cannot, or will not, prevent them from coming, we certainly cannot. The regular Forces in this Province consist of about 250 men of the 14th. Regt. in Barracks at Napier; 50 Military settlers; and 25 of the Colonial Defence Force, of whom five are detached as the crew of the cutter "Iris". Besides these, the Militia, and Volunteers, do not exceed 800 armed men. In Mr. McLean's temporary absence there is no authority in the Province for calling them out for active service. We are thus completely at the mercy of any bodies of