253
17
No. 11.
The Secret Committee to the Governor-General of India,
4 October 1841.
16
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
disembark on the Peiho river a body of not less than from 7,000 to 10,000 troops, which shall have the means of marching on Pekin, and be capable of defeating any army that may be opposed to it, and thus placing the fate of the capital at our disposal.
10. It will be for Her Majesty's Government most seriously to consider this important subject, and to place the government of India in possession of their instructions upon it, at latest, before the 1st January next, in order that timely measures may be taken for the execution of such orders during the season of 1842. I have before said that I would make no effort to obtain privileges of settlement on the mainland, which I should regard as a pregnant source of future embarrassment and troubles. But a clear treaty with the Emperor is, no doubt, an object of high national importance, and Her Majesty's Government can alone determine whether it may be proper to incur the sacrifices required for compelling an acquiescence in such a treaty.
11. I repeat that definitive orders on these points should be received in India before the 1st of January. It may then be possible (unless, indeed, new and extraordinary necessities should arise in India) to raise in this country, in augmentation of the armament already sent to China, and to have assembled at Hong-Kong, by the commencement of the favourable season, a fresh body of 5,000 native troops, with a sufficient number of officers, for this special service, and to add to them another Queen's regiment from the Indian establishments; such a reinforcement to the force already on the coast would, we may hope (provided that every regiment now in China shall be also filled up with recruits from England to a complement of 1,000 men), render it effective for the complete accomplishment of the orders of the Crown. The cost of such an additional armament, with transports, commissariat, &c., would, however, certainly not be less than 500,000l. per annum, and it would swell the whole yearly cost of that part of the expedition which is provided by the Government of India to nearly 1,200,000 l.
12. As the greater part of this further force, supposing it to be sanctioned, would consist of native troops, its supply of provisions would be cared for from India. But it would be necessary, under any circumstances, to send as liberal a supply of provisions, and of ammunition and materials, as may be convenient from England, for the navy and the European portion of the military force, and for the general use of the expedition. I have not the means of furnishing accurate estimates on these points, to which I would, however, request the careful and early attention of the proper departments at home, which may be able to form some standard for their guidance by reference to the stocks which they caused to be forwarded to China for the service of the past and of the present year.
18. I have said nothing in this despatch on the subject of naval forces, and would leave it to the Naval Commander-in-Chief to declare, in his communications to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, his wants in regard to ships and equipments. I would, however, observe that, upon a coast service, and in seas so uncertain as are those of China, we must look for frequent accidents, and that no opportunity should be lost in sending out reinforcements, particularly in ships of light draft, and adapted to river movements; and, in the event of protracted operations, I would strongly dwell upon the advantage of our having more ships fitted out, and equipped, and officered, and manned, as are the "Jupiter" and "Rattlesnake,” expressly for the conveyance of troops; with two or three more of such ships, we might probably, with economy, dispense with a large number of the transports now held in pay, and for the security of navigation and safety of the troops, as well as for the efficiency of the service, the measure appears to me to be most desirable.
-No. 11.
Copy of a LETTER from the Secret Committee to the Governor-General of India in Council.
4 October 1841. (Despatched by mail of same date.)
CONSIDERING the smallness of the force with which the campaign was commenced this year in China, and the advanced period of the season at which the reinforcements sent from India were expected to arrive, we cannot but entertain the apprehension that the present campaign will not produce any decisive results,
2. Under these circumstances, after conferring with Her Majesty's Ministers, we think it necessary to give you immediate instructions with respect to the scale on which the war with China should be conducted in 1842.
3. We do not think that it would be advisable to withdraw from India, for service in the China Seas, any larger amount of European troops than that now employed there; but you will either continue to employ on that service the four Queen's regiments now engaged in operations against China, namely, the 18th, the 26th, the 49th, and the 55th, or, if you should see reason to relieve any one or more of those regiments, you will supply the place of the force relieved by other Queen's troops to an equal amount.
4. We understand that there are now at the depôts of these regiments, belonging to the 18th, 70 men; to the 26th, 398; to the 49th, 133; and to the 55th, 41; in all, 642 men.
5. These, together with any further number of recruits which may be obtained by those regiments before December, will, in that month, be sent direct to Singapore, where we trust that they will arrive by the second week in April 1842.
6. We have carefully considered the strength and distribution of the native army, according to the last returns in our possession, and we are of opinion that one complete regiment (of volunteers) from Bengal, and three complete regiments from Madras, may be employed in operations on the coast of China; and we direct that this force shall be so employed in 1842; not precluding you, however, from employing on that service a larger force of native troops, should you be of opinion that a larger force of those troops can be drawn from India.
