in perpetuity,
I must
observe that the subject-
does not admit of any
claim of right. Neither
Capt Elliot nor Mr. Johnston
were armed with
any
authority to dispose of the
public lands, and it
was expressly announced
by the former Officer, under whom the principal Sales took place, that they
must be subject to Her
Majesty's pleasure. But
it has of
course
been
the wish of Her Majesty's Government to deal with
the holders of these lands equitably.
22
equitably; and the only question is whether the
leases that have been decided
sufficiently effect this object. It is at least
some presumption in
their favour, that without
concert the same
terms
should have been adopted
at or
nearly
the same Moment
by myself in this country,
and by
Officers
in
Hong Kong,
and
Sir H. Pottinger has pointed
out
on
his own
authority gentlemen who ... .
Some
of
the subject, that
at the recent public sales
higher prices had been
voluntarily given than
they