Encl. 2 in No. z.
Naval Reinforce-
rents.
8
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
neighbourhood, in which, with the aid of a moderate naval force, they could maintain themselves for the more healthy season of the winter against any efforts the Chinese might make for their expulsion. The possession of such a post would give a good basis for the operations of the following year, and I cannot but think that, politically, our second appearance in this manner at Chusan would be of great advantage.
24. The difficulty of supplying the troops with provisions during the winter, with a population from whom aid is not with any certainty to be expected, leads me to name only such a force for the occupation of an island post in the upper seas as would be adequate to protect themselves against attack. This force could receive addition, with the return of the favourable season, and arrangements might then be made for the more complete control and possession of the island, if the decision of Her Majesty's Government should be in favour of that proceeding.
25. Sufficient provisions must be taken from Macao and Hong-Kong to supply the troops on the island throughout the winter, independently of local resources, and the entire fleet ought to be similarly provisioned for the probable period of its absence in the upper seas.
*
*
28. After establishing a post in an island on the northern coast, it may be most convenient that a considerable portion of the fleet, with the residue of the troops, should return to Hong-Kong, to add strength to our position there during the most active season of trade.
*
*
I shall transmit a copy of this letter by the mail now under despatch, for the information of Her Majesty's Government.
(No. 40.)
Enclosure 2, in No. 2.
Honourable Sirs,
Fort William, 12 May 1841.
THE express which left this on the 22d ultimo, will have conveyed to your honourable Committee the official Gazette which contained the accounts of the brilliant successes that had attended the operations of Her Majesty's naval and military forces in the Canton waters, and had terminated in placing the important provincial capital itself at the mercy of Her Majesty's arms.
2. The Gazette in question was the only document which we were able to transmit by the last opportunity; and we now propose to lay before your honourable Committee a succinct narrative of our proceedings since the arrival of his Excellency Sir Gordon Bremer, and a précis of the various measures we have adopted to supply the wants of the China expedition; and we trust a perusal of these will satisfactorily evince to the home authorities the anxiety and earnestness with which this government has been striving to co-operate in aid of Her Majesty's Government, and for the furtherance of the public service.
3. Your honourable Committee are aware that the Honourable Company's steamer "Queen" arrived here with his Excellency Sir Gordon Bremer, on the 21st ultimo, and the "Madagascar" was announced two or three days subsequently. Both these vessels were found, on an examination of their keels and copper, to have sustained very considerable injury, and to require very extensive repair in order to render them really efficient for the important service on which they are engaged. They have accordingly been placed in dock, and every exertion is being used by the officers of the steam department to make them thoroughly fit to return to their duties without one moment's unnecessary delay. His Excellency Sir Gordon Bremer will return in the "Queen" to his headquarters, and we hope that she will leave this on the 15th instant. The "Madagascar" may be unavoidably detained for some weeks later.
4. The eminent services rendered by the Company's iron steamer "Nemesis" (which your Committee will find most fully recorded in the Gazette before alluded to), suggested to us the propriety of attaching also the "Phlegethon" and "Proserpine" to the China expedition; and the papers marginally noted will inform your Committee that we have accordingly addressed instructions to Singapore and Ceylon, desiring the commanders of these vessels to proceed to Canton, and place themselves under the orders of his Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief.
Nos. 6 to 9.
Cons.: 20th April, Nos. 71 to 73.
Ditto.
Ditto.
5. In his letter, dated the 4th of May, his Excellency Sir Gordon Bremer, informed us that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were desirous that small vessels of light draft of water should be purchased or hired for the service of the China expedition, and added, that the "Sylph", a barque of 351 tons, which had been offered to be sold for the sum of 70,000 rupees, appeared likely to prove an eligible purchase. We have requested the survey officers of our marine department to examine this vessel on her arrival in port (hourly expected), and to state whether the price is fair and reasonable. If the report of her qualifications is favourable, we shall advance the money asked for her, and charge the same as a debit to Her Majesty's Government.
6. The Company's pilot vessel "Lady William Bentinck," being at this moment unappropriated (her duties of survey in the Bay of Bengal having ceased), has been, at the especial request of Sir Gordon Bremer, properly armed and equipped, and placed at his disposal as a tender to the naval squadron in the China seas. When fully equipped she will be valued by the proper officers, and transferred to Her Majesty's service. The value, so fixed, will stand as an item of charge on the general account of the expedition, and at the end of it she will remain in Her Majesty's service, or to be restored to the Company's at her then proper value, as may be determined by the authorities.
