of my nomination by Her Majesty to be "Governor of Hongkong, and as I expect, Sir Henry Pottinger's Successor, being due here this day (two Steamers having gone to bring His Excellency and his suite from Whampoa), I think it advisable to further defer that Announcement, until the Ratifications shall be formally exchanged, which will be the Case in a few days.
In the meantime, a vessel is to sail from Macao tomorrow for Bombay purposing to overtake the Mail from that Presidency of the 26th of August, and I think it advisable to take this early opportunity of explaining the cause of not having before addressed Your Lordship, as well as of mentioning my future intention in this respect.
Your Lordship will, I presume, be aware that some months before I arrived in China, this Island was taken possession of in Her Majesty's name by Captain Elliot, and that that officer proceeded shortly after to sell by public auction a considerable number of lots, or portions of land, on certain terms. On my arrival in August, 1841, I was only here twenty of our hours previous to my going northward with the expedition, but during that time I directed all further Grants or sales to be discontinued and allowed Captain Elliot's arrangements to remain as I had found them.
Under a misconception of my intentions Mr Johnston (the Deputy Superintendent) allowed additional lands to be assigned to Applicants