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tioned in Canada, the strength of each unit is forty-two men, with a proportion of three officers.

Sydney, Cape Breton. This being the centre of the coal districts is very important. Its batteries were dilapidated when the troops left Canada.

They were never handed over to the Dominion Government.

The eight 32-pounder guns on Chapel Point are in a bad state, and may prove to be honeycombed.

Orders have been given to mount four 32-pounder guns on Chapel Point, and to enrol and train 42 artillerymen. There are about 200 infantry in Cape Breton, tolerably trained.

The Defence Committee recommend two batteries in succession should be erected upon Chapel and Mines Point, armed with two 7-ton and two 64-pounder rifled guns each, and that they should be strong, defensible works, to resist a coup de main from the direction of Cranberry Head; also another battery of two 7-ton and two 64-pounder rified guns at Edward Point, to protect the coaling wharves.

To man these guns would require from 150 to 200 artillerymen, and there should be a reinforcement of 1,000 infantry. I do not rely upon the population of Cape Breton furnishing this quota satisfactorily or reliably.

The three batteries armed as proposed would be very costly, nearly, if not quite, 15,000, and would require therefore to be adequately manned with well-trained and skilled artillerymen.

I am not aware whether the Dominion Government is prepared to undertake the defence of Sydney on this elaborate scale. It is undoubtedly a most important port for its coal supply, not only for merchant steamers, but also for Her Majesty's ships on the North American Station. It is within easy reach of Halifax, and 1,200 miles from Ottawa; and I therefore respectfully suggest that its temporary defence upon a safe scale should be undertaken by Her Majesty's ships, supplemented, if necessary, by a detachment of Royal Artillery from Halifax, to mount and man whatever armament may be deemed necessary, in addition to a gun-boat or small iron-clad ship.

Charlotte Town, Prince Edward Island.-This island is exposed to attack from many points of easy access all round its coasts, and it is equally defenceless.

There are about 160 garrison artillerymen, 80 of whom are at Charlotte Town; and about 460 infantry, 200 of whom are at Charlotte Town.

Until I went there first in 1875 the island militia, under the old provincial system, was almost only in name. It has since been reorganized and partially trained, but I cannot rely on it even yet as very efficient. No doubt it had much improved when I visited the island again last August. Those formerly there are in ruins.

There is no battery on either Blockhouse or Battery Point, the two headlands on either side of the entrance to Hillsboro' River. The only guns mounted are three 32-pounders on an unnamed point, lying between Government House and York River. These guns would dispute the narrow channel with a steamer not heavily armed with rifled artillery.

The battery and magazine have been recently put in repair.

No doubt a battery of rifled guns upon Battery Point would be an important addition to the defence of Charlotte Town, but I think it should be remembered that Hillsboro' Bay is pretty wide below that point, and that a steamer could creep in under darkness unper- ceived from the battery.

Considering the volunteer force in Charlotte Town, I would prefer arming a battery in the position of the present one near Government House Point with three 64-pounder rifled guns; the volunteers could then practise from that battery, which is in a command- ing position, but Battery Point is so isolated, and at the opposite side of the bay, that volunteers could rarely go there, and could not permanently occupy it.

Any attack upon Prince Edward Island must be only with piratical or predatory intent, and would not be very remunerative except for food supplies or contribution.

Men-of-war would, of course, be cruizing in the gulf in time of hostilities, and upon them would, in great degree, depend the defence of the island.

Pictou, in Northumberland Strait, also most important, from neighbouring collieries, as a shipping port.

There is one excellent battery of six 32-pounder, not rifled guns, on a bluff on the town side, I believe, called Moodie's Point. These guns point over the roadstead and entrance to the river, they also command a large arc inside the river or estuary, and their range of fire would reach the railway landing wharf on the opposite side.

There should certainly be four 64-pounder rifled guns in this battery in addition.

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