CO885(1-2) — Page 436

Jo XXIV

CONFIDENTIAL.

Foreign Enlistment.

(No. 7.)

SIR,

COPY of a DESPATCH from the GOVERNOR of HELIGOLAND to Sir GEORGE GREY.

Heligoland, January 11, 1855.

I HAVE this moment received your despatch No. 8 of the 4th January, transmitted by Mr. Merivale, with its inclosure, from the War Department.

As there is a fishing-boat leaving for Hamburgh in an hour, I hasten to furnish you with such information as the time will allow me to communicate.

2. Heligoland during the last twenty years has become a hathing-place, having sometimes as many as five hundred visitors of a superior class residing here at one time. For the accommodation of these visitors large houses have been built, and nearly every cottage has been enlarged. In addition to this a very large building has been erected for a "Conversations House."

This building and all the other houses could be hired till the month of June, before which time other arrangements could be made if the want for such houses continued.

3. Besides this Her Majesty's Government have a good building with a slate roof, erected in the war time for naval stores, and now let to the bathing establishment, under the condition that it should be evacuated if it were required by the Government. There is also a house let on the same terms, and besides this the "Block House" of the Island can be used, but it is in very bad repair.

There is also a building built for barracks, but which has been given up to the Island for a Poor House, and which it would be difficult to take back, and

it would besides, perhaps, be unfit for use.

4. It will therefore be seen that there is no necessity to send houses, at all events at present, unless accommodation were required for more than 2,000

men.

5. The bedding used by the visitors is but scanty, as they are here only during the three summer months, and it would probably be but partially pro- curable for the purpose in view.

6. There is a Doctor of Medicine practising here, and there is a good apothecary's shop.

7. The provisions on the Island have only been laid in for the present population, but the same opportunity that brought recruits here could bring provisions.

8. Although fishing-boats keep up our communication with the Continent. the larger vessels can only make a passage with a fair wind; and there are now two vessels laden with supplies that have been more than two months at Cuxhaven waiting for a fair wind. It would, therefore, be necessary to station a small steamer here, both for bringing provisions as well as recruits, and such steamer should be of a draught of water under twelve feet.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. HINDMARSH

The Right Hon. G. Grey,

&c.

&c.

&c.

[91]

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference

C.O. 885

2

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