8
Advocate-General, received a step of promotion and the honour of a C.B. for China.
At the time of Lord Gough's leaving Madras for China, he was in command of a division at that Presidency where my chief, Sir Samford Whittingham, was Commander-in-Chief, and who particularly requested Lord Gough “to look to the interests of his late Aide-de-Camp, Captain Caine, who would be found active, willing, and useful,—the latter particularly with the native troops of India, with whose language he is considered conversant.”
Surely, with this strong recommendation, had I not been detained, as I have already shown, Lord Gough would have had the opportunity of serving me, and I have always considered myself hardly used in this particular instance, from not being rewarded in either department.
In April, 1847, when the then Governor, Sir John Davis, proceeded with Major-General D'Aguilar, with your Majesty's forces to Canton, I was appointed in the public gazette Acting Governor, and by the Major-General as Commandant of the garrison of Hong Kong. I commanded that garrison for seven days, and for the last two days a Major of the 42nd Madras Native Infantry was in the garrison; I exercised the necessary military control over the garrison, issued garrison orders, and superintended all its military details, having made the required measures, offensive and defensive, for meeting an enemy.
My conduct elicited the commendation of the Major-General as well as the Governor, Sir John Davis; vide this Memorial. Lieutenant-General Sir William Brereton and Colonel Clarke Kennedy, commanding the Military Train, are aware of these facts.
In June, 1854, I had to prepare the colony of Hong Kong to resist Russian invasion, much alarm existed among the inhabitants as no intelligence of any authenticity could be obtained of the whereabouts of the Russian squadron. From the senior naval officer, Captain Sir William Hoste, Bart., every possible assistance was afforded, and but for that officer's ready zeal and prompt help, I should not have been able to carry out the necessary measures for offence and defence against the enemy. I would here beg to remark that on this occasion the responsibility of the means adopted rested solely with me; these, with the necessary extra expenditure, were approved by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sir William Hoste, being one of your Majesty's household, might, if required, be questioned hereon. A corps of volunteers was raised, and I was unanimously elected its Colonel.
9
44
In November, 1856, I had to quell a grave émeute at Hong Kong, among the Chinese, some 15,000 or 20,000 having tumultuously assembled, driving away the police from their posts, stopping the markets from selling, and closing the doors of all the shops, and the multitude filling the streets. Feeling that I was well known and respected by the populace, I proceeded, with a very inefficient Chinese interpreter to address the mob, and with the presence of 100 men, from the 59th Regiment, who reached me about half-an-hour afterwards, and the willing assistance of Colonel Dunlop, Commandant of the Garrison, who kept in readiness all the troops, with artillery, the mob was awed, and by the following evening order was perfectly restored, and then the stated grievances of the populace looked into and redressed. Happily no lives were lost; but I feel it due to myself to observe, that the least hesitation on my part, or one false step, would most inevitably have led to great loss of life, and destruction of property. Upon Sir John Bowring's return the next night from Canton, his Excellency was pleased to thank me in the presence of the Secretary of the Superintendency, "for quelling the mob, and preventing the effusion of blood in the city."
In 1857, the Horse Guards, through the Secretary for War, permitted me to sell out of the army, but I only received the price of my company, and though the majority was sold, its amount went to the State. The reason stated in Sir Charles Yorke's letter (as per Memorial) for the price of the Majority not being granted was, "that I had not served as Major." This was to me a most grievous blow. I was then verging on my 60th year, and felt compelled to accept the offer made even in the face of having commanded the garrison of Hong Kong, in May, 1847, as a Major. Had Lord Raglan, to whom I was well known, been alive, I venture to assert that my original military services would not have been forgotten, and that the result would have been different; and this I say without prejudice to Sir Charles Yorke, or any of the Horse Guard authorities. That I received a legitimate military command over the garrison of Hong Kong, in 1847, is a fact not to be controverted; I say legitimate in consequence of the order for my doing so being from the senior military officer commanding your Majesty's troops in China, and sanctioned by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Sir John Davis.
In addition to my Report of April, 1847, to the Honourable the Major-General commanding in China, I now append, in further confirmation of my claim to the full amount of the Majority, a present state of the troops at Hong Kong, before
8
Advocate-General, received a step of promotion and the honour of a C.B. for China.
