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which, of course, could not compete in speed with the light-armed steamers which an enemy would use.

We possess no guns in Canada qualified for sea service in light vessels. Field guns could not be employed on a ship's decks, and the heavy 64-pounder rifled guns are not applicable to mount on board lightly-built vessels.

The mail steamers both of the New York and Quebec lines would probably be armed in England.

Under these circumstances, may I presume to recommend that it may be brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government that, should war unhappily be necessary, before any declaration thereof is made, a squadron of swift and lightly-armed steamers may occupy the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Fundy, where immediate damage could be inflicted by enemy's ships on the outbreak of war, if no preparation be made beforehand to resist them by vessels of a similar character.

Large supplies of torpedoes should be obtained also for the various harbours along our extended coast, and persons qualified to give instruction in their use should be

I have, &c.

sent out.

(Signed)

ED. SELBY SMYTH, Lieutenant-General.

The Hon. the Minister of Militia and Defence.

P.S.-I have so frequently brought to notice the totally unprotected state of the harbours of Victoria, and the entrance to Esquimalt in Vancouver Island, as well as of the immeasurably important coal mines of Nanaimo, that I need only once more urge very earnestly that guns now lying in Esquimalt dockyard and obsolete for naval service, in fact, kept back from being sent to England partly at my request two years ago, may be at length handed over and mounted on McAulay's Point, to command the entrance to both harbours. A new battery of artillerymen has been authorized to be enrolled at Victoria.

E. S. S.

No. 125.

Treasury to Colonial Office.

Treasury Chambers, May 22, 1878.

(Confidential.) Sir,

IN reply to Mr. Meade's letter of the 30th ultimo,* I am directed by the Lords Com- missioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to request that you will inform the Secretary of State that my Lords authorize the expenditure proposed for the defence of-

Bridgetown (Barbados)..

Kingston and Port Royal (Jamaica)

£

11,200

39,600

50,800

Total..

subject to further consideration as to the apportionment of the expense between the Imperial and Colonial Governments.

The immediate expenditure will, my Lords understand, be met out of Army and Navy Votes, and the requisite communication made from the Colonial Office to the War Office and Admiralty.

My Lords infer from Mr. Meade's letter of the 30th ultimo to the War Office and Admiralty (of which a copy is inclosed in the letter under reply), that Sir Michael Hicks Beach does not submit to my Lords any immediate proposal requiring their special assent for Heligoland, St. Helena, and Sierra Leone.

I am, &c. (Signed)

R. R. W. LINGEN.

No. 126.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Treasury to Colonial Office.

Treasury Chambers, May 22, 1878.

IN reply to Mr. Meade's letter of the 18th instant,† requesting sanction for the expen- diture required for works as well as that for guns, for the purpose of Colonial defences, I

* No. 60. Gi

[593]

† No. 110.

Q

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