Moody to Under-Secretary of State

To enable me satisfactorily to afford the information desired
respecting
"Defences for Esquimalt Harbour Vancouvers Island" I should
feel greatly obliged if you would do me the honour to obtain from the
Colony a Copy of the Lands and Works Department Survey of the
Surrounding neighbourhood on a large Scale.

Mr Pearse the present Acting Surveyor General made a very good
Survey of it, and if H.E. Governor Kennedy would direct that the few
most prominent points for future military occupation be again
carefully revised in Plan; the Features of the Ground sketched in
detail (large scale—scale to be shown in
yards) and a few levels taken to show relative Commands of each
point in connection with the others and all in reference to the level
of the Sea, it would be of the greatest assistance. In fact without
the above information, any observations or suggestions of mine could
be of but little value.

I was in hopes that Copies of such plans might now be in the
Colonial Office. The Nautical Survey which I possess is excellent and
of great value for the special services it is intended to meet and it
also contains some altitudes of Prominent Land Features, but it does
not meet what is now requisite as to showing accurately and fully in
detail the Features of the Ground.

The Governor was formerly in the Army, and will not only know what
would be useful to me but I trust would even from old associations be
disposed to take a very special interest in causing the information
to be fully supplied.

The ground all around the Naval Reserve and the Village of Esquimalt;
the low ridge over looking the Naval Reserve (formerly the Hospital);
the remarkable Rocky Hill overlooking that lower Ridge and the
Harbour as well as "out to sea"; the high ground to N.E. on the left
of the road to Victoria which high ground again commands this Rocky
Hill and overlooks the upper end of Constance Cove and the present
Naval Hospital are perhaps the most leading Features on that side. A
low sort of Ridge that partially shelters Belmont House from the Sea
and the higher ground above, known as Pic Nic Hill  (I believe) are the
principal features on the opposite side of the Harbour.

Inskip Island should be carefully "sketched in"—it is so small it
might be "contoured." This Island ought to be in the hands of the
Colonial Government and so ought the remarkable Rocky Hill above alluded
to. The "lower Ridge" overlooking the Naval Store Houses is already
possessed by the Admiralty.

At the same time that these Plans are forwarded I would suggest to
H.E. the Governor that similar plans be sent home showing, with
observed altitudes, the ground on the East of Victoria—more
especially the small Rocky Hill near the Sandy Beach West of Foul Bay
(the Hill overlooks the present Attorney General's House). Also the
mass of Rocky Hill at Gonsalo Point also the high Sea Coast ground
continuing Eastwards round to Oak Bay and Mr Tod's Farm inclusive.

Nearer the town covering it from the East and entirely command :ing it
is a Rocky elevated Mass of Ground running from about the late
Attorney General's House to & past the House of the Present Surveyor
General. This latter House stands on the eastern brow of it.

H.E. Governor Kennedy will at once recognize the Position, and the
important part it might have to play in the future History of
Victoria if attacked and defended "in Force" on both sides. A good
sketch of it (to scale) is desirable.