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(Confidential.) Sir,

No. 3.

Colonial Office to Admiralty.

Downing Street, February 21, 1878.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of a confidential letter which has been addressed by this Department to the War Office, suggesting that an inquiry should be held and a report be made as to the defences of the more important Colonial ports, together with a copy of the reply stating that the Secretary of State for War has nominated General Sir J. Lintorn A. Simmons, the Inspector-General of Fortifications, to represent the War Office on the Committee of Officers appointed to hold the inquiry.

2. Sir Michael Hicks Beach trusts that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will be willing to give their assistance in the examination of this important question, and he will be glad to be informed of the name of the naval officer whom the Lords Com- missioners may select to act in conjunction with General Sir J. L. A. Simmons, and the officer who may be nominated to represent this Department on the Committee of Inquiry.

(Signed)

No. 4.

I am,

&c.

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

Admiralty to Colonial Office.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Admiralty, February 28, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 21st instant, respecting the appointment of a Committee to inquire and report as to the defences of the more important Colonial ports, and stating that the Secretary of State for the Colonies would be glad to be informed whether the Admiralty would be willing to give their assistance in the examination of this important question, and would select a Naval Officer to act in conjunction with General J. Lintorn A. Simmons, Inspector-General of Fortifications, who has been nominated by the War Office, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, that my Lords concur in the proposal that such an inquiry should be held, and that they have nominated Admiral Sir Alexander Milne to represent this Department on the Committee appointed.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT HALL.

No. 5.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Colonial Office to Sir Henry Barkly, G.C.M.G.

Downing Street, March 1, 1878.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to inform you that Her Majesty's Government are about to appoint a Committee to consider and report upon some important questions connected with the defence of Colonial ports, and will be much gratified to learn that you are able and willing to be associated with General Sir Lintorn Simmons, K.C.B., on behalf of the War Office, and Admiral Sir A. Milne, G.C.B., on behalf of the Admiralty, for this purpose.

I am to add that it is proposed that the Committee should meet at the beginning of next week.

I am, &c. (Signed)

ROBERT G. W. HERBERT.

(Confidential.) Sir,

No. 6.

Sir Henry Barkly, G.C.M.G., to Colonial Office.

Bath, March 2, 1878.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your letter of yesterday,§ informing me of the desire of the Secretary of State for the Colonies that I should act as a member of a

* No. 1.

† No. 2.

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‡ No. 3.

§ No. 5.

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