*
CONFIDENTIAL.
basteru
No X II +
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PELLI C.O. 882
1
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Sir H. Gough to
Sir H. Pottinger,
August 29, 1842.
Sir H. Pottinger
Sir H. Gough, October 16, 1842.
Lord Stanley to
Lord Saltoun,
to
January 31, 1843.
Colonial Office,
November 3, 1843.
ON the termination of hostilities in China, a difference of opinion arose between Sir Hugh Gough and Sir Henry Pottinger, as to the amount of military force which should be left for the protection of the places to be occupied by Her Majesty's troops. Sir Hugh Gough thought it necessary to leave 4,560 men, 2,595 Europeans, and 1,965 Indian troops; of whom, 1,150 Europeans and 550 Indians were appointed to garrison Hong Kong. Sir Henry Pottinger, on the other hand, recommended that the force should be limited at the outside (while we retained Chusan and Koolongsoo), to something about 2,500 of all arms, of whom 1,000 might be required to garrison Hong Kong.
The explanation of this difference of opinion between those two authorities, lies in the opposite views which they respectively Sir Hugh took of the character of the Chinese Government. Gough, distrusting the Chinese authorities, thought that "the best mode of carrying through what had been effected, would be to maintain an imposing force at the points, on the re-occupation of which the Chinese seemed to set so much value;" while Sir Henry Pottinger was convinced that no grounds whatever existed for suspecting that the Chinese authorities did not desire to preserve the peace which had been happily established.
With regard to the naval force to be stationed in the Chinese seas, Sir Henry Pottinger entirely concurred in Sir William Parker's opinion, that such force should consist of,—-
One line-of-battle ship, but not permanently;
Two frigates;
Three sloops;
Two steamers; and
Three or four troop-ships. '
Lord Stanley provisionally sanctioned the arrangements pro- posed by Sir Hugh Gough; and, at the same time, directed that an officer of the Royal Engineers should be sent from this country to Hong Kong:-
1st. To make a survey of that island;
2nd. To report what works he might consider necessary for its defence; and
3rdly. To construct such buildings as he, subject to the decision of Sir Henry Pottinger and of Lord Saltoun, might deem absolutely and immediately requisite.
Major Aldrich, who was selected for this service, arrived at Hong Kong about the middle of June last; and having found that
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