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connect themselves with any temporary measures of the kind already suggested as suitable to meet a sudden emergency.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

M. E. HICKS BEACH.

No. 16.

(Secret.) Sir,

Colonial Office to Admiral Sir A. Milne, Bart., G.C.B.

Downing Street, March 21, 1878.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to acknowledge the receipt. of your Confidential letter of the 18th instant;* and, in reply, I am to submit the following remarks relative to local forces in Hong Kong, Singapore, Penang, and Ceylon, which may. be taken as approximately correct.

There is no militia force in any of these Colonies; in Hong Kong and Singapore there is a small force of volunteers, though the numbers cannot be given.

As to police. In Ceylon the force is composed of natives and is about 1,000 strong, with some 20 European sergeants and constables. In Hong Kong there is a police force, consisting of 100 European inspectors and constables, chiefly from the London and Glasgow police; 162 Indians, with the proper complement of sergeants and inspectors; 180 Chinese, with the due number of sergeants, &c.; and 150 Chinese water police.

It would probably be found difficult to increase this force.

In the Straits Settlements there is a native police force, of which the head- quarters are stationed in Singapore, consisting of about 450 constables, with some European inspectors and sub-inspectors. The detachment quartered in Penang numbers about 400. This force is capable of increase. The men are armed, and fought together with the Imperial troops in the late Perak war. In the native States of the Malay Peninsula there is a force of armed police, in part Malay and in part Sikhs and others from India.

The number of Indians is at present probably 500, and might be increased to any

extent.

Lastly, Sir M. H. Beach supposes that such a force as the late Ceylon Rifle Regiment might again be raised in the Colony if a real necessity existed.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ROBERT G. W. HERRERT,

No. 17.

The Right Hon. W. H. Smith to the Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart. My dear Beach,

Admiralty, March 22, 1878.

WE have ordered fifty torpedoes for the Colonies, but it will be some months before they are delivered, and it will therefore be impossible to pay for them under the existing vote of credit. Under these circumstances, I must look to you to obtain a vote to pay for them. If it appears advisable that you should have some or even the whole of them before Mr. Whitehead can complete his order, I have no doubt we shall be able to lend you some from our store.

A

Yours very truly, (Signed)

W. H. SMITH.

No. 18.

Sir,

War Office to Colonial Office.

War Office, March 22, 1878.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant,† and to acquaint you in reply, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that he has instructed Lieutenant H. Jekyll, R.E., to act as Secretary to the Departmental Committee on the defence of the Colonies, as therein requested.

* No. 14.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

EUSTACE CECIL.

+ No. 7.

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