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On return here on the 18th Instant, I found that Major General Burrell had likewise received a copy of the Despatch (transmitted by Lord Ellenborough to provide for my not being on the Spot) for immediate suspension of all Works of permanent character.
Further, that letters (I believe from England) having been brought to some other Official here, "Gnomor Burrell" addressed to Goural Boulden (sic) Esq. of Hongkong, that officer had been dead, and it was imagined that he should take charge of this Settlement in that capacity.
After giving the matter the most mature and unbiased consideration, I came to the resolution shown in the accompanying Memorandum, and sent the Secretary of Legation off to Major General Burrell (who continues to reside with his personal staff on board the Moira Transport) to make it known to the Major-General, who it was satisfactory to me to learn had taken a similar view of the question, so far as the Military Buildings were concerned, and had actually written a letter to that effect which Captain Malcolm was on his way to the Ship to deliver.
I intend, at the earliest possible period, to proceed to this Island, and to submit to Your Lordship a detailed account of what has been done, to which I have casually adverted in some of my recent Despatches. The step that I could perhaps have avoided was the removal of the Chief Superintendent of Establishments.