135
conceive that
A
very
comparatively speaking,
small
ine;
will
long
suffice. Indeed, I cannot venture
to name, or even
guess at,
any
assignable period within which I can bring myself to look at the
possibility of the Government of China (supposing it to be inclined to break
with us at some
future day) giving
us
any
trouble single-handed, either at Sea, or on
there; and I am
and I am equally sceptical
as to the Emperor and
His Advisers ever
listening to
overtures from any
other Power to
arm
assist the Chinese against
us. Should such an
improbable coalition take place
in the lapse
of time,
we
shall have ample
warning
of it, and, in my
humble
estimation, we will, with India and its resources at our back, and
Hongkong
as
an advanced Position,
be
easily able to defy the World. I have in this letter
stated
my opinions exactly on the general
question of the Military and other arrangements for this part of the Colony, as though I had never read Major Aldrich's Paper. That, I considered to be the best course,
and
on
the same
principle. I shall transmit to Lieutenant Colonel
England by
Malcolm
who will
carry
the
Sketch
of
the Survey - Copies of
Major Aldrich's Memorandum
and