Foster to Fortescue (Parliamentary Under-Secretary)

Having been appointed by His Excellency Governor Douglas to the
command of the Vancouver Island Volunteer Rifle Corps I have the
honor to lay before you the copy of a communication relative to
the supply of Fire arms for the use of that Corps.

The Fire arms proposed to be furnished to the V.I. Volunteer
Rifle Corps, are I consider, too antiquated and obsolete an arm
for the use of any corps in H.M. Service, and I do not think it
would be advisable for H.M. Government to incur even the expense
of their transport to the Colony.

I further consider that the possession of such an arm would
cause the V.I. Volunteers to appear to great disadvantage when
placed in comparison with the troops on the U.S. continent.

I would therefore beg to suggest that the same arm be furnished
to the V.I. Volunteers as that supplied to the volunteers of the
United Kingdom.

I have further to request that H.M. Secretary of State for the
Colonies will be pleased to order the gazetting of Officers
appointed by H.M. representative to hold commands in the V.I.
Volunteer Rifle Corps, and that such appointments shall have
permanent effect, and be subject to the rules & regulations
promulgated by the Horse Guards for the Volunteer Corps of Great
Britain.

In venturing to offer this suggestion I would deprecate the
adoption of the annual Election of Officers practised in the
American States, feeling deeply as I do the necessity of keeping
the appointments of Officers in such a distant Colony, and one
also so close on the frontier of a foreign Country, under the
immediate controul of H.M. Government.