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St. John, New Brunswick, nine-pounder 58-cwt. converted Palliser rifled guns, muzzle-loading.

Sydney, Cape Breton, two batteries, eight 4-pounder 58-cwt. converted Palliser rifled guns, muzzle-loading; also 100 rounds of ammunition, including common and Shrapnel shells in equal proportion for each gun.

With reference to the armaments proposed for Charlotte Town and Pictou, that in view of the probable peaceful solution of the threatened Russian war, the Committee recommend the construction of the batteries at Charlotte Town and Pictou to be for the present deferred.

Certified,

(Signed)

W. A. HIMSWORTH,

Clerk, Privy Council, Canada.

Inclosure 2 in No. 217.

Sir,

Ottawa, June 8, 1878.

I HAVE read and carefully considered the despatch dated the 23rd May last, from the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies to his Excellency the Governor-General, inclosing a despatch from Admiral Sir Alexander Milne to the Secretary of State, covering Reports from the Colonial Defence Committee respecting the places named in the margin, which they consider the ports of the greatest importance on the Atlantic sea-board of Canada.

I am directed by you to state, for the information of the Government, any observations I may deem proper to make, and, further, to give my views as to the possibility of converting smooth-bore guns in Canada, to save the expense of importing rifled cannon. from England.

I shall do myself the honour, in reply, to take these questions seriatim, and to report as follows, viz. :—

St. John, New Brunswick.-I may at once dispose of the misunderstanding as to "Fort Dufferin," by stating it to be identical with "Negro Point," its new designation having been accorded at the request of the people of St. John, out of respect for his Excellency the Governor-General.

Fort Dufferin, lately known as Negro Point Battery, is a strong work, pierced for ten guns, situate at the western entrance of the approach to St. John Harbour; its site is commanding from a considerable elevation. It is open at the gorge, but recently a strong palisade fence has been ordered, to inclose it.

This, though an obstacle to an infantry attack, would of course be soon demolished by

cannou.

Its armament consists of five Palliser 6-pounder converted muzzle-loading rifled guns and two smooth-bore 32-pounders. Two of the rifled guns and the two 32-pounders point seaward down the Bay of Fundy. Three rifled guns point inside of Partridge Island, and their range of fire would command both entrances or channels to the inner harbour.

On the eastern side of the entrance east of Courtenay Bay, at Redhead, there is a very good work, which, as well as Fort Dufferin, was constructed by the Royal Engineers, and both are in serviceable condition. An armament of four 32-pounder guns has now been mounted on Redhead Battery, to cross fire with Fort Dufferin, outside of Partridge Island. Partridge Island has also a battery, inclosed and defensible. Orders have recently been given to place it in good repair.

Its armament consists of two 8-inch smooth-bore guns, two 68-pounder guns, one 32-pounder gun, and one 18-pounder guns-all smooth-bore.

This battery should doubtless have three rifled guns in addition.

Dorchester Battery, in the barrack grounds, about 3,000 yards in rear of Partridge Island, has a well mounted battery of four 32-pounder guns, in serviceable condition.

Fort Howe, at the head of the Harbour of St. John, in the town or suburb of Portland, has a small serviceable battery of two 32-pounder guns.

The reserve magazines of powder are here.

Carlton Martello Tower, nearly a mile in rear of Fort Dufferin, on a commanding ridge, has one 32-pounder gun, mounted on a traversing platform, giving an all-round fire. The building is quite sound, but the masonry requires pointing, and the magazine is very damp.

The force in St. John now consists of five batteries of artillerymen of 42 men each-about 200; one company of engineers, 42 men; and 300 infantry. There are also, within a few hours by railways, reinforcements of about 1,200 infantry and 300 cavalry.

It may be taken for granted that wherever troops, batteries, or companies are men-

*St. John, Sydney, Pictou, Charlotte Town.

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