes it was, for obvious reasons, most essential should be promptly attained at all points without check.

15. Commander Stirling's complete success at Passir Sala, as detailed in his letter of 16th November 1875, forwarded to their Lordships in my letter, No. 425, of 8th December 1875, pointed out what was the best method of attacking 'the enemy, which, when fol- lowed, always led to success without loss.

The expedition of 14 days to Sunghie Ujong, in co-operation with Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, had the same obstacles to contend with as the expedition to Kinta, with one exception, viz., that the enemy always fled in good time to save themselves from what they most dreaded--the rockets.

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