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Lastward without having close to the narrow limits of the Parade Ground and within a few yards of the discharge of great guns, whenever the practice takes place there, because, strange to say, though the City contains upwards of 100,000 inhabitants there is, from the peculiar formation of the hills, no outlet to the East as yet except along the Parade Ground. On the other hand, your Lordship will find from the enclosed tracing that there are several Roads leading across the Wong Neichong or Happy Valley. These always afford ample means of avoiding too near a proximity to any Guns on the Peace Course.
As I perceive that Colonel Norman mentions his being precluded from taking any action in the matter by my expressing to the Commandant here an intention of referring it home, I may state that it did not occur to me to refer to him. It is probable, however, that if I had done so, some details of expense, such as the occasional hiring of boats and Coolies to move the Guns elsewhere than to the Parade Ground, would have prevented Colonel Norman from taking any final action in the matter. I think such action is now desirable because the