the greater portion of the excisions for the foundation of the troops would materially facilitate the selection of a more convenient position for control than on the heights at the extreme limit of my proposed Town.
Thirdly, in the event of occupying part of the Peninsula by Canton troops, it would be immediately covered by the Main Garrison, the Batteries and Honghong's good anchorage.
The superficial extent (as marked within the dotted lines on the Plan annexed) amounts to about two Square Miles independent of the old anchorage then deemed part of the range westerly. In order to adapt my proposed site for the building of the Town, I would suggest the cutting off of the crowns of the small hills, which are situated in the valley, to a level above the highest carrying gale tides, so as to fill up a space to be outlined by a stone wall, into two basins, and thus afford more than one mile of wharfage; which, owing to the sudden increase of depth from 2 to 32 feet, would certainly admit of vessels coming close to the houses to unlade, almost at the wharf.
It is proposed to continue this sea wall, as in the dotted lines, to the next eastern beach. The small island, Battery Island (as marked on the Chart) I would propose to connect to the Town by a solid connecting masonry. A Breakwater, and a return head to the westward, enabling ships to be securely laid up for temporary repairs, heaving down, and the disabled Guns and old iron from the dismantled fort would materially add to the durability of the works under water; by the combination of their oxide with the limestone.
The materials for these works, ready squared Granite, are...