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to Sir Michael Hicks Beach's Secret Circular dated the 20th March,* on the subject of the defence of the Colonies.

I am to observe that since the date of the Governor's despatch, the Report of the Colonial Defence Committee and the correspondence will have reached Mr. Hennessy, but that it is not quite clear from this despatch whether the military authorities were fully acting on the telegraphic instructions sent at the request of the Secretary of State for War, or whether they felt at liberty to depart from the decisions taken at head-quarters without further reference home.

The difficulty about guns, referred to in the fifteenth paragraph of the Governor's despatch, may possibly have been removed by the loan of the 7-inch and 64-pounder guns from the naval stores, of which the Governor was advised by telegram dated the 9th ultimo.†

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 195.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Colonial Office to War Office.

Downing Street, June 24, 1878. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of Secretary Colonel Stanley, a copy of a despatch which has been received from the Governor of Mauritiust relative to the defence of the Colony in the event of war.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 196.

Colonial Office to Admiralty.

(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,

Downing Street, June 24, 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 telegram which has been received from the Governor-General of Canada.§

I am to state that Sir Michael Hicks Beach presumes that this telegram refers to the instructions which you stated in your letter of the 15th May had been addressed to the Senior Naval Officer at Esquimalt on the 13th of that month, and, as there seems some doubt as to the sufficiency of those instructions, I am to request that you will move the Lords Commissioners to authorize that officer by telegraph to deliver the guns on the the requisition of the Dominion Government, and that no further delay may be incurred in making use of them.

1 am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

No. 197.

Treasury to Colonial Office.

Sir,

Treasury Chambers, June 25, 1878.

IN reply to Mr. Meade's letter of the 21st instant,¶ I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to request that you will inform Sir Michael Hicks Beach that they are pleased to sanction an expenditure of 4,2001. for works, and 3,0001. for guns at Tanjong Kutong, on the understanding that the division of the cost between Imperial and local funds is reserved.

I am to add that my Lords are anxious that this division should not be further postponed, inasmuch as, should the immediate call for these defences pass away, the readiness of the Colonies to bear their proper share of the cost of them is likely to grow weaker.

Nothing but the continuance of very urgent necessity can justify the Imperial

* No. 15.

† No. 78.

No. 100.

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No. 178.

T No. 182.

§ No. 185.

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