At the time of Lord Gough's leaving Madras for China, he was in command of a division at that Presidency where my chief, Sir Samford Whittingham, was Commander-in- Chief, and who particularly requested Lord Gough “to look to the interests of his late Aide-de-Camp, Captain Caine, who would be found active, willing, and useful,-the latter par- ticularly with the native troops of India, with whose language he is considered conversant.”
Surely, with this strong recommendation, had I not been detained, as I have already shewn, Lord Gough would have had the opportunity of serving me, and I have always con- sidered myself hardly used in this particular instance, from not being rewarded in either department.
In April, 1847, when the then Governor, Sir John Davis, proceeded with Major-General D'Aguilar, with your Majesty's forces to Canton, I was appointed in the public gazette Acting Governor, and by the Major-General as Commandant of the garrison of Hong Kong. I commanded that garrison for seven days, and for the last two days a Major of the 42nd Madras Native Infantry was in the garrison; I exer- cised the necessary military control over the garrison, issued garrison orders, and superintended all its military details, having made the required measures, offensive and defensive, for meeting an enemy.
My conduct elicited the commendation of the Major- General as well as the Governor, Sir John Davis; vide this Memorial. Lieutenant-General Sir William Brereton and Colonel Clarke Kennedy, commanding the Military Train, are aware of these facts.
In June, 1854, I had to prepare the colony of Hong Kong to resist Russian invasion, much alarm existed among the inhabitants as no intelligence of any authenticity could be obtained of the whereabouts of the Russian squadron. From the senior naval officer, Captain Sir William Hoste, Bart., every possible assistance was afforded, and but for that officer's ready zeal and prompt help, I should not have been able to carry out the necessary measures for offence and defence against the enemy. I would here beg to remark that on this occasion the responsibility of the means adopted rested solely with me; these, with the necessary extra ex- penditure, were approved by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Sir William Hoste, being one of your Majesty's household, might, if required, be questioned hereon. A corps of volunteers was raised, and I was unanimously elected its
Colonel.
9
44
In November, 1856, I had to quell a grave émeute at Hong Kong, among the Chinese, some 15,000 or 20,000 having tumultuously assembled, driving away the police from their posts, stopping the markets from selling, and closing the doors of all the shops, and the multitude filling the streets. Feeling that I was well known and respected by the populace, I proceeded, with a very inefficient Chinese interpreter to address the mob, and with the presence of 100 men, from the 59th Regiment, who reached me about half-an-hour afterwards, and the willing assistance of Colonel Dunlop, Commandant of the Garrison, who kept in readiness all the troops, with artillery, the mob was awed, and by the following evening order was perfectly restored, and then the stated grievances of the populace looked into and redressed. Happily no lives were lost; but I feel it due to myself to observe, that the least hesitation on my part, or one false step, would most inevitably have led to great loss of life, and destruction of property. Upon Sir John Bowring's return the next night from Canton, his Excellency was pleased to thank me in the presence of the Secretary of the Superintendency, "for quelling the mob, and preventing the effusion of blood in the city."
In 1857, the Horse Guards, through the Secretary for War, permitted me to sell out of the army, but I only re- ceived the price of my company, and though the majority was sold, its amount went to the State. The reason stated in Sir Charles Yorke's letter (as per Memorial) for the price of the Majority not being granted was, "that I had not served as Major." This was to me a most grievous blow. I was then verging on my 60th year, and felt compelled to accept the offer made even in the face of having commanded the garrison of Hong Kong, in May, 1847, as a Major. Hlad Lord Raglan, to whom I was well known, been alive, I venture to assert that my original military services would not have been forgotten, and that the result would have been different; and this I say without prejudice to Sir Charles Yorke, or any of the Horse Guard authorities. That I received a legitimate military command over the garrison of Hong Kong, in 1847, is a fact not to be controverted; I say legitimate in consequence of the order for my doing so being from the senior military officer commanding your Majesty's troops in China, and sanctioned by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Sir John Davis.
In addition to my Report of April, 1847, to the Honour- able the Major-General commanding in China, I now append, in further confirmation of my claim to the full amount of the Majority, a present state of the troops at Hong Kong, before
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