Encl. in No. 17.
26
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
enormous loss thereby occasioned to the Crown; but I have no doubt that the provisions from England can be delivered on much lower terms than any which may be procured from India; it is very desirable, however, that the bread should be packed in casks.
I have applied to the Governor-general for such supplies from India as will be necessary for the consumption of the squadron from the 1st May to the 30th August 1842, and which could not arrive from England in time to meet our wants.
The heavy losses of bread and spirits provided by the commissariat, owing to much of the former being condemned as unfit, and leakage of the latter, from the badness of the casks, has somewhat straitened our present resources; but by issuing soft bread baked from the flour of which we have a good stock, and the hope of receiving an extra quantity of spirits by the "Cornwallis," and a transport expected from Macao, I trust we shall be able to furnish the necessary allowance of those articles.
It has been the wish of the Governor-general that the victualling stores for the combined force should be provided as one general stock; but, after carefully considering this proposition, I am decidedly of opinion that it will be preferable to keep the army and navy supplies, as heretofore, separate.
Much confusion in the accounts will thus be avoided, and the General and myself will be better enabled to regulate the victualling of our respective departments with accuracy, and more effectually check an extravagant accumulation of all species.
Each service will, I am confident, be equally disposed to share their remains of stock to meet any exigency.
I am,
&c.
(signed)
W. Parker, Rear-Admiral.
MILITARY OPERATIONS IN CHINA.
-No. 18.-
Copy of a LETTER from Lord Fitzgerald & Vesci to Lord Stanley.
India Board, 6 December 1841.
258
27
No. 18.
My Lord,
I HAVE the honour to transmit, for your Lordship's information, a copy of two letters from the Governor-general of India, addressed to Sir John Hobhouse, late President of this Board, and dated respectively the 16th of September and the 16th of October last, together with their enclosures, connected with the expedition to China.
That of the 16th of September points out the necessity of sending provisions from England, and appears to require immediate attention. It was evidently intended that this letter should have reached England by the last mail from India, but it has only been received at the India Board on this morning, together with that of the 9th of October.
I have felt it right to communicate to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a copy of Lord Auckland's letter to Sir Henry Pottinger of the 9th of October, which refers to the payment for opium seized by the Chinese authorities at Canton.
I have not received any copy of the letter to Captain Kuper, mentioned in Lord Auckland's despatch to Sir William Parker of the 9th of October.
I have, &c.
(signed)
Fitzgerald & Vesci.
Enclosure in No. 18.
Enclosure in No. 17.
A DEMAND for the under-mentioned quantity of provisions required to complete Her Majesty's Naval Forces in China (amounting to 4,200 men), from the 1st September 1842 to the 28th February 1843.
Bread Spirits Flour Suet Tea Chocolate Oatmeal
Proportion for 4,200 men for 181 days.
756,000 pounds 760,200 25,987 imperial gallons 23,756 212,625 pounds 213,804 10,514 ditto 17,818
Raisins 35,437 ditto 35,836 11,812 ditto 11,878 9,919 ditto 47,512
Sugar 82,687 ditto 71,268 • 6,750 gallons 6,787
Vinegar - 5,432 ditto 6,787
Lemon Juice 3,800 pounds.
Preserved Meats.
With a proportion of Preserved Soups.
Wine for Sick.
Given under my hand at Chusan, 16 November 1841.
(signed)
Roddam Sate, Approved.
(signed)
W. Parker, Rear-Admiral.
Agent Victualler.
N. B.---There is more than a sufficient quantity of salt beef, salt pork and peas on the station to complete the squadron to the 28th February 1843.
R. S.
Honourable Sir,
(Received 6 December 1841.)
Fort William, 16 September 1841.
I HAVE the honour to enclose a copy of a despatch dated 15th instant, No. 759, and of its enclosures, from the Military Board of this Presidency; and to state that it appears to me very desirable that early measures should be taken for sending from England the provisions noted in paragraph 3 of that despatch, so as to reach Hong-Kong certainly not later than 1st July 1842.
2. It will be necessary that intimation of the orders issued upon this recommendation should be communicated to this government by the earliest possible opportunity, so that, should it not be approved, immediate measures may be taken for completing the required stock of provisions at this place. An answer to this letter cannot be received from you until about the 18th or 20th of December next, and every day will be of importance at that period of the season, for the better preparation of the necessary stock of salt meat. You will be aware, however, that the salt meat cured in India is of exceedingly inferior quality, and it is on that account especially that I would strongly urge a compliance with this suggestion for meeting the wants of the expedition from England.
3. It seems to me that all such stores should be consigned to the common use of the army and navy, and addressed to the officer of the commissariat at Hong-Kong, under whose charge the depôts now in the course of construction will probably be placed.
4. For the consumption of the force until July 1842, sanction will be given to the proposition offered by the Military Board in paragraph 4 of their letter now sent.
5. I learn also from the medical department that it is difficult to supply from Calcutta the demand for certain descriptions of medicine, and particularly of Quinine and of Dover's Powders; and I would request, therefore, that a sufficient quantity of these medicines for a force of Europeans, not fewer than 7,500 in number, serving in a country where they are peculiarly liable to intermittent fever, be sent directly from England for the use of the expedition, to the care of the superintending surgeon and medical storekeeper at Hong-Kong,
To the Right honourable Sir J. C. Hobhouse, Bart., President of the Board of Control.
I have, &c.
(signed)
Auckland.
596.
D 2
!
Encl. in No. 17.
