10
56
I arranged everything within an hour after leaving Garummit to Government as needed, because in any public emergency I would not hesitate to take such steps as I might conceive best for the general interests irrespective of ordinary rules. In the despatch quoted by Mr Deans, to which the Colonial Secretary adverts, my despatch hurled defiance and was reported in No 358, armed men stood at me and another at each side of it on the boundary line. I should, therefore, have considered it inexcusable if hesitating to prevent the effusion of blood by a direct and immediate appeal to the Kowloon Authorities, I had preferred to waste three days by writing to Mr Robinson to write to the Vice Roy to write to the Mandarin.
Secy of State - 27th Augt. 1867.
358
10283/64
I am not aware that Your Grace has given me any instructions which would prevent my acting in a similar way under similar circumstances, and I may say that after the actual administration of Governments during various years, if I could not be trusted with that amount of discretion I should not be allowed to remain a day in my present post.
Secy of State - 21st Octr. 1867.
358
10283
I believe that the inconvenience resulting in Police matters from the extra amount of delay, and the impossibility of retrieving it subsequently...