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The authorities of the United States are now arming their forts and their fleet with Palliser
guns, which system they selected (after the greatest competitive trial which has ever taken place), without any overture from us, as being the best and the cheapest for all modern requirements.
The 12-inch 700-pounder Palliser rifled gun in New York is giving better results than any 12-inch gun yet made in Europe, and is produced at one-half the cost of other gun of similar calibre.
any
Under these circumstances Sir William Palliser wishes that the Canadian people should not be behindhand, but that they should at least be taught that the manufacture of powerful ordnance no longer necessitates huge engineering plants of machinery involving an absurd price per gun to Colonies to whoni such lavish expenditure is irksome, but can be carried out, as in Montreal, by private firms of moderate pretensions, in their own country; the money spent in ordnance all going to their own people,as Sir William Palliser charges no royalty or commission of any sort to Canada.
•
This, we hope, will encourage the Canadian people to proceed with armaments which, I understand, have been strongly recommended by the authorities.
proper
I have the honour to request that you will be so good as to accept a copy of my pamphlet on the "United States Artillery," which I beg to forward with this letter.
Sir William Palliser has taken steps to instruct the Canadians also in making heavy projectiles so that, when the gun is fired, Lieutenant-Colonel T. B. Strange, R.A., Inspector of Artillery to the Dominion, may be able to report, not only on a Canadian gun, but also on Canadian projectiles.
I may here mention that without the encouragement and support of Lieutenant- General Sir Edward Selby Smyth, K.C.M.G., and the assistance of the Honourable Alexander MacKenzie, we could hardly have undertaken a task which we hope will be followed by other Colonics besides the Dominion of Canada, and so greatly strengthen the outlying portions of the British Empire.
I have, &c.
The Right Hon. the
1
Sir,
Secretary of State for the Colonies.
(Signed)
Inclosure 3 in No. 73.
EDWARD PALLISER,
Late Captain 7th Hussars.
Army and Navy Club, November 14, 1878. I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have received intimation from Colonel Strange, R.A., Dominion Inspector of Artillery, that the gun presented to Sir William Palliser for conversion into a Palliser rifled gun, by the Hon. A. Mackenzie, is now bored out, and that every preparation has been made to forge the coiled wrought iron tube, for which the most suitable Canadian iron, specially rolled into bars, has been provided at Sir W. Palliser's expense, and that a forgeman is about to be hired to forge the tube. As my nephew, Mr. Edward Palliser, C.E., who has served in the great iron works of Messrs Hawthorne and Co. in Newcastle-on-Tyne, is about to proceed to Canada, it would greatly facilitate matters and secure success if you would be so good as to obtain permission for him to attend for one month at the Royal Gun Factories, Woolwich, to witness the process there of forging coils, and also the process of rifling barrels, and fitting them into their casings.
I am aware that this request is somewhat unusual, but on the other hand it is for an Imperial purpose, and not to make money out of artillery manufacture in Canada.
I have, &c. (Signed) EDWARD PALLISER,
Late Captain 7th Hussars.
The Right Hon. the
6.J
Palliser, C.E., to witness the process of forging, &c., in the Royal Gun Factories. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant.
Sir William Palliser begs to join me in tendering our thanks for your kindness in this matter.
f
The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office.
Sir,
I remain, &c. (Signed)
EDWARD PALLISER,
Inclosure 5 in No. 73.
Late Captain 7th Hussars.
Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, August 21, 1879. SOME months since I had the honour to apply to you for permission to purchase a rifling tool from the Royal Arsenal with the view to rifling a 64-pounder rifled Palliser gun made in Canada by Messrs. Gilbert and Sons, Montreal, instructed by me at the desire of Sir William Palliser, who affirmed that considerable impetus would be given to Colonial armaments if the colonists could only be instructed how to make their rifled guns, and so spend their money in their own country. I am pleased to be able to inform you that by a cable message just received, it is announced that the Canadian gun has passed proof before the officers of the Royal Artillery with charges of 25lbs. of power and 64-pounder shell. There will, therefore, be no difficulty in making guns of heavier calibre in Canada for coast defence, for the east coast as well as for British Columbia.
There bave lately been some terrible accidents in Europe with heavy guns, both English and German; but I have the honour to inform you that in no instance, out of 2,000 service Palliser guns, from the 64-pounder to the 40-ton gun in England, India, the Colonies, and the United States, has one ever burst.
I have, &c.
The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office.
Sir,
(Signed)
Inclosure 6 in No. 73.
EDWARD PALLISER,
Late Captain 7th Hussars.
Surveyor-General's Department, War Office, September 9, 1879.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo on the subject of the successful proof of a 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading gun recently converted in Canada from a smooth-bored gun on Sir W. Palliser's principle, and in reply to request that you will be good enough to move Sir Michael Hicks Beach to cause this Department to be furnished, if possible, with the following information in regard to the gun in question, viz., whether the tube was left projecting at the muzzle, and, if so, for what distance; whether any muzzle velocities were taken on the occasion of the proof; and what density of charge was allowed for the 25lbs. powder employed.
I
The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office.
am,
&c.
(Signed)
F. A. CAMPBELL, Major-General,
Director of Artillery.
}
Bir,
Secretary of State for the Colonics.
Inclosure 4 in No. 73.
Army and Navy Club, December 4, 1878.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, with inclosure from the War Office, granting permission for my nephew, Mr. Edward
Sir,
Inclosure 7 in No. 73.
Government House, Ottawa, October 16, 1879. IN conformity with the directions contained in your despatch of the 11th ultimo, I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of a letter from the Department of the Minister of Militia and Defence submitting, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, a Report by Lieutenant-Colonel Irwin, Inspector of Artillery, on the
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