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strength of the Russian squadron in the Pacific under the command of Rear-Admiral Aslanbegow, and the objects for which it is supposed to have been reinforced,

I also transmit to you a copy of a letter from Sir M. Hicks Beach and, in com- pliance with his wish, I have to request you to keep the Governors of the Australian Colonies informed as far as possible of the movements of that fleet.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

SALISBURY.

Inclosure 8 in No. 120.

The Marquis of Salisbury to Sir T. Wade.

(No. 14.)

Foreign Office, January 29, 1880. Sir,

I TRANSMIT to you herewith a copy of a despatch, with its inclosures, from Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at St. Petersburgh, containing information with regard to the strength of the Russian squadron in the Pacific under the command of Rear-Admiral Aslanbegow, and the objects for which it is supposed to have been reinforced.

In compliance with the wish which Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonial Department has expressed to this effect, I have to request you to communicate direct to the Governors of the Australian Colonies any information that you can obtain regarding the movements of that fleet.

Similar instructions have been addressed to Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires in Japan.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

SALISBURY.

No. 121.

121

No. 123.

War Office to Colonial Office.

Sir,

Surveyor-General's Department, War Office, February 6, 1880. I AM directed by Secretary Colonel Stanley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, forwarding a request from Captain E. Palliser for permission to visit the Royal Arsenal, and to procure the necessary drawings of wrought-iron carriages and slides for the guns ordered by the Canadian Government.

In reply, I am to request you will be good enough to state whether it is the wish of Sir Michael Hicks Beach that this information should be afforded, and I am at the same time to observe that it is of the utmost importance that all Colonial armainents should be of such a description as would enable them to be used with the stores, ammunition, &c., in general use in Her Majesty's service.

6

Colonel Stanley will therefore be glad to be informed whether the guns for which these carriages and slides are required will fulfil these conditions, and in reference to this subject I would refer to my letter of the 24th July, 1878,† No.

て

I am, &c.

(Signed)

F. A. CAMPBELL, Major-General,

Director of Artillery.

No. 124.

:

(Secret.) My Lord,

The Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor-General the Marquis of Lorne, K.T.

Downing Street, February 6, 1880.

IN reply to your Lordship's Secret despatch of the 24th November last, I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a letter, with inclosures, from the Admiralty,t giving the information desired by your Government with respect to the conversion of merchant- vessels into armed cruizers in time of war.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

No. 122.

Sir,

Captain Palliser to Colonial Office.

Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, February 12, 1880. I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have heard from Sir Edward Selby Smyth, and from the manufacturers, Messrs. Gilbert and Sons, of Montreal, that the contract for the manufacture and conversion of twelve Palliser guns has been signed by the Govern- ment of Canada on the one hand and by the manufacturers on the other. As the Cana- dian Government appear to be in earnest about their armaments, it would facilitate matters if I could procure the drawings of iron carriages for 7-inch guns from the Royal Arsenal, as I requested in a former letter.

I have just purchased several copies of the "Treatise on Ammunition," printed for the War Office in 1878, and as the manufacturers requested me to give them information how to make the projectiles, I have sent them two copies.

Thus the projectiles used will be the same as those made at Woolwich, including the "Palliser" projectiles.

I understand that the Canadians are pleased to hear that two Palliser guns have been repeatedly fired doubly loaded without exploding..

One gun fired nine rounds doubly loaded, another fired four rounds doubly loaded. These guns are similar to those for the manufacture of which the contract has been signed in Canada.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

EDWARD PALLISER,

Late Captain 7th Hussars.

Colonial Office to the Secretary to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad.

(Secret.)

Downing Street, February 6, 1880. Sir,

WITH reference to the letter from this Department of the 16th December, 1879,‡ I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad, a copy of a letter from the Admiralty, and a copy of the first inclosure,§ giving informa tion for the Canadian Government respecting the conversion of merchant-vessels into armed cruizers in time of war. The second inclosure to the Admiralty letter, which con- tains illustrations of the subject, will be sent to the Governor-General of Canada in original.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

Sir,

No. 125.

Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company to Colonial Office.

Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, Offices, 122, Leadenhall Street, London, February 14, 1880.

YOU are no doubt aware that for many years past this Company have maintained an extensive coaling establishment at Albany, King George's Sound, for the purpose of supplying coals to the Company's steamers carrying on the mail service with the Australian Colonies.

Under the altered arrangements, however, of the new mail contract, the Directors find that they can dispense with this establishment, and they have decided to do so. prior to carrying this resolution into effect they think it right to communicate their inten- But tion to your Department, as, in view of the very great importance of the Sound as a

• No. 105.

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* No. 89.

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+ No. 114.

No. 75.

§ No. 114.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

mmm... MC.O. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-