CAB7-1 — Page 246

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How far these statements may be true it is impossible to say, but they bear the stamp of probability.

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Should they be true, should war be declared, and should the alleged objects of the "Cimbria's crew and cargo be carried into effect, the result would be that at the outset our merchant vessels and the unprotected coasts of the maritime provinces and the Gulf of St. Lawrence would suffer. An attack on the harbour of St. John, from which Ellsworth is many miles distant, would be probable, to destroy the shipping and place the town under contribution.

At St. John there is, fortunately, an excellent battery at Fort Dufferin, which commands the approach to the harbour by both channels, armed with five 64-pounder rifled guns, and two smooth-bore 32-pounders.

There is a very good body of militia artillery at St. John, capable of working these guns, but I recommend they should be authorized to assemble under pay for considerable drill and practice at once.

Should Russian men-of-war land troops to turn this battery and to attack the city, there are several battalions of militia infantry that could be speedily concentrated to dispute such a manœuvre. These battalions are in very fair order, and the staff of the district are active, intelligent officers.

Nova Scotia having the protection of Her Majesty's troops and the squadron of the Royal Navy on the Halifax station, is able to take care of itself. There is a good battery at Pictou.

Digby and the Bay of Annopolis, however, entering from the Bay of Fundy, will require attention-there are six 32-pounder guns there, but I am informed they are not mounted. There is also a garrison battery of artillerymen there, but my belief is they have had very little training. I should wish for authority to have Digby made more defensible, as it commands the narrow entrance to Annopolis basin.

Prince Edward Island has little or no defence of any kind. There are about 1,600 infantry and artillery militia in small detachments through the island, but they have a poor military spirit among these quiet islanders.

There is a field battery of six 6-pounder guns at Charlottetown, but no guns of position worth mentioning.

In the St. Lawrence, the only battery is at the entrance of Gaspé basin, and this is composed of only two 24-pounders, which were mounted more for practice than defence. There is a battery of artillerymen there fairly reported of.

From there to Quebec there is nothing in the St. Lawrence to stop a hostile cruizer. The flourishing sea-ports in the Bay of Chaleurs, in Miramichi Bay, at Richibucto, Shediac, &c., are totally defenceless, and could be destroyed without any means of resistance.

At Quebec, of course, any ship or number of ships, short of iron-clads, would, if hardy enough to come within range of the guns of the citadel, be destroyed.

Besides the smooth-bore guns mounted on the works there are several 7-inch breach- loading 110-pounders on the salients, and some of the 64-pounder rifled-guns obtained last year from England are also mounted.

These should have been all in position long ago, but the platforms are not finished, I request the attention of the Department of Public Works may be called to this very important service being speedily executed, as well as the completion of the concrete plat- forms on the salients of the three forts at Levis, to mount the 7-inch guns all ready for the purpose. This is also emergent. I earnestly request attention to this in the view of hostilities, which, if they occur, would evidently be immediate on this coast.

To man the extensive works at Quebec we have the excellent "B" battery, of about 160 men, thoroughly-trained artillerymen, also a new garrison battery of 42 men, recently enrolled, but little drilled.

A few days ago authority was given to enrol a battery of 42 men at Levis; but in view of manning the lines and extensive works of this important fortress and its outlying forts, which would be of the utmost consequence in case of war, there should not be less than 300 artillerymen, well trained, in Quebec.

There are two good infantry battalions, a troop of cavalry, and a battery of field artillery in the city.

But there would be ample need of them all, and much more, if any serious combined attempt were made from the river as well as by land.

The squadron of Her Majesty's ships on the North American station have the West Indies and Bermudas as well to watch. I am not aware of the number of ships, probably about twelve or fourteen, nor of their class or capacity for speed, excepting the flag ship,

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