7. The limited number of Queen's regiments which can be detached on that service necessarily imposes some limit upon the amount of native troops which can be employed in conjunction with them. We do not think it advisable that the number of native troops employed on the coast of China should exceed the proportion of two-thirds to the number of Her Majesty's troops engaged in that service.
8. The observance of this proportion will limit to eight regiments of native infantry the force which we should deem it expedient so to employ; but within this limit you will consider yourselves authorized to employ any amount of such native troops which you may be of opinion that you can detach with safety.
9. You will understand that the object of Her Majesty's Government, and ours, is to make as great an effort in 1842 as our means will permit, in the hope and expectation that such effort, directed according to the instructions which will be hereafter transmitted by Her Majesty's Government, will have the effect of compelling the Chinese Government to accede to terms of peace, honourable to Her Majesty, and conducive to the future security of British trade.
10. In addition to the troops above-mentioned, you will so increase the strength of the artillery, sappers and miners, now employed in China, as to make it in proportion to the increased strength of the army, and to enable the Commander-in-Chief, without weakening the crews of Her Majesty's ships, to occupy in sufficient force the islands of Wang-tong and Hong-Kong; and as we look forward to the probability of its being found expedient to occupy, not temporarily, but for a lengthened period, at least one other island, which will require for its defence a considerable number of guns, we desire that you will advert to this circumstance, and make provision accordingly, both of men and of guns of a heavy calibre, and of mortars.
11. As at present advised, we are of opinion that a force of artillery, sappers and miners, amounting to 750 men, would be found sufficient, in addition to some force of that description, which we are informed it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to send from this country.
12. You will further embark for service with the army in China, 500 gun Lascars, and at least four light pieces of horse artillery, four or six pounders. Two horses should be sent for each gun, with a small reserve, so that each man might be always so drawn. The Lascars, aided by seamen and soldiers on fatigue, assisted by any animals the country may furnish, will draw the ammunition not carried on the limbers. The light guns should each have 200 rounds of spherical case-shot. Inquiry will be made whether you have such shot for the lightest calibre of field guns, which should be that preferred; and if you have not, it will be sent from hence. The Lascars and light horse artillery you will send from Madras. A part of the rocket troop will be sent from hence, with a supply of shot, rockets, and half a company of artillery, with six iron twenty-four pounders, and platforms for them, and 100 rounds of ammunition for each gun.
596.
C
13. You...
253
17
No. 11.
The Secret Com- mittee to the Governor-General
of India,
4 October 1841.
16
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
disembark on the Peiho river a body of not less than from 7,000 to 10,000 troops, which shall have the means of marching on Pekin, and be capable of defeating any army that may be opposed to it, and thus placing the fate of the capital at our disposal.
10. It will be for Her Majesty's Government most seriously to consider this impor- tant subject, and to place the government of India in possession of their instruc- tions upon it, at latest, before the 1st January next, in order that timely measures I have may be taken for the execution of such orders during the season of 1842. before said that I would make no effort to obtain privileges of settlement on the mainland, which I should regard as a pregnant source of future embarrassment and troubles. But a clear treaty with the Emperor is, no doubt, an object of high national importance, and Her Majesty's Government can alone determine whether it
to incur the sacrifices required for compelling an acquiescence may be proper in such a treaty.
11. I repeat that definitive orders on these points should be received in India before the 1st of January. It may then be possible (unless, indeed, new and extraordinary necessities should arise in India) to raise in this country, in augmen- tation of the armament already sent to China, and to have assembled at Hong- Kong, by the commencement of the favourable season, a fresh body of 5,000 native troops, with a sufficient number of officers, for this special service, and to add to them another Queen's regiment from the Indian establishments; such a reinforce- ment to the force already on the coast would, we may hope (provided that every regiment now in China shall be also filled up with recruits from England to a com- plement of 1,000 men), render it effective for the complete accomplishment of the orders of the Crown. The cost of such an additional armament, with transports, commissariat, &c., would, however, certainly not be less than 500,0001. per annum, and it would swell the whole yearly cost of that part of the expedition which is provided by the Government of India to nearly 1,200,000 7.
12. As the greater part of this further force, supposing it to be sanctioned, would consist of native troops, its supply of provisions would be cared for from India. But it would be necessary, under any circumstances, to send as liberal a supply of provisions, and of ammunition and materials, as may be convenient from England, for the navy and the European portion of the military force, and for the general use of the expedition. I have not the means of furnishing accurate csti- mates on these points, to which I would, however, request the careful and carly attention of the proper departments at home, which may be able to form some standard for their guidance by reference to the stocks which they caused to be for- warded to China for the service of the past and of the present year.