26
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO
enormous loss thereby occasioned to the Crown; but I have no doubt that the provisions from England can be delivered on much lower terms than any which may be procured from India; it is very desirable, however, that the bread should be packed in casks.
I have applied to the Governor-general for such supplies from India as will be necessary for the consumption of the squadron from the 1st May to the 30th August 1842, and which could not arrive from England in time to meet our
wants.
The heavy losses of bread and spirits provided by the commissariat, owing to much of the former being condemned as unfit, and leakage of the latter, from the badness of the casks, has somewhat straitened our present resources; but by issuing soft bread baked from the flour of which we have a good stock, and the hope of receiving an extra quantity of spirits by the "Cornwallis," and a transport expected from Macao, I trust we shall be able to furnish the necessary allowance of those articles.
It has been the wish of the Governor-general that the victualling stores for the combined force should be provided as one general stock; but, after carefully considering this proposition, I am decidedly of opinion that it will be prefer- able to keep the army and navy supplies, as heretofore, separate.
Much confusion in the accounts will thus be avoided, and the General and myself will be better enabled to regulate the victualling of our respective depart- ments with accuracy, and more effectually check an extravagant accumulation of all species.
Each service will, I am confident, be equally disposed to share their remains of stock to meet any exigency.
am,
&c.
(signed)
W. Parker, Rear-Admiral.
MILITARY OPERATIONS IN CHINA.
-No. 18.-
Cory of a LETTER from Lord Fitzgerald & Vesci to Lord Stanley.
India Board, 6 December 1841.
258
27
No. 18.
My Lord, I HAVE the honour to transmit, for your Lordship's information, a copy of two Lord Fitzgerald letters from the Governor-general of India, addressed to Sir John Hobhouse, late and Vesci to Lord President of this Board, and dated respectively the 16th of September and the Stanley, 16th of October last, together with their enclosures, connected with the expedition
6 December 1841.+ to China.
That of the 16th of September points out the necessity of sending provisions from England, and appears to require immediate attention. It was evidently intended that this letter should have reached England by the last mail from India, but it has only been received at the India Board on this morning, together with that of the 9th of October.
I have felt it right to communicate to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a copy of Lord Auckland's letter to Sir Henry Pottinger of the 9th of October, which refers to the payment for opium seized by the Chinese authorities at Canton.
I have not received any copy of the letter to Captain Kuper, mentioned in Lord Auckland's despatch to Sir William Parker of the 9th of October.
I have, &c.
(signed)
Fitzgerald & Vesci.
Enclosure in No. 18.
Enclosure in No. 17.
A DEMAND for the under-mentioned quantity of provisions required to complete Her Majesty's Naval Forces in China (amounting to 4,200 men), from the 1st September 1842 to the 28th February 1843.
Bread Spirits
Flour
Suet
Tea Chocolate
Oatmeal
Proportion for 4,200 men for 181 days.
756,000 pounds
760,200
25,987 imperial gallons
23,756
212,625 pounds
213,804
10,514 ditto
17,818
Raisins
35,437 ditto
35,836
11,812 ditto
11,878
9,919 ditto
47,512
Sugar
82,687 ditto
71,268
•
6,750 gallons
6,787
Vinegar
-
5,432 ditto
6,787
Lemon Juice
3,800 pounds.
Preserved Meats.
With a proportion of
Preserved Soups.
Wine for Sick.
Given under
my
hand at Chusan, 16 November 1841.
(signed)
Roddam Sate,
Approved.
(signed)
W. Parker, Rear-Admiral.
Agent Victualler.
N. B.---There is more than a sufficient quantity of salt beef, salt pork and peas on the station to complete the squadron to the 28th February 1843.
R. S.
Honourable Sir,
(Received 6 December 1841.)
Fort William, 16 September 1841.
I HAVE the honour to enclose a copy of a despatch dated 15th instant, No. 759, and of its Encl. in No. 18. enclosures, from the Military Board of this Presidency; and to state that it appears to me very desirable that early measures should be taken for sending from England the provisions noted in paragraph 3 of that despatch, so as to reach Hong-Kong certainly not later than 1st July 1842.
2. It will be necessary that intimation of the orders issued upon this recommendation should be communicated to this government by the earliest possible opportunity, so that, should it not be approved, immediate measuresmay be taken for completing the required stock of provisions at this place. An answer to this letter cannot be received from you until about the 18th or 20th of December next, and every day will be of importance at that period of the season, for the better preparation of the necessary stock of salt meat. You will be aware, however, that the salt meat cured in India is of exceedingly inferior quality, and it is on that account especially that I would strongly urge a compliance with this suggestion for meeting the wants of the expedition from England.
3. It seems to me that all such stores should be consigned to the common use of the and and addressed to the officer of the commissariat at Hong-Kong, under whose army navy, charge the depôts now in the course of construction will probably be placed.
4. For the consumption of the force until July 1842, sanction will be given to the sition offered by the Military Board in paragraph 4 of their letter now sent.
propo-
5. I learn also from the medical department that it is difficult to supply from Calcutta the demand for certain descriptions of medicine, and particularly of Quinine and of Dover's Powders; and I would request, therefore, that a sufficient quantity of these medicines for a force of Europeans, not fewer than 7,500 in number, serving in a country where they are peculiarly liable to intermittent fever, be sent directly from England for the use of the expedition, to the care of the superintending surgeon and medical storekeeper at Hong- Kong,
To the Right honourable Sir J. C. Hobhouse, Bart., President of the Board of Control.
I have, &c. (signed) Auckland.
596.
D 2
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