7. Your Committee will observe, that Sir Gordon Bremer has also asked us, if we could conveniently spare the small new vessel "Hooghly," whose services as a despatch packet in the Canton waters he considers important, not only on account of her fitness for the work in question, but as allowing of the withdrawal of a heavier vessel for more active service elsewhere, which could not be otherwise done. We may comply with this request if we find we can do so without injuriously affecting the interests of our marine steam department, or seriously impeding communications with the eastern coasts of the Bay of Bengal.
8. Her Majesty's 55th Foot, at present in garrison at Fort William, and mustering upwards of 800 strong, together with the recruits of Her Majesty's 26th and 49th regiments, amounting to 400 men, are on the point of embarking to reinforce the military strength in China. Three hundred recruits for Her Majesty's 18th, or Bengal Irish, have already been despatched from Bombay, to join the headquarters of their regiments at Hong Kong. The Government of Madras have, at the same time, been requested to fill up to their original strength the detachments of artillery and sappers and miners furnished from that Presidency, and to forward the recruits of the 37th Madras Native Infantry to the corps in China. Her Majesty's 50th Foot, just arrived from New South Wales, will replace Her Majesty's 55th in the garrison of Fort William.
Officers.
Men,
9
262
Coromandel
9
242
202
4
132
29
838
9. For the conveyance of Her Majesty's 55th to China, this Government has sanctioned the engagement of the vessels named in the margin.* Their launches will be each * fitted with a six-pounder, as the arrangement has been found, from the experience of those similarly equipped last year, very efficient with reference to the nature of the service for which these transports are destined. The terms on which these vessels have been engaged are named in the margin.* We have every reason to expect that these transports will be ready for sea in 10 or 12 days.
Orient - 11/8 per ton, per mensem.
Coromandel 18/ ditto ditto.
Ermaad - 12/ ditto - ditto.
Marian - 12 ditto ditto.
10. The recruits of Her Majesty's 26th and 49th regiment will be conveyed by the three transports in which the Bengal Volunteers are returning to this country. While we are writing this paragraph, the "David Malcolm," one of the three, has been announced at the Sand Heads.
11. The Madras reinforcements will be forwarded in Her Majesty's troop ship, "Jupiter," which your Committee are aware was directed by the authorities in China to proceed to Cannanore, to be ready, in case the Indian Government should find it expedient to send a Queen's regiment from that port to China, but which vessel we subsequently desired might go round to the Madras Roads.
12. The number of camp followers indented for is marginally stated; but we are of opinion that it scarcely will be found practicable, even if it should be found upon further inquiry to be expedient, at once to meet this demand in full.
FOLLOWERS.
MEMORANDUM of NATIVE ESTABLISHMENT and CAMP FOLLOWERS ordered to be supplied to the following Corps.
CORPS
Her Majesty's 55th Regiment
Detachment, 26th ditto
Ditto - 49th ditto
TOTAL
+
Quartermasters'
Establishment.
Hospital
Servants.
Bheestres.
15
Sweepers.
Cooks.
Washermen.
Officers'
Servants,
Following
Troops.
REMARK 5.
56 54
Government has sanctioned an increase of 50 per cent, to the
70
106 19
18
27
4
27
20
B
usual pay of these!
15
18
12
7
people.
70
106 37
18
45
59
71
54
13. The précis at the conclusion of this despatch will apprize your Committee that the supplies of provisions generally seen by our latest accounts to be abundant with the China force, and the further quantities that have been procured and despatched from England and New South Wales, will, we trust, render the expedition complete in this part of its arrangements.
14. The instructions referred to in this place will show, that injunctions for a due economy Nos. 23 to 25; 34 in the regulation of our commissariat and ordnance magazines have not been overlooked. to 36, The Military Board having, with reference to the ordnance with the expedition, recommended that an officer should be appointed, who should render them regular accounts on this subject, and be responsible at the termination of the campaign in regard to the expenditure and stores of ordnance. We have requested Sir Hugh Gough to nominate some well-qualified individual to this duty.
15. Your Committee will see, by the papers here cited, that we have desired the Military Board to instruct Major Hawkins, the Deputy Commissary-General in China, to study to husband in every way his commissariat supplies, and have pointed out that real economy in his department will consist in great care in his issues, as also in making arrangements for disposing of surplus articles at moderate prices to any purchasers that may offer, in lieu of permitting them to perish in his store; and, lastly, in arranging all his requisitions in communication with the naval and military Commanders-in-Chief, so that no confusion or unnecessary charges may be involved in an ignorance on his part of what supplies or resources...
596.
B
Encl. 2 in No, z.
Naval Reinforce-
rents.
