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the 24th April ultimo, on the manifold difficulties now arising from the want of foresight displayed by the first occupiers of Hongkong, in neglecting the proper laying out of the town, and proper sanitary arrangements, I added: "Perhaps the strangest fact of all is that the first Military founders of what has been called "the Gibraltar of the East", reserved no adequate space for the necessary barracks, magazines, and other Military buildings, which, as all now agree, should have been concentrated within a single fortified enceinte, with ample space for parade and drill grounds, and other necessary appurtenances. On the contrary, buildings were scattered over a wide extent on the shore of the harbour and on the slopes of the hills above it; and Chinese houses, partly of wood, have been allowed to be erected between and around them; of course, vastly increasing the risk of fire, and endangering the health of the soldiers. Indeed, the barracks are so isolated from each other that, as it has been often remarked, it is quite possible that a part