CO885-(1-2) — Page 89

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CONFIDENTIAL.

Militia in the Colonies.

HELIGOLAND.

THERE is no militia in this island. Soon after the general peace, the garrison, consisting of a detachment of a veteran battalion, was withdrawn and nothing has occurred since that period, of a nature to make it necessary to provide for the defence of the island.

The pursuits of the inhabitants would fit them, in the event of war, for privateering; and it may be assumed that they might form a small force of sea fencibles. But they are wretchedly poor, and everything must be done for them.

IONIAN ISLANDS.

There is a provision in the charter which con- templates the creation of a militia. But it has never been deemed expedient or safe to call out a local force; on the contrary, it has been necessary to disarm the inhabitants of the larger islands.

Ordinance No. 11

of 1852.

MALTA.

When the French had possession of Valetta, the inhabitants took up arms to aid the British forces in expelling the enemy, and for some time after the the latter had withdrawn, some armed corps con- tinued in existence. But since the island has been in the possession of this country, no militia has been called out.

The present Governor has, however, lately had a law passed in which it is declared "to be expedient to train Her Majesty's subjects residing in Malta to the use of arms.”

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

11 TLC.O. 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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Under that law, the Governor proposes to raise, by voluntary enrolment, 1000 men for the defence of the fortress of Valetta; and extending the opera- tion of the law to the villages of the island, and to Gozo, he calculates upon obtaining the services of 2000 men.

Of the force to be raised in Valetta, six com- panies are to be specially affected to the artillery service. Arms and accoutrements have been placed at the disposal of the corps for Valetta, together with a liberal supply of ammunition. Clothing has been ordered to be defrayed out of a sum of 10007., reserved out of the annual revenue, which is held at the special disposal of the Secretary of State for contingencies.

The Governor has applied for authority to enrol about 100 pensioners of the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment.

GIBRALTAR.

That part of the population of Gibraltar which is composed of natives of the United Kingdom, is exceedingly limited in number, and the natives of Gibraltar are generally of foreign extraction. It must be extremely doubtful, whether a force could be raised from the native population which might safely be entrusted with arms.