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was submitted for nomination as Commanding Officer, and accepted by myself. The selection has proved a most judicious one, and the success which has attended the movement has been largely due to Colonel Armitage's personal influence and exertions.

3. After the appointment of a Commanding Officer the next step was to determine what assistance would be given by Government to the movement, and it has been arranged that Govern- ment should provide

(a.) For the pay of an Adjutant at the scale of—–

Appendix No. 4.

CEYLON.

•

Pay Consolidated allowance Forage

Total

:::

Rs.

2,400 per annum. 2,100

500

5,000

and this post has, on Colonel Armitage's recommendation, been temporarily conferred upon Captain Gwatkin, of the Royal Monmouth Militia, who happened to be in the island for the purpose of looking after property belonging to him, and who, I am assured, possesses all the qualifications necessary for this important post.

(b.) A capitation grant per annum as follows:-

For each efficient field officer

For each efficient subordinate officer

For each efficient non-commissioned officer and private

(c.) The pay of one European sergeant per company.

•

Rs.

NO CO CT

(d) Sixty rounds of ball ammunition per man per annum. Ten rounds of blank ammunition. (e.) An armoury, an orderly-room, and quarters for an armourer. These have been provided in a suitable Government building which happened to be unoccupied at the time.

4. I trust that your Lordship will approve of the terms above detailed; they may appear liberal, but the circumstances of our local population must be taken into account in considering this portion of the question, and that few of them could be expected to enter upon any large personal expenditure in enrolling themselves in the corps.

5. Since these terms have been made public, the enrolment of members has proceeded at a rapid rate, no less than 677 having already joined the ranks, of whom 164 are Europeans, 334 Eurasians, 71 Sinhalese, 47 Malays, 47 Tamils, and 14 others. It has been agreed that the colour of the uniform shall be scarlet, and drilling is progressing most actively and satisfactorily.

6. There have been and still remain difficulties to contend with, in the prejudices of race and class, which are, perhaps, to an unusual extent present in Ceylon, and which can only be overcome by the exercise of much tact and discretion. Two important questions remain unsettled, upon both of which I shall have the honour of addressing your Lordship at a later date. There was, in the first place, no copy obtainable in the island of the revised Army Regulations on the subject of Volunteers, without which it was impossible to frame the Rules and Regulations contemplated by Articles 5 and 6 of the Ordinance. A copy of the Army Regulations in question was, however, received through the Crown Agents by last mail, and this portion of the question will be taken in hand at once.

7. Even more important, perhaps, is the question whether the Volunteer Corps is to be armed with the Snider rifle (the weapon in use by the local police) or with the Henry-Martini rifle. I have not been unmindful of the desirability of preserving uniformity as to the arms and ammunition issued to the military forces in the Colony, but the expense of the Martini-Henry rifle is a serious consideration to a movement as yet in its infancy, and it may possibly be found advisable to be satisfied with the cheaper weapon until the permanency of the movement has been placed beyond question. Upon this and other similar though minor points I have asked for the opinion of the Major-General Commanding, and shall place much reliance upon the advice that may be given by him. I should add that cordial assistance has been rendered by the Major-General in every respect in furtherance of the Volunteer movement.

Trusting that the steps which I have taken will meet with your Lordship's approval, I have, &c., (Signed) JOHN DOUGLAS.

Inclosure 2 in No. 56.

Colonial Office to War Office.

Sir,

Downing Street, June 30, 1881.

I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, for the consideration of Mr. Secretary Childers, the inclosed copy of a despatch from the Lieutenant-Governor of Ceylon,* reporting the inaugu- ration of a Rifle Volunteer Corps in that island.

Lord Kimberley would be glad to be favoured with any observations on the details of the scheme given in this despatch,

*Inclosure 1 in No. 56.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

R. H. MEADE.

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