A Colonial Navy. 75 



fixity of interest to render it permanently available where 

 most required, and yet having sufficient mobility to permit 

 of its prompt removal for service to all points in Port Phillip, 

 where its services might be needed, and even for service 

 along the coast outside the Heads. The existing naval 

 brigades are good samples of the kind of material such a 

 service would foster around the port. The cost would be a 

 -minimum, because in time of peace the whole charge would 

 be returned in reproductive works, if the system be adopted 

 in its entirety. 



22. The mail steamers must combine to some extent the 

 conflicting duties of carriers and men of war, but this 

 union, although usually opposed by naval officers, is one of 

 the difficulties of the case which must be dealt with and 

 overruled, if it cannot be rendered strictly compatible, because 

 it is one essential condition of success, or rather hope for the 

 establishment of such a force, that it shall, to a greater or 

 lesser extent, be self-contained and self-supporting, and so be 

 brought within range of our means. The objections held to 

 the combining in one vessel the characteristics of a man-of- 

 war and a merchant ship are, no doubt, very weighty, but in 

 this case I cannot think them insuperable, because the 

 merchandise and traffic conveyed by them would be quite 

 exceptional in character and value to that of ordinary trade. 



23. I estimate that, for the establishment and working of 

 such a system, ten first-class ships and three tenders would 

 be requisite, with one first-class depot in Hobson s Bay, two 

 second-class depots, and three third-class depots, at various 

 termini and places on the line of route. 



24. The first-class ships should be from 3,500 to 4,000 

 tons, and of not less than 800 horse-power nominal, coaling 

 twice on the route, and making the passage, via the Cape of 

 Good Hope, including stoppages, in forty-five days. The 

 vessels should be of iron, and armed with one pivot gun 

 forward, of the heaviest calibre to throw shot and shell, and 

 two carriage guns aft, to be used as stern chasers, for the 

 purpose of disabling a pursuing enemy. The especial duty 

 of these ships would be to make their passage, and in doing 

 so to avoid all fighting or other risk except in absolute self- 

 defence. That only in port should the vessels be used for 

 offensive purposes. The casing of such vessels ought not to 

 exceed two inches in thickness, and that only in places 

 where extra protection is necessary, as, for instance, around 

 the hull above and below the water line, and around the 



