378
as I think in that climate India renders able
difficulties in regard
to their triennial
relief
to them
efficiency
and
difficulties in regard to
jurisdiction, that of the Colony being I apprehend much too limited to meet the Its advantages would be,
object in view
that the Colonial Service would be
free from any interference
acquire
would
an
amount of local experience which
qualify it in
a greater degree for
performance of its duties which
virtually those of
the
would
be
a Water Police
The disadvantages of the second plan
would be that some
necessary
difficulty might be experienced in placing the vessels so
entirely under the Control of the Colonial Authorities
as would be necessary
and also in securing
that the vessels should not be taken away by the Naval Commander in Chief for
Imperial purposes
I must however observe that during
the whole period that Canton was
garrisoned by our Troops
one or more vessels were
and I believe by Sir M. Seymour appropriated
to Military service and that while in virtue
of this appropriation and in consequence of
an order
from
me to that
effect
the employment of these vessels was conducted by direct
requisition to their Commanders from the Competent Military Authorities at Canton
Haoghing without the intervention of myself
when present the Senior Naval Officer in my
or absence,
I never heard of the slightest inconvenience