EXTRACT from General Orders by the Hon. Major-General D'Aguilar, Č.B.
Head Quarters, H.M. steam-frigate "Vulture,"
off Whampoa, April 2, 1847.
With the concurrence of his Excellency Sir John Francis Davis, Baronet, &c., the Major-General Commanding gladly avails himself of the services of the Honourable Major Caine, and appoints him Commandant of Hong Kong, during the absence of the Major-General, and the main body of the troops on service at Canton.
By order, J. BRUCE, Captain,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
It will be seen by one of the documents furnished by one of our Chinese correspondents at Canton, that the population there anticipated that Hong Kong would be "attacked and plundered" during the absence of the fleet and the main body of the forces. The opportunity was tempting, and rumours reached Canton that it had actually been taken advantage of. Supposing them to have originated with the Chinese themselves, we were inclined to lend them an incredulous ear; but since our return, we learn that an organized attack for the purpose was really apprehended by Triads and pirates by water and land. We have no means of ascertaining whether the reports were well founded, but have endeavoured to inform ourselves of their import.
It was said that several thousands of lawless ruffians were to fall upon the town, fire the houses at several points, so as to distract attention, when the Treasury, the Bank, Spring Gardens, and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co.'s premises were to be attacked simultaneously. It was further stated that the Triads of this quarter had called upon the brethren in the adjoining districts; and many of the more peaceably disposed Chinese residents were alarmed that some danger was impending.
At Heong-Kong, south of this island, an assemblage of Triads took place; and information having been received to that effect, a body of police, under Mr. Caldwell, was dispatched, and succeeded in apprehending five persons as they were returning from the meeting, who have since, however, been discharged, on finding security for good behaviour.
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We have little doubt that the reports were greatly exaggerated, and that many of them may have been utterly unfounded; but Major Caine, by making every disposition in his power, and carrying them out with the most commendable activity, seems to have effectually frustrated any hostile intentions; and, charged as he was with the civil and military government during the absence of his Excellency and the Major-General, he contrived, with the small force under his command, not only to prevent any combined attack, but to overawe the common depredators, the number of offences being unusually small during the week. Having been absent at Canton, we must depend upon the information of others as to the arrangements made at Hong Kong, but we believe the following to be a pretty correct account. A central military post of thirty men was established at Keying House, with instructions how to act in case of alarm. At Mr. Edgar's house a corporal and six men were placed to keep up communication with the naval stores and the western police station, and a similar force was posted at the Seaman's Hospital to watch the Gap, and keep clear the communication with the Eastern Stations.
At Spring Gardens there was another corporal's guard, and the men in the barracks were held to turn out at a moment's notice. Besides these military precautions, it would appear that the police arrangements were equally efficient, the force being scattered all over the town to prevent any assemblage of Chinese, and watch such suspicious persons as might be seen lurking about; a reserve was held in readiness at the Central Station; the guards at the jail and Government offices were reinforced, patrols ranging from West Point to Sookunpoo, were sent out at uncertain periods; the Government gun-boat, well armed, rowed guards all night, visiting the "Minden" and "Alligator" at intervals; and effective signals were arranged for giving the alarm, either by day or night. The military patrols were placed under the military direction of Captain Burton, whose activity is highly spoken of, and the acting Governor, we humbly think unnecessarily, in person repeatedly inspected the arrangements, both in the harbour and on shore. It was quite proper that he should see that the arrangements were made; but unless especially summoned, they might very well have been left—those on shore to the military and police officers, and those in the harbour to the marine magistrates: by all of whom the duties, so far as we can learn, were most efficiently performed. As a further precaution, the Chinese inhabitants were prohibited from stirring out between the hours of ten at night and four in the morning, and those of them who possessed arms were directed to lodge them in the police office, to be returned on the arrival of the troops from Canton.
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EXTRACT from General Orders by the Hon. Major-General D'Aguilar, Č.B.
Head Quarters, H.M. steam-frigate "Vulture,"
off Whampoa, April 2, 1847.
With the concurrence of his Excellency Sir John Francis Davis, Baronet, &c., the Major-General Commanding gladly avails himself of the services of the Honourable Major Cuine, and appoints him Commandant of Hong Kong, during the absence of the Major-General, and the main body of the troops on service at Canton.
By order, J. BRUCE, Captain,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
It will be seen by one of the documents furnished by one of our Chinese correspondents at Canton, that the popn lace there anticipated that Hong Kong would be "attacked and plundered" during the absence of the fleet and the main body of the forces. The opportunity was tempting, and rumours reached Canton that it had actually been taken advantage of. Supposing them to have originated with the Chinese themselves, we were inclined to lend them an incre- dulous ear; but since our return, we learn that an organized attack for the purpose was really apprehended by Triads by We have no means of ascer- land and pirates by water. taining whether the reports were well founded, but have endeavoured to inform ourselves of their import.
It was said that several thousands of lawless ruffians were to fall upon the town, fire the houses at several points, so as to distract attention, when the Treasury, the Bank, Spring Gardens, and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co.'s, were to be attacked simultaneously. It was further stated that the Triads of this quarter had called upon the brethren in the adjoining districts; and many of the more peaceably disposed Chinese residents were alarmed that some danger was impending.
At Heong-Kong, south of this island, an assemblage of Triads took place; and information having been received to that effect, a body of police, under Mr. Caldwell, was dispatched, and succeeded in apprehending five persons as they were re- turning from the meeting, who have since, however, been discharged, on finding security for good behaviour,
We have little doubt that the reports were greatly exag- gerated, and that many of them may have been utterly
17
unfounded; but Major Caine, by making every disposition in his power, and carrying them out with the most commend- able activity, seems to have effectually frustrated ally hostile intentions; and, charged as he was with the civil and military government during the absence of his Excellency and the Major-General, he contrived, with the small force under his command, not only to prevent any combined attack, but to overawe the common depredators, the number of offences being unusually small during the week. Having been absent at Canton, we must depend upon the information of others as to the arrangements made at Hong Kong, but we believe the following to be a pretty correct account. A central mili- tary post of thirty men was established at Keying House, with instructions how to act in case of alarm. At Mr. Edgar's house a corporal and six men were placed to keep up commu- nication with the naval stores and the western police station, and a similar force was posted at the Seaman's Hospital to watch the Gap, and keep clear the communication with the Eastern Stations.
At Spring Gardens there was another corporal's guard, and the men in the barracks were held to turn out at a moment's notice. Besides these military precautions, it would appear that the police arrangements were equally efficient, the force being scattered all over the town to prevent any assemblage of Chinese, and watch such suspicious persons as might be seen lurking about; a reserve was held in readiness at the Central Station; the guards at the jail and Govern- ment offices were reinforced, patrols ranging from West Point to Sookunpoo, were sent out at uncertain periods; the Go- vernment gun-boat, well armed, rowed guards all night, visiting the "Minden” and “. Alligator" at intervale; and effective signals were arranged for giving the alarm, either by day or night, The military patrols were placed under the military direction of Captain Burton, whose activity is highly spoken of, and the acting Governor, we humbly think unnecessarily, in person repeatedly inspected the arrange- ments, both in the harbour and on shore. It was quite proper that he should see that the arrangements were made; but unless especially summoned, they might very well have been left-those on shore to the military and police officers. and those in the harbour to the marine magistrates: by all of whom the duties, so far as we can learn, were most efficiently performed. As a further precaution, the Chinese inhabitants were prohibited from stirring out between the hours of ten at night and four in the morning, and those of them who pos- sessed arms were directed to lodge them in the police office, to be returned on the arrival of the troops from Canton. The
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