8
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
neighbourhood, in which, with the aid of a moderate naval force, they could maintain them- selves for the more healthy season of the winter against any efforts the Chinese might make for their expulsion. The possession of such a post would give a good basis for the operations of the following year, and I cannot but think that, politically, our second appearance in this manner at Chusan would be of great advantage.
24. The difficulty of supplying the troops with provisions during the winter, with a popu lation from whom aid is not with any certainty to be expected, leads me to name only such a force for the occupation of an island post in the upper seas as would be adequate to protect themselves against attack. This force could receive addition, with the return of the favourable season, and arrangements might then be made for the more complete control and possession of the island, if the decision of Her Majesty's Government should be in favour of that proceeding. 25. Sufficient provisions must be taken from Macao and Hong-Kong to supply the troops on the island throughout the winter, independently of local resources, and the entire fleet ought to be similarly provisioned for the probable period of its absence in the upper seas.
*
*
28. After establishing a post in an island on the northern coast, it may be most convenient that a considerable portion of the fleet, with the residue of the troops, should return to Hong-Kong, to add strength to our position there during the most active season of trade.
*
*
I shall transmit a copy of this letter by the mail now under despatch, for the information of Her Majesty's Government.
(No, 40.)
Enclosure 2, in No. 2.
Honourable Sirs,
Fort William, 12 May 1841. THE express which left this on the 22d ultimo, will have conveyed to your honourable Committee the official Gazette which contained the accounts of the brilliant successes that had attended the operations of Her Majesty's naval and military forces in the Canton waters, and had terminated in placing the important provincial capital itself at the mercy of Her Majesty's arms.
2. The Gazette in question was the only document which we were able to transmit by the last opportunity; and we now propose to lay before your honourable Committee a succinct narrative of our proceedings since the arrival of his Excellency Sir Gordon Bremer, and a précis of the various measures we have adopted to supply the wants of the China expedition; and we trust a perusal of these will satisfactorily evince to the home authorities the anxiety and earnestness with which this government has been striving to co-operate in aid of Her Majesty's Government, and for the furtherance of the public service.
3. Your honourable Committee are aware that the Honourable Company's steamer "Queen" arrived here with his Excellency Sir Gordon Bremer, on the 21st ultimo, and the "Madagascar" was announced two or three days subsequently. Both these vessels were found, on an examination of their keels and copper, to have sustained very considerable in- jury, and to require very extensive repair in order to render them really efficient for the im- portant service on which they are engaged. They have accordingly been placed in dock, and every exertion is being used by the officers of the stean department to make them thoroughly fit to return to their duties without one moment's unnecessary delay. His Excellency Sir Gordon Bremer will return in the "Queen" to his head quarters, and we hope that she will leave this on the 15th instant, The "Madagascar" may be unavoidably detained for some weeks later.
4. The eminent services rendered by the Company's iron steamer "Nemesis” (which your Committee will find most fully recorded in the Gazette before alluded to), suggested to Cons.: 20th April, us the propriety of attaching also the "Phlegethon" and "Proserpine" to the China expe- dition; and the papers marginally noted will inform your Committee that we have accord- ingly addressed instructions to Singapore and Ceylon, desiring the commanders of these vessels to proceed to Canton, and place themselves under the orders of his Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief.
Nos. 6 to 9.
Cons.: 20th April, Nos. 71 to 73.
Ditto.
Ditto.
5. In his letter, dated the 4th of May, his Excellency Sir Gordon Bremer, informed us that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were desirous that small vessels of light draft of water should be purchased or hired for the service of the China expedition, and added, that the "Sylph "a barque of 351 tons, which had been offered to be sold for the sum of 70,000 rupees, appeared likely to prove an eligible purchase. We have requested the survey officers of our marine department to examine this vessel ou her arrival in port (hourly expected), and to state whether the price is fair and reasonable. If the report of her quali- fications is favourable, we shall advance the money asked for her, and charge the same as a debit to Her Majesty's Government.
6. The Company's pitot vessel "Lady William Bentinck," being at this moment unappro- priated (her duties of survey in the Bay of Bengal having ceased), has been, at the especial request of Sir Gordon Bremer, properly armed and equipped, and placed at his disposal as a tender to the naval squadron in the China seas. When fully equipped she will be valued by the proper officers, and transferred to Her Majesty's service. The value, so fixed, will stand as an item of charge on the general account of the expedition, and at the end of it she will remain in Her Majesty's service, or to be restored to the Company's at her then proper value, as may be determined by the authorities.
7. Your committee will observe, that Sir Gordon Bremer has also asked us, if we could conveniently spare the small new vessel" Hooghly," whose services as a despatch packet
in
MILITARY OPERATIONS IN CHINA.
