advantage of this particular kind
over the Bombay Lascars. The ground,
on
which the Treasury
the Treasury concede
that British Troops
are entitled to
be paid according to the
average
value, in the London market,
of the Silver contained in the local
currency -
seem
scarcely to apply
to this particular body of Troops.
For though it is certainly true
that nearly all the
men come
from
other places than Hong Kong, and
are
therefore in
one
sense,
not
locally engaged, yet they all
come from places where
a silver
currency obtains, and have therefore
at
Page 164
at best but a very doubtful claim,
apart from prescriptive right, to the
advantage in exchange conceded to
the British Army.
It is, however, distinctly
impracticable to apply any
ruling to the men
now serving.
These men have all enlisted under
arrangements which have been in operation for a great many years, and to reduce their emoluments
or deprive them of any contingent
advantages
which may depend on
these arrangements, would be a breach
of faith. Some attempt of the
kind was made 9 years ago,
and
almost led to a
mutiny. It