426
it is now no
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE RESIGNATION
tion may possess, I stake it on the question raised whether Hong Kong or Chusan ought to be the seat of British power in China. I am supported in the views I have taken by Major-General D'Aguilar, by Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, by Brigadier Chesney, by Commissary-general Coffin, by Colonel Campbell, of Her Majesty's 98th, by the chief medical officer, the principal Military Engineer, and by the frank avowal of the French Admiral, and by the United States special Ambassador, that Hong Kong was valueless as a trading emporium, as a military post, or as a colony of any European nation. That Mr. Davis, first opposed my views as to Hong Kong, and that he has thus expressed himself to Lord Stanley; in this he was supported by the Colonial Secretary and Auditor, connected with Government to prevent the recurrence of their desire.
I believe but since Mr. Davis visited Chusan in September, his views of that place have materially changed, and since the recent illness of Mr. Bruce and Mr. Shelley, their sentiments are much altered. Almost every one here has bought building allotments, or own houses, from which they derive a large rental, and they are therefore very adverse to any diminution of Government expenditure, or to any transfer of the seat of Government to Chusan. My letters to Mr. Trevelyan (which I hope he will show you, as the closing post leaves me no time for detail) will indicate the danger we are in of another war with China.
The war party are now the cabinet at Pekin; Muchangah, the person most opposed to Europeans, is prime minister; and one of his first measures was the degradation of Keying, on account of his having betrayed the interests of the Chinese Empire to "Barbarians." I have shown, I think, how the possession of Chusan would save the fearful calamity of another war.
If no effort be made to retain Chusan permanently (although I feel confident it can be done without any breach of treaty), then I respectfully submit there can be no necessity for the British Government expending 100,000l. per annum for mere civil purposes on this barren rock, while the utmost amount of revenue to be raised cannot exceed 10,000l. a year. If any great future object is to be attained, then let the present large expenditure of blood and treasure go on, and I, for one, will submit to be a cheerful victim for my country's welfare. But I am prepared to prove there can be no justifiable grounds for spending here nearly half a million sterling from the resources of the British Exchequer, and if I do not prove this, let the loss of my official position in Her Majesty's service be the penalty.
With the view of placing before Lord Stanley the information I have obtained, I respectfully solicit from his Lordship leave of absence to proceed overland to England, the leave not to exceed six months, and the journey to be defrayed at my own cost. Should I not demonstrate to his Lordship's complete satisfaction, that I was perfectly justified in soliciting this leave, let me be dismissed from Her Majesty's service. My duties may be performed by the Commissariat during my absence, as they were before my arrival, or Mr. Mercer, the Governor's private secretary, shall receive half my salary as locum tenens.
I am aware of the labour, risk, expense, and above all, the danger I incur of Lord Stanley's displeasure; but confiding in the justness of my views, I will gladly submit to any penalty which may be the forfeiture of my failure. It will add to the obligations you have conferred on me, if the answer to this request be transmitted by the ensuing mail which leaves England for China after your receipt of this letter. General D'Aguilar, and the Attorney-general, are favourable to my being permitted leave of absence for six months, to lay my statements before Lord Stanley; but General D'Aguilar is of opinion that Mr. Davis would not grant me the leave I seek, as I would be enabled then by viva voce, to substantiate my own views; for this reason, I have not applied to Mr. Davis, with whom, however, I am on the most friendly terms.
The treaty provides for the cession of Chusan to the Chinese Government on 25 December 1845; there is therefore no time to be lost on the subject. But if I receive an answer to this letter in April or in May, I would be able to reach England in time to allow of instructions being sent to Mr. Davis, not to restore Chusan until the final decision of Her Majesty's Government be known.
I have little doubt that Mr. Davis will become convinced that Chusan alone can be the depository of the British power in China.
Should Lord Stanley not be pleased to comply with my request for six months' leave of absence, and that Chusan be restored to the Chinese, then there can be no necessity for retaining a treasurer here, and incurring a charge of several thousand a year, when the whole of my duties may be transferred to the Commissariat Department. The abolition of my office may with public advantage take place.
I say this in perfect sincerity, as I have never permitted my own interests to interfere with what might be conducive to the advantage of the State. I shall therefore have to rely on Lord Stanley's goodness, and entreat his transfer of me to some other position. Here, as a mere cashier of the sums required by the Colonial and Consular services, I could be of no use to Her Majesty's Government, and I cannot conscientiously receive 1,200l. per annum, when I am incapacitated by my position from serving the Crown, or of doing aught which may be creditable to myself.
I remain, &c. (signed) R. M. Martin.
OF MR. M. MARTIN, TREASURER OF HONG KONG.
(No. 44.)
No. 5.
EXTRACT of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir J. F. Davis, Bart., to Lord Stanley; dated Victoria, Hong Kong, 25 April 1845.
No. 5.
IN despatch No. 66, of the 17th December, your Lordship desires me to furnish a report as to the points on which I dissent from the views stated by Mr. Martin, in a paper of observations which I forwarded at that gentleman's request.
By His objections to Hong Kong are founded on an apprehension of its peculiar unhealthiness, the improbability of raising a local revenue, and its inutility as a Colony, or as an entrepôt for trade; I shall endeavour to show that his statements were exaggerated and partial, and I am still of opinion that Mr. Martin wrote under a feeling of strong prejudice, founded in apprehensions for his personal health, regarding which he is remarkably sensitive, and on account of which he has had more leave of absence than any individual in the service. Your Lordship will have observed in that gentleman's paper, that he suggests the expediency of his being provided for in some other colony.
(No. 85.)
No. 6.
COPY of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir J. F. Davis, Bart., to Lord Stanley.
Victoria, Hong Kong, 24 June 1845.
My Lord,
WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 97, of March 25th, forwarding copy of a letter from Mr. Martin to the Under-secretary of State; I beg to observe, that my despatch No. 44, of April 25th, will have anticipated much that I might have said in answer to that letter, although the nature of some of its statements requires a specific notice.
Mr. Martin commences with the climate, observing, however, that "the mortality has not been so extensive as last year." Among the victims to sickness before he wrote, he enumerates myself, whom your Lordship may deem competent to deny the fact; and to add, that I never for a single day was unequal to my work.
It is singular, that of a list of other official persons whom he enumerates as labouring under attacks that render persons "utterly unfit for longer residence, if mental or bodily labour be required," the whole number are now at their duties. These are, the Chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary, the Auditor, the Surveyor general, and the Clerk of the Works.
Mr. Martin, not being able to obtain a sick certificate, addressed to me the enclosed application for leave of absence on other grounds, which by my answer also enclosed, I informed him, did not justify the abandonment of his duties without leave from home.
The Colonial Regulations are quite clear on this point, as your Lordship is aware.
Mr. Martin has altogether misunderstood his position, as I have endeavoured to show him in my reply to his letter enclosed herewith. A steady adherence to his own duties as Treasurer would have prevented that restlessness which has kept him moving perpetually between this and one or other of the points on the coast, with no other result than the accumulation of arrears in his work, and the creation of such crude theories as these scampering visits of a few days could afford.
I have before observed to your Lordship, that a comparison between Chusan and Hong Kong is mere loss of time, unless the former place were still at our disposal. Mr. Martin has not yet explained how it could be retained without a breach of treaty, after all the Chinese indemnity shall have been received.
It would have been well had Mr. Martin taken less liberty with others' opinions as the alleged supporters of his own. He even states that my views had changed after a visit to Chusan, a place with which I was perfectly well acquainted before. He very improperly observes, that the sentiments of Messrs. Bruce and Shelley on a public question had been altered by "a recent illness;"
Page 743
No. 5.