249
9
in the Canton waters he considers important, not only on account of her fitness for the work in question, but as allowing of the withdrawal of a heavier vessel for more active service elsewhere, which could not be otherwise done. We may comply with this request if we find we can do so without injuriously affecting the interests of our marine steam department, or seriously impeding of communications with the eastern coasts of the Bay of
Bengal.
8. Her Majesty's 55th Foot, at present in garrison at Fort William, and mustering upwards of 800 strong, together with the recruits of Her Majesty's 26th and 49th regiments, amounting to 400 men, are on the point of embarking to reinforce the military strength in China. Three hundred recruits for Her Majesty's 18th, or Bengal Irish, have already been despatched from Bombay, to join the head-quarters of their regiments at Hong Kong. The Government of Madras have, at the same time, been requested to fill up to their original strength the detachments of artillery and sappers and miners furnished from that Presidency, and to forward the recruits of the 37th Madras Native Infantry to the corps in China. Her Majesty's 50th Foot, just arrived from New South Wales, will replace Her Majesty's 55th in the garrison of Fort William.
Officers.
Men,
9
262
Coromandel
9
242
202
4
132
29
838
9. For the conveyance of Her Majesty's 55th to China, this Government has sanctioned the engagement of the vessels named in the margin.* Their launches will be each * fitted with a six-pounder, as the arrangement has been found, from the expe- Orient rience of those similarly equipped last year, very efficient with reference to the Ermaad nature of the service for which these transports are destined. The terms on which these vessels have been engaged are named in the margin.* We have every reason to expect that these transports will be ready for sea in 10 or 12 • Orient days.
Mariam
- 11/8 per ton, per mensen. Coromandel 18/ ditto ditto. Ermaad - 12/ ditto - ditto. Marian
- 12 ditto ditta.
10. The recruits of Her Majesty's 26th and 49th regiment will be conveyed by the three transports in which the Bengal Volunteers are returning to this country. While we are writing this paragraph, the "David Malcolm," one of the three, has been announced at the Sand Heads.
11. The Madras reinforcements will be forwarded in Her Majesty's troop ship, "Jupiter," which
your Committee are aware was directed by the authorities in China to proceed to Can- nanore, to be ready, in case the Indian Government should find it expedient to send a Queen's regiment from that port to China, but which vessel we subsequently desired might go round to the Madras Ronds.
12. The number of camp followers indented for is marginally stated; but we are of opinion that it scarcely will be
found practicable, even
if it should be found upon further inquiry
to be expedient, at once
to meet this demand in
full.
FOLLOWERS.
MEMORANDUM of NATIVE ESTABLISHMENT and CAMP FOLLOWERS ordered to be supplied to the following Corps.
CORPS
Her Majesty's 55th Regiment
Detachment, 26th ditto
Ditto
-
49th ditto
TOTAL
+
Quartermasters'
Establishment.
Hospital
Servants.
Bheestres.
15
Siveepers.
Cooks.
Washermen.
Officers'
Servants,
Following
Troops.
REMARK 5.
56 54
Government has sanctioned an increase of 50 per cent, to the
70
106 19
18
27
4
27
20
B
usual pay of these!
15
18
12
7
people.
70
106 37
18
45
59
71
54
13. The précis at the conclusion of this despatch will apprize your Committee that the supplies of provisions generally seen by our latest accounts to be abundant with the China force, and the further quantities that have been procured and despatched from England and New South Wales, will, we trust, render the expedition complete in this part of its arrangements.
14. The instructions referred to in this place will show, that injunctions for a due economy Nos. 23 to 25; 34
in the regulation of our commissariat and ordnance magazines have not been overlooked. to 36, The Military Board having, with reference to the ordnance with the expedition, recom- mended that an officer should be appointed, who should render them regular accounts on this subject, and be responsible at the termination of the campaign in regard to the expen- diture and stores of ordnance. We have requested Sir Hugh Gough to nominate some well qualified individual to this duty.
15. Your Committee will see, by the papers here cited, that we have desired the Military Board to instruct Major Hawkins, the Deputy Commissary-General in China, to study to husband in every way his commissariat supplies, and have pointed out that real economy in his department will consist in great care in bis issues, as also in inaking arrangements for disposing of surplus articles at moderate prices to any purchasers that may offer, in lieu of permitting them to perish in his store; and, lastly, in arranging all his requisitions in com- munication with the naval and military Commanders-in-Chief, so that no confusion or unnecessary charges may be involved in an ignorance on his part of what supplies or
596.
B
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