1859 New South Wales. Defences of The Colony.: Despatches, &c., Respecting. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command.

Sydney; Thomas Richards, Government printer; 1859.. First Edition; Foolscap folio; pp.38 (last blank); printed on blue tinted paper, bound in recent understated quarter calf, fine copy. A scarce Government paper on the "Defence of the Town and Harbour of Sydney". Motivated chiefly by the memory of the Crimean War, the paper was a telling contribution to the then current policy of maintaining strong defences for the inner port of Sydney alone. With contribution from Governor William Denison (16 pages), Commodore William Loring (2 pages), Colonel Commanding Troops J. M. Perceval (2 pages), and Lieutenant-Colonel Geo. Barney (2 pages). While ultimate responsibility for defence remained with the central authority of the Empire the paper shows New South Wales taking increasing responsibility for its own defence. The submission is supported with a despatch from The Governor of Tasmania Sir Henry Young highlighting the need for increased naval presence in all the Australian colonies. The paper also details the building/repairs to a number of defences, Domain, Fort Denison, Fort Kirribilli, Dawes Battery and Fort Macquarie.