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ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS IN CHINA.
In addition to the preceding documents, which are very voluminous, abstracts on the above points have been given to Lord Stanley, to the Earl of Aberdeen, to Mr. Goulburn, to the Earl of Dalhousie, and to Lord Canning, in November and December, 1845; and a Synopsis of a complete Commercial Report on China (for which the materials were collected during a personal examination of all the Consular ports, and after visiting every accessible part of China,) was forwarded to the Earl of Dalhousie, 4th December, 1845, which has now been three months under the consideration of the Lords of the Treasury and Board of Trade.
These labours were in addition to the arduous and responsible duties of Her Majesty's Treasurer for the Colonial, Consular and Diplomatic services in China, which were rendered extremely harassing and anxious by the departure in China from the clear and positive instructions of the Lords of the Treasury; by the diffi- culty of procuring proper clerks-or by their death and absence from illness; and by the frequent recurrence of a depressing climactic disease, which at one period nearly proved fatal. My accounts, with their voluminous vouchers, were all passed as complete and correct by the Auditor-General, previous to my departure from the colony; and they have been found accurate in their detailed payments and balances, by the Commissioners for auditing the public accounts, excepting two items amounting to less than three pounds sterling, on which further explanation is required from the colony.
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The following announcement appeared in the Government Gazette of Hong Kong, two days after my departure from the island; since then I understand it has been proposed to nominate me as the representative of the Anglo-Chinese mer- chants in England. Although I differ with them respecting the opium trade, I felt bound to declare to Lord Aberdeen that a more honourable, patriotic, and public- spirited class of men than the British merchants in China, is not to be found in any part of the world.
"A Government notification in to-day's 'Mail' announces the resignation of Mr. Montgomery Martin, who is already on his way to England, having taken his passage by the Lanrick' for Bombay. During the short period he held the office of Colonial Treasurer, this gentleman, by his affability and obliging disposition, and his readiness to communicate from his varied stores of knowledge, was so generally known and appreciated by the community, that any eulogium upon him would be superfluous. His residence in China will no doubt have furnished materials for an additional work to the many he has produced on our colonial history; and most people here will be anxious to see the views he gives to the world upon the rela- tions of Great Britain with China, and the prospects of the colony of Hong Kong." -China Mail, Hong Kong, 10th July, 1845.
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It may be added that I caused iny Analysis of the Bible" to be translated into the Chinese language for general circulation.
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REPORTS, MINUTES AND DESPATCHES
SIR,
ON THE
BRITISH POSITION AND PROSPECTS
IN
CHINA.
RESPECTING HONG KONG.
No. 1.--To his Excellency J. F. Davis, Governor of Hong Kong.
At sea, lat. 27 N. East coast of China,
July 24, 1844, on board “ Syed Khan." I HAVE the honour to lay before your Excellency the accompany- ing report on the Island of Hong Kong, which I had just completed when I was seized with the recent severe attack of illness which obliged me to proceed to sea*.
The documentary appendix will not be ready until after my return to Hong Kong. The facts contained in the report are, however, sufficiently conclusive for the formation of a judgment on the present or prospective value of the colony; and I have to solicit the favour of your Excellency transmitting the report to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, as I believe no report on Hong Kong has yet been laid before Her Majesty's Government.
Having devoted twenty years to the personal examination and study of the colonies of England, France, Spain, Portugal, and Holland, my
* The following is the certificate under which leave of absence was granted; but the leave was not taken until 12th July, when the application of many leeches saved my life, and compelled an immediate removal from Hong Kong to Macao in the Government boat :-
"I do hereby certify that Mr. R. M. Martin has been for some time past suffering from general debility, with frequent feverish attacks and threatenings of dysentery, which render it highly advisable that a temporary absence from Hong Kong should be permitted; and I do strongly advise that leave of absence should be granted to him for six weeks to proceed to sea, or the north-east coast.
(Signed) ALEX. ANDERSON, Victoria, Hong Kong, July 3, 1844."
Col. Surgeon."
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