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Appendix No. 4.

ISLANDS NEAR PANAMA.

ISLANDS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF PANAMÁ,

No. 137.

Admiralty to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Admiralty, October 22, 1880. IN further reference to your letter of the 18th June last,* and in continuation of letters of the 5th† and 10th July last, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, copies of correspondence respecting proposed coaling-stations in or near the Bay of Panamá, as enumerated on inclosed list.

I am,

&c.

Inclosure 1 in No. 137.

(Signed)

COALING STATIONS.

INDEX to Correspondence: Bay of Panamá, &c.

Letter from--

(A.) Rear-Admiral Bruce

·

(B.) Captain Vansittart

(C.) Rear-Admiral the Hon. A. A. Cochrane

(D.)

"

وو

(E.) Captain W. R. Kennedy

(F.) Rear-Admiral Stirling

(G.)

""

22

Period.

Places referred to.

ROBERT HALL.

1857

Taboga

1857

Taboga and other islands in Bay of Panamá,

including that of Pedro Gonzales

1874-75

Ditto, ditto

1878

Pedro Gonzales..

1879

Pedro Gonzales

1879-80

Pedro Gonzales..

1880

Charles Island (Galapagos Group), Taboga,

Charles Island (Galapagos Group).

··

Page.

Inclosure 2 in No. 137.

Coaling Stations in Pacific, off West Coast of America.

(A) Commander-in-chief, Pacific (Rear-Admiral Bruce), to Admiralty.

፡፡

Sir,

'Monarch,” at Payta, August 10, 1857. IN return to your letter of the 22nd June last, in which the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty desire me to report what quantity of coal I would recommend being kept in store at Panamá for the use of Her Majesty's ships, and whether any store-house can be hired at that place for the purpose of containing it, I request that you will be pleased to inform their Lordships that, while the squadron on this station is not larger than at present, there would be no occasion for a larger stock at any time than 500 tons.

2. From the best information I could obtain while at Panamá last December, I gather that the coal might be landed at, say, 19 dollars a-ton, but then expense would be incurred in building stores, as in that climate it would not answer to leave it uncovered, and a considerable waste would also accrue, and some expense in reshipping it.

3. By the inclosed copy of a letter, dated the 6th ultimo, to the Storekeeper-General, their Lordships will observe that I have entered into an agreement with the Pacific Steam Packet Company to supply from 200 to 250 tons, at 22 dollars, during the year 1858, which I hope may suffice for that period.

4. If economy only be consulted, I consider that the Company could continue to supply us with coal at a cheaper rate than we could supply ourselves, but if other considerations make it desirable to have a store-house of our own, then it would be easy to obtain part of the Packet Company's grounds at Moro, adjoining Taboga, ample for our purposes; or, finally, I should apprehend no difficulty

* No. 103.

† No. 104.

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No. 134.

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