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(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

39

No. 92.

Colonial Office to Admiralty.

Downing Street, May 11, 1878. WITH reference to your letter of the 14th March, stating that there were naval objections to the temporary loan of certain guns in store at Victoria, but that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty had requested the Secretary of State for War to hasten the shipment of certain guns recommended by the Defence Commission to be sent to Esquimalt for the defence of Victoria, I am directed by Sir Michael Hicks Beach to state that, understanding from private inquiry that in consideration of the urgency of the case the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will consent to waive their objection to the temporary loan of the guns in store at Victoria, he has informed the Governor-General of Canada by telegraph that those guns will be at the disposal of the Dominion Government for the defence of Esquimalt and Victoria until they are replaced by other guns or are required by Her Majesty's cruizers. I am to inclose a copy of the despatch embodying the information contained in the telegram which has been addressed to the Governor- General on the subject, and I am to request that you will move their Lordships to issue any directions which may be necessary for the loan of the guns in question.

Sir Michael Hicks Beach has ascertained that no steps have yet been taken by the War Department for the dispatch of the additional guns referred to in your letter of the 14th March, and I am to request that you will move the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, in communicating to that Department the withdrawal of their objection to the temporary loan of the guns in store at Victoria, again to urge the earliest possible dispatch of the new guns.

Sir Michael Hicks Beach is aware that the measures to be taken for the protection of Esquimalt and Victoria concern the naval and military departments of Her Majesty's Government rather than this Office; but, representations having been made to him by the Governor-General of Canada on the subject, he has ventured thus far to press the matter upon the attention of those Departments.

No. 93.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

!

Governor-General the Earl of Dufferin to the Right Honourable Sir M. E. Hicks Beach,

(Secret and Confidential.)

(Telegraphic. Paraphrase.)

Bart.

REPLY to telegram of the 11th instant:-

May 13, 1878.

At St. John there are two 8-inch guns, two 68-pounders, fourteen 32-pounders, and two 18-pounders mounted in position, an 8-inch and eight 24-pounders not mounted.

In Fort Dufferin there is also a new battery of five 64-pounder rifled guns, mounted last year, commanding entrance to harbour.

The active force consists of one company of engineers, four batteries of artillery, and one battalion of infantry. Four batteries more in the vicinity.

At Sydney there are eight 32-pounders mounted. Local force, one battery of artillery and three companies of infantry.

There are at Pictou six 32-pounders mounted and a force of one battery of artillery and one company of infantry.

Yarmouth: Four thirty-two pounders and a force of one battery of artillery in course of organization.

Charlottetown: There are three 32-pounders and a force of two batteries of artillery and two companies of infantry. In the vicinity four (?) more companies.

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