A.—2a.

Government, a copy of a letter which has been received from the Royal Colonial Institute, respecting a memorial which has been largely and influentially signed in this country, thanking Her Majesty's subjects in the colonies for the generous offers made to send troops for service in the field, together with a copy of the reply which I caused to be returned to this letter. I have, &c, Governor Sir W. E. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., &c. DERBY.

Enclosure 1. The Eoyal Colonial Institute to the Colonial Office. My Lord,- 6th May, 1885. I have the honour to forward your Lordship the following information of the result of the recent appeal to the people of the United Kingdom to join in a letter of thanks to our countrymen and kindred beyond the seas, who have offered men for active service. A few weeks since copies of a memorial were forwarded from the Eoyal Colonial Institute to various public bodies throughout the United Kingdom, including the mayors and provosts of the principal towns of England, Ireland, and Scotland, requesting them to use their influence in obtaining signatures to it in their various localities, and to return it to me not later than the Ist of May. The memorial was as follows : "We, the undersigned subjects of the Queen, resident in the old country, desire to express our gratitude to our countrymen and kindred beyond the sea for the generous offer they have made to send troops for active service. We have always believed that our ties of blood and common love of freedom would keep the Empire one and indivisible. We thank you for this proof that our faith is founded on truth." To this appeal a most gratifying and remarkable response has been returned. I have received a total of more than twenty thousand signatures to the memorial, " from all sorts and conditions of men." These include the names of men of all parties in politics and all classes in society. Animated by the desire to let it be known how7 warmly they recognized this splendid and disinterested act on the part of the colonies of Great Britain towards the Mother-country in her hour of need, peers, members of Parliament, judges of the Supreme Court, justices of the peace, mayors of towns and members of town councils and corporations, masters of city companies, professors of universities and men of science and literature, barristers, poets, authors, artists, clergy of all denominations, merchants, bankers, traders, artisans, labourers, and others have signed it. In many cases the mayors of provincial towns have affixed the corporate seal and signed the memorial " on behalf of the inhabitants." It is evident, from the readiness with which the signatures have everywhere been attached to this "Letter of Thanks," that, large and representative as has been the number of names obtained, want of opportunity alone has prevented tens of thousands more of the people of the United Kingdom signing it, in order to express their warm appreciation of the noble, generous, and patriotic conduct of our countrymen and kindred beyond the sea which has evoked it. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby, K.G., Frederick Young, Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies. Honorary Secretary.

Enclosure 2. The Colonial Office to the Eoyal Colonial Institute. Sir,— ' Downing Street, 13th May, 1885. I am directed by the Earl of Derby to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 6th instant, showing the result of the recent appeal to the people of the United Kingdom to join in a letter of thanks to Her Majesty's subjects in the colonies who have offered troops for active service abroad. Lord Derby has received with pleasure this further evidence of the satisfaction which the patriotic action of the colonies has given to the people of this country, and his Lordship will transmit a copy of your letter to the Governors of those colonies from which the ■ offers were received. ■ I have, &c, Frederick Young, Esq. John Bramston.

No. 54. (New Zealand —General.) Sir,— Downing Street, 20th May, 1885. I have honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 41, of the 28th of March, forwarding particulars relative to the application from the Rev. J. L. Stanley for a nomination for a naval cadetship in favour of his son, Norman Litchfield Stanley. I have the honour to inform you, in reply, that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to whom the application was referred, have approved the selection

A.-IA, No. 56,

Answer. A,-la, No. 65.

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