of the Governor
should come
within the conditions defined in the Dr. Leet of the Naval Defence
Bet.
On the 25 Jan, the Admiralty
stated that their Lordships were of the opinion that the Employment of Gunboats under the Col defence act
suggested would not be under authority, so divided that in
practice it would not work
well
that the Gunboats should
be wholly at the disposal
of the
Admiral
or
wholly under the Orders of the Governor (the latter alternative being exactly what
was beyond the 3 miles would be important
and
this Dept. wished to prevent,
for which the Col defence Act
was relieved
from dis) - Their Lordships
would therefore desire Admiral King
to commission two more Gunboats for the suppression of piracy
if he had any
in reserve
fit for
the
service
and would defer
consideration of the question of
Colonial Armed Steamer
until the Government of Hong Kong
made
some further proposal on the Subject.
On the 14 April, Sir
N. I1⁄2 having had this correspondence referred to him,
said
that as the financial condition of the Colony
was
critical
he could not recommend
to the Council that the Colony
should defray
the cost of 2
Gunboats - although it would
be "most wise
that if
a useful Expenditure
were undertaken
it must