Adru
1
There Sass, without any buildings being wanted for "Similar Stores on there" to which I answer that the "Thindan" certainly is coequal to containing the whole of the Naval Stores likely to be squad, there are some articles such as Spars, Anchors, Chain Cables, &c., Coals, Boats, &c., which from the want of Space & other causes, can only be properly stowed ashore in order on shore, while it is absolutely necessary for the preservation in this country of many kinds of Naval Stores that they should be kept dry. The Query is, "Supposing that the Naval "Victualling Department" at West Point was abolished, could its duties be entrusted to the Army Commissariat at Hong Kong?
I think not. On the 6th Instant, 2150 Men were Victualled onboard the ships in China.
And of the present Establishment of the Company, it could be no more than sufficient to supply the wants of the Army, it follows that the number of Officers, &c., must be very much increased if the same branch of the Service were also called upon to supply the Navy. In my opinion, the increased Expense would be better applied in maintaining, as heretofore, altogether a distinct Victualling Establishment for the Navy, the nature of Accounts, the Scale of Victualling, General duties being so different.
So the
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West Question: "Whether the department of Naval Storekeeper could also be dispensed with, and the Ordnance Storekeeper directed to furnish H.M. Ships with such Stores & Munitions of War as had hitherto been supplied by the Naval Storekeeper, would the wants of the Navy be as efficiently supplied & the service equally well conducted?"
Answer
No! but it is a question well worthy of consideration whether an efficient Naval Storekeeper would not be quite capable of supplying the wants of the Ordnance, certainly I think much more so than the Ordnance Storekeeper possibly could be of supplying the Navy.
I need only beg of your Excellency to compare the number of the Ships of War, with the number of Artillery quartered at Hong Kong, which from the impossibility of fortifying the place, never can be a large garrison.
This brings me to the subject of the Splendid Barracks which have been erected for Ordnance buildings & Storehouses, which appear to me to be infinitely more capacious than ever can be required for so small a garrison as is likely to be maintained at Hong Kong, while they would be in every respect suitable for the Naval Department of the occupants.
Wherefore, for Naval Purposes, would save a large Expense