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Applicants subsequent to my departure- the northward, and the Communication was then so Seldom and so irregular, between this Place and the Expedition, that I did not hear for a long time.. what was going on in
When I returned to Anything February 1842, Sagain, I renewed my prohibition against granting land to general applicants, but I was induced to do so in some special cases to persons chiefly in the employ of Government, and also to some of the Charitable Institutions (such as the Morrison Education Society and The Medical Missionary Society) which I deemed it right to encourage.
All Grants made by me, I may specially notified to be subject to whatever Rules or Terms Her Majesty's Government might thereafter be pleased to prescribe, and in the absence of Instructions I declined to interfere with finally Confirming, on which any previous Grants had been made by Captain Ellest and Mr. Johnston.
02.
Just before I left Hong Kong in June 1841 to rejoin the Expedition, I received a Despatch from the Earl of Aberdeen directing that this Island should be considered a mere military Position, and that all Buildings not required in that light should be discontinued. These Commands were immediately promulgated, and after the Treaty was made and the cession of the Island secured, I repeated to Mr. Johnston my prohibition against any further grants of