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(Secret and Confidential.)

Sir,

159

No. 289.

Colonial Office to Admiralty.

Downing Street, August 16, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to state, in reply to your letter of the 8th August,* marked "Secret," that he concurs with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty in the opinion that the Whitehead torpedoes are not well suited for Colonial defence,

2. Sir Michael Hicks Beach would be glad to be informed what the Lords Com- missioners would recommend respecting the simpler form of torpedo, if they should consider that it would fall within the means of Colonial resources, and, in the latter case, he would like to be furnished with some information with regard to its cost, working, and management, &c.

(Secret.) My Lord,

I am, (Signed)

No. 290.

&c.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to the Earl of Dufferin.

Downing Street, August 16, 1878. WITH reference to my cypher telegram of the 9th instant, I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship, for the consideration of your Ministers, a copy of the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee‡ upon the correspondence which has taken place on the subject of the defence of the principal Canadian Atlantic ports.

2. Your Lordship will have been informed by the telegram above referred to that the guns ordered for your Government could not have been manufactured by the time mentioned in your cypher telegram of the 2nd instant, and as the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee may lead your Government to modify their views, the manufacture of these guns will not be proceeded with without a further communication from you.

3. I have to express the satisfaction with which Her Majesty's Government have observed the readiness of the Dominion Government to do what might be necessary for the defence of Canada, and I feel confident that, in dealing with this important question, your Ministers will give that consideration to the views of the Colonial Defence Committee to which, as coming from so high an authority, they are justly entitled.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

No. 291.

Colonial Office to War Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, August 16, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 20th May,§ I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of Secretary Colonel Stanley, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Mauritius,|| stating that he has been informed by the Commanding Officer that he has received intelligence that two 7-ton guns complete have been shipped for Mauritius, which will be mounted in Fort George.

I am, &c. (Signed)

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

No. 292.

Colonial Office to War Office.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, August 16, 1878.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will state to Secretary Colonel Stanley, in reply to your letter of the 8th instant,¶ that he attaches great importance to the encouragement of the volunteer movement in Hong

* No. 274.

§ No. 118.

+ No. 277. || No. 284.

‡ No. 280. ¶ No. 276.

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