*
*
**
*
18. I have said nothing in this despatch on the subject of naval forces, and would leave it to the Naval Commander-in-Chief to declare, in his communica- tions to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, his wants in regard to ships and equipments. I would, however, observe that, upon a coast service, and in seas so uncertain as are those of China, we must look for frequent accidents, and that no opportunity should be lost in sending out reinforcements, particularly in ships of light draft, and adapted to river movements; and, in the event of protracted operations, I would strongly dwell upon the advantage of our having more ships fitted out, and equipped, and officered, and manned, as are the "Jupiter" and "Rattlesnake,” expressly for the conveyance of troops; with two or three more of such ships, we might probably, with economy, dispense with a large number of the transports now held in pay, and for the security of naviga- tion and safety of the troops, as well as for the efficiency of the service, the measure appears to me to be most desirable.
-No. 11.
Cory of a LETTER from the Secret Committee to the Governor-General of India in Council.
4 October 1841. (Despatched by mail of same date.) CONSIDERING the smallness of the force with which the campaign was com- menced this year in China, and the advanced period of the season at which the reinforcements sent from India were expected to arrive, we cannot but entertain the apprehension that the present campaign will not produce any deci- sive results,
2. Under
MILITARY OPERATIONS IN CHINA.
2. Under these circumstances, after conferring with Her Majesty's Ministers, we think it necessary to give you immediate instructions with respect to the scale on which the war with China should be conducted in 1842.
3. We do not think that it would be advisable to withdraw from India, for service in the China Scas, any larger amount of European troops than that now employed there; but you will either continue to employ on that service the four Queen's regiments now engaged in operations against China, namely, the 18th, the 26th, the 49th, and the 55th, or, if you should see reason to relieve any one or more of those regiments, you will supply the place of the force relieved by other Queen's troops to an equal amount.
4. We understand that there are now at the depôts of these regiments, belong- ing to the 18th, 70 men; to the 26th, 398; to the 49th, 133; and to the 55th, 41; in all, 642 men.
5. These, together with any further number of recruits which may be obtained by those regiments before December, will, in that month, be sent direct to Singapore, where we trust that they will arrive by the second week in April 1842. 6. We have carefully considered the strength and distribution of the native army, according to the last returns in our possession, and we are of opinion that one complete regiment (of volunteers) from Bengal, and three complete regi- ments from Madras, may be employed in operations on the coast of China; and we direct that this force shall be so employed in 1842; not precluding you, how- ever, from employing on that service a larger force of native troops, should you be of opinion that a larger force of those troops can be drawn from India.
7. The limited number of Queen's regiments which can be detached on that service necessarily imposes some limit upon the amount of native troops which can be employed in conjunction with them. We do not think it advisable that the number of native troops employed on the coast of China should exceed the proportion of two-thirds to the number of Her Majesty's troops engaged in that
service.
8. The observance of this proportion will limit to eight regiments of native infantry the force which we should deem it expedient so to employ; but within this limit you will consider yourselves authorized to employ any amount of such native troops which you may be of opinion that you can detach with safety.
9. You will understand that the object of Her Majesty's Government, and ours, is to make as great an effort in 1842 as our means will permit, in the hope and expectation that such effort, directed according to the instructions which will be hereafter transmitted by Her Majesty's Government, will have the effect of compelling the Chinese Government to accede to terms of peace, honourable to Her Majesty, and conducive to the future security of British trade.
10. In addition to the troops above-mentioned, you will so increase the strength of the artillery, sappers and miners, now employed in China, as to make it in proportion to the increased strength of the army, and to enable the Commander- in-Chief, without weakening the crews of Her Majesty's ships, to occupy in sufficient force the islands of Wang-tong and Hong-Kong; and as we look forward to the probability of its being found expedient to occupy, not tempora- rily, but for a lengthened period, at least one other island, which will require for its defence a considerable number of guns, we desire that you will advert to this circumstance, and make provision accordingly, both of men and of guns of a heavy calibre, and of mortars.
11. As at present advised, we are of opinion that a force of artillery, sappers and miners, amounting to 750 men, would be found sufficient, in addition to some force of that description, which we are informed it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to send from this country.
12. You will further embark for service with the army in China, 500 gun Lascars, and at least four light pieces of horse artillery, four or six pounders. Two horses should be sent for each gun, with a small reserve, so that each man might be always so drawn. The Lascars, aided by seamen and soldiers on fatigue, assisted by any animals the country may furnish, will draw the ammunition not carried on the limbers. The light guns should each have 200 rounds of spherical case-shot. Inquiry will be made whether you have such shot for the lightest calibre of field guns, which should be that preferred; and if you have not, it will be sent from hence. The Lascars and light horse artillery you will send from Madras. A part of the rocket troop will be sent from hence, with a supply of shot, rockets, and half a company of artillery, with six iron twenty-four pounders, and platforms for them, and 100 rounds of ammunition for each gun.
596.
C
13. You
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