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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

TEC.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

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the Governor had already made arrangements for placing the troops in cantonments, according to the Indian mode of location, on the site of the future City of Victoria, on the northern side of the island, and that lands were in progress of being disposed of "in every direction;" he lost no time in calling the attention of Lord Saltoun to the arrangements which should be made for the immediate accommodation of the troops, and for the defence of the island, pending the decision, by the Home Government, of the question as to the future military establishment of the colony.

The first of these objects Major Aldrich proposed to attain by a Major Aldrich to different appropriation of existing barracks and storehouses, and Lord Saltoun, by the immediate purchase of two or three private buildings, June 28, 1843. which would not, however, of course, supersede the necessity of providing further buildings for the accommodation and use of the military departments, according to the establishment and wants of the garrison.

With respect to the defence of the island, it appeared to Major Aldrich, that the nature of the ground will not admit of the site of the future city being regularly inclosed, or directly defended by military works; and he, therefore, proposed to give to the present cantonment, traced out by Sir Henry Pottinger, the character of a permanent field position, affording flanking fire from batteries, east and west, for the protection of the city on those sides.

The strength of the defence which that position would afford for the protection of the city, will, however, mainly rest upon the occupation of the position being confined entirely to the garrison and military departments. This would not interfere with the Governor's plans. "In a few words," says Major Aldrich, “a defensive district, including all necessary commissariat and ord- nance supplies and water, and wholly confined in occupation to persons under the restraint of military discipline, constitutes that which I consider it essentially necessary to possess in the occupa- tion of any colony."

With respect to the wants of the navy, it appeared to Major Aldrich that whatever buildings this branch of Her Majesty's service may require, should be placed within the position of the town; and that it will not be impossible to do so, if the navy should be satisfied with hospital accommodation, a moderate store- room, a shed for coals on a wharf, and a residence for a navy clerk in charge.

Sir Henry Pottinger, to whom Lord Saltoun communicated Sir H. Pottinger to Major Aldrich's report, professed himself quite ready to admit the Lord Saltoun," July 4, 1843. advantages of that officer's plan of defence, viewed purely in a military light; but doubted whether it was that which was best calculated to afford general protection to the City of Victoria, as a future great emporium of commerce.

The plan which Sir Henry Pottinger had sketched in his own mind, long before he had heard of Major Aldrich's coming to China, was to place the troops in the cantonments now allotted to them, to establish the naval branch of the service at Navy Bay, to the west of the city, to protect the Lye-mun passage (which forms the entrance from the east to the harbour of Victoria) by a battery, and a barrack to contain 100 men,--and to protect the principal entrance to the harbour from the west by a much stronger fortification, and by such batteries as might effectually prevent a ship from forcing a passage. The Queen's road fifty feet wide, fronting the sea, and running, or intended to run, the whole length of the city, would have afforded the means of rapidly moving troops and guns to the points where they might be

Major Aldrich to Lord Salioun, July, 1843.

Sir Wm. Parker to Lord Saltoun,

July 15, 1843,

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required. A frontage was to have been reserved for shops and warehouses on each side of the Queen's road, with other streets running off at right angles. The public buildings were to have been placed on Government Hill, and the military buildings, officers' quarters, mess rooms, &c., within the limits of the canton- ment. "Your Lordship," as Sir Henry Pottinger then observes to Lord Saltoun," will at once perceive that I have never contem- plated the practicability of any part of this colony being so strengthened by works, or otherwise, as to render it tenable even for a single day after the anchorage shall be in the hands of an enemy. It appears to me, that the safety of this colony, from external foes, must always depend upon a sufficient naval force being kept up; and so far as China is concerned, I conceive that a very small one, comparatively speaking, will long suffice."

Upon these grounds, and looking to the outlay already incurred for military buildings, Sir Henry Pottinger did not feel himself at liberty to sanction Major Aldrich's proposals, especially as he had reason for believing that the expense of carrying them into effect would be very considerable; one of the buildings which Major Aldrich recommended should be purchased, having cost the owner 10,000Z.

In answer to Sir Henry Pottinger's objections, Major Aldrich reported to Lord Saltoun, 1st. That he was fully satisfied, on further consideration, of the advantages of the plan of internal defence proposed by himself. 2ndly. That he had no evidence in the nature or existence of permanent barracks, or military works, to show that the outlay on them had been very consider. able; the actual amount was 32,4461.; the great expense to which the Government was subject was in providing temporary buildings (7,8761. already expended); but that whatever might be the amount of force stationed at Hong Kong, it was absolutely necessary to provide much more accommodation than exists at present. 3rdly. That the three private buildings, which it was desirable to purchase, having cost the owners respectively 7,000/., 4,0001, and 8001., the Government would, in paying for them, only incur an additional small expenditure beyond what they would have to disburse in order to procure the same accommoda- tion which two of those buildings would afford; and 4thly. That the

expense of inclosing the cantonment would not be much more (independently of the purchase of the buildings) than erecting retaining-walls to form the ground for building upon.

Proceeding then to advert to the external defence of the future city, Major Aldrich divides his observations on that subject under the heads of North external defences and South external defences. Under the first head, he states his belief that if it be decided to build an extensive dock-yard in Hong Kong, it will be impos- sible to find space for one within the north cantonment; and that such a site must be sought for in a bay outside of this canton-

ment.

Sir William Parker is of opinion, that of all the sites, (Lye- mun Pass, Stone-cutter's Island, Chuck-pye-wan, Navy Bay, Middle Stores,) which have at different times been contemplated for the purpose, Middle Stores, the place in which some of the naval provisions are now temporarily deposited, would, with the addition of that adjoining, on which the military barracks are building, be infinitely superior in every point of view to any situation hitherto suggested.

Major Aldrich, however, considers that the space pointed out by the Admiral is not sufficient to contain all the buildings, store- houses, hospital, and official residences to be attached to the yard;