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44
No. 104.
Governor Sir J. H. Glover, G.C.M.G., to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart.
(Telegraphic.)
May 16, 1878. COLONIAL Government will provide force of volunteers to man batteries, if six guns and 100 Sniders, with stores and ammunition, be sent to Colony free of expense, with nucleus of gunners (or guns?). Six 64-pounders immediately from Halifax, with stores and ammunition, by order from War Office. Transport will be arranged by Admiral.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
No. 105.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Downing Street, May 16, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 9th April last, and the reply of this Office of the 29th of the same month,† I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for War, a copy of a letter from the Colonial Defence Committee, inclosing a report embodying their views upon the proposed formation of a body of militia in the Island of Malta.
&c.
(Immediate and Confidential.) Sir,
I am,
(Signed)
R. H. MEADE,
No. 106.
War Office to Colonial Office.
War Office, May 16, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 11th instant,§ in reply to a communication from this Department of the 6th instant, inclosing a copy of despatch sent by you to the Governor-General of Canada, relative to the transfer of guns in the dockyard at Esquimalt to the Dominion Government, I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acquaint you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that further reference having been made to the latest accounts received from Esquimalt, there would appear to be no doubt but that the 7-inch and 40-pounder breech-loading guns, to which allusion is made at page 20 of the printed Report on the Canada Militia, have since been returned to England, as stated in the letter from this Office of the 6th instant, and that there are no guns of that description now at the station.
The ordnance at present at Esquimalt consists of:-
Muzzle-loading rifled.—1 9-inch 12-ton gun;|| 18-inch 9-ton gua;¶ 3 7-inch 64-ton guns;|| 64-pounders, 71 cwt. guns; 4 64-pounders, 64 cwt. guns;|| 2 9-pounders; 17-pounder. Breech-loading rifled.-2 20-pounder guns;|| | 12-pounder gun;¶ 19-pounder gun.¶
Of these, however, the 9-inch, 7-inch, 64-pounders, 9-pounder, 7-pounder, muzzle- loading rifled, and the 20-pounder breech-loading guns, are specially set apart as a reserve for the navy; but the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having, by letter of the 15th instant,** notified their assent to these guns being, lent to the Dominion Government until replaced from England or required by Her Majesty's ships, Colonel Stanley will not object, if Sir Michael Hicks Beach desires it, to the guns in question, as well as those at the station, in excess of the naval reserve, being utilized for the defence of Victoria and Esquimalt. Colonel Stanley will, however, be glad to be informed, as soon as possible, of the particular guns which Sir Michael Hicks Beach proposes should be thus temporarily appropriated for the defence of the Colony, with a view to immediate steps being taken for replacing them from England.
I have, &c.
(Signed) F. A. CAMPBELL.
P.S.-As there has been some doubt as to the particular guns to be appropriated, it is deemed best, in order to avoid confusion, to await your reply to this letter before issuing any orders.
45
No. 107.
Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, May 17, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Colonial Defence Committee, a copy of the correspondence noted in the margin,* relating to the defence of Esquimalt.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.
No. 108.
h
The Right Hon. Sir M. E Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Sir J. H. Glover, R.N.,
G.C.M.G.
(Confidential.) (Paraphrase of Telegram.)
Downing Street, May 18, 1878.
WITH reference to your telegram of the 16th,† please state what has become of the guns mentioned in the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee, and stated in your telegram of the 9th May to have been removed from the batteries, and how many are at present in Newfoundland.
Am I to understand that you have ascertained that the authorities at Halifax can spare six 64-pounders, &c., if permission is given?
Please explain what you mean by mounted guns, and for what purpose you require them.
(Secret and Confidential.)
No. 109.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Sir,
Downing Street, May 18, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 16th instant, I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to state that he understands from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that on the 13th instant a telegram was sent to the Senior Naval Officer at Esquimalt that the naval guns in store required by the Dominion Government may be lent until replaced from England or required by Her Majesty's ships. Those guns comprise all the guns mentioned in your letter, except the muzzle-loading rifled 8-inch 9-ton gun, and the breech-loading rifled 9-pounder gun and 12-pounder gun, which it is presumed are the property of the War Office; and I am to request that authority may be given for the loan of the last-named guns to the Dominion Government, if this has not already been done, in compliance with the request contained in my letter of the 11th instant.§ The Governor- General was informed by the despatch, of which a copy was inclosed in that letter, that all the guns in store in Esquimalt and Victoria would be placed at the temporary disposal of the Dominion Government.
In their report on Esquimalt and Victoria, of which a copy is inclosed, the Colonial Defence Committee recommended certain works and armaments for their defence, but that the guns in store should be utilized until they could be provided. From that report it is clear that at least the 7-inch, 8-inch, 9-inch, and 64-pounder guns will all be required to carry out the recommendation of the Colonial Defence Committee until the destined armament is provided; but with regard to replacing them or any other guns in store which the Dominion Government may require for the defence of this Imperial station, I am to call your attention to letters 35, 49, and 63, of the inclosed correspondence, and the letter from this Office to the Admiralty of the 11th instant, of which also a copy is annexed, to all which particular attention is requested, from which it will be perceived that Sir Michael Hicks Beach presumes that the permanent works and armaments to be provided will be determined by the Military and Naval Departments.
1 am, &c.
R. H. MEADE,
F. A. C.
(Signed)
• No. 83.
+ No. 56.
1 No. 96.
1 Admiralty.
¶ War Office.
S No. 91. No. 101.
* Nos. 92, 100, and 101.
† No. 104.
‡ No. 106.
§ No. 91.
No. 92.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
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