Old Hong Kong-3 — Page 97

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The return of the Conservative party to Parliament in 1841 again witnessed Sir George Murray as Master-General of the Ordnance, and he continued to act as such up to the change of ministry a few weeks since. It is understood that Sir George Murray, on more than one occasion, owing to the state of his health, tendered his resignation to Sir Robert Peel, but Sir Robert, it is stated, entreated the gallant General to retain his office.

For eight years, namely, from 1824 to 1832, he represented his native country (Perth) in Parliament. He was also elected in 1834; but in 1837, his connection with that county ceased. On the occasion of the general election in the latter year, he contested Westminster with the present members, but was left in a considerable minority on the poll. In 1841, he contested Manchester with the present members (Gibson and Phillips), and not succeeding in finding a seat elsewhere, he was obliged, like some others of his colleagues in the Peel Government, to discharge the duties of his office without one.

The personal appearance of Sir George Murray, when in the enjoyment of health, was distinguished by that bearing in character which bespeaks the soldier as well as the gentleman. He was above the middle height, and notwithstanding the wear and tear of his active life, looked much younger than he really was.

Lengthened illness, however, wrought a remarkable change. His hitherto noble form was fearfully emaciated, and it became painfully evident to his friends for some time past that the hand of death was upon him.

The Colonelcy of the 1st Royals becomes vacant by the Right Hon. Baronet's decease. By virtue of the office of Master-General of the Ordnance, the deceased for many years held the Colonelcies-in-chief of the Royal Artillery and Corps of Royal Engineers.

That concludes the sketch of the career of a man who, though he appears never to have visited the East, was so high in military ranking, and so revered by his fellow soldiers, that when batteries were built in Hong Kong in 1841-42, at a time Sir George Murray was head of the Ordnance at Home, it was Murray Battery, which stood on the rise just below Government House, at a spot where the Boy Scout headquarters are now located. The remains of an embrasure and gun emplacement are still to be seen there; and an old gun lay for some time, up to quite recently, opposite the new Government Offices extension, which was built partly on the site of the former battery.

Battery Path, immediately below, commemorates by its name the position of this former defence. An old photograph in my possession (taken in 1869) shows the battery still intact, with four muzzle-loading cannon, on gun-carriages, facing the embrasures, westward, down Queen's Road. It is obvious that the original idea of the battery was to command the centre of the city, where in the old days the important Government and business premises were built. There are still to be found around the old site of Murray Battery, some boundary stones bearing the letters B.O. standing for the Board of Ordnance under whose aegis the emplacement was constructed. So we get the Master-General of the Ordnance, who was also Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Engineers (who helped to build the battery).

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Sir George held the office of Colonial Secretary from 1828 to 1830. On the fall of the Wellington administration in the latter year, he followed his party, and continued unemployed till 1834, when he was made Master-General of the Ordnance, a post which he did not long hold, being succeeded in 1835 by Lord Vivian. The return of the Conservative party to Parliament in 1841 again witnessed Sir George Murray as Master-General of the Ordnance, and he continued to act as such up to the change of ministry a few weeks since. It is understood that Sir George Murray, on more than one occasion, owing to the state of his health, tendered his resignation to Sir Robert Peel, but Sir Robert, it is stated, entreated the gallant General to retain his office. For eight years, namely, from 1824 to 1832, he represented his native country (Perth) in Parliament. He was also elected in 1834; but in 1837, his connection with that county ceased. On the occasion of the general election in the latter year, he contested Westminster with the present members, but was left in a considerable minority on the poll. In 1841, he contested Manchester with the present members (Gibson and Phillips), and not succeeding in finding a seat elsewhere, he was obliged, like some others of his colleagues in the Peel Government, to discharge the duties of his office without one. The personal appearance of Sir George Murray, when in the enjoyment of health, was distinguished by that bearing in character which bespeaks the soldier as well as the gentleman. He was above the middle height, and notwithstanding the wear and tear of his active life, looked much younger than he really was. Lengthened illness, however, wrought a remarkable change. His hitherto noble form was fearfully emaciated, and it became painfully evident to his friends for some time past that the hand of death was upon him. The Colonelcy of the 1st Royals becomes vacant by the Right Hon. Baronet's decease. By virtue of the office of Master-General of the Ordnance, the deceased for many years held the Colonelcies-in-chief of the Royal Artillery and Corps of Royal Engineers. That concludes the sketch of the career of a man who, though he appears never to have visited the East, was so high in military ranking, and so revered by his fellow soldiers, that when batteries were built in Hong Kong in 1841-42, at a time Sir George Murray was head of the Ordnance at Home, it was Murray Battery, which stood on the rise just below Government House, at a spot where the Boy Scout headquarters are now located. The remains of an embrasure and gun emplacement are still to be seen there; and an old gun lay for some time, up to quite recently, opposite the new Government Offices extension, which was built partly on the site of the former battery. Battery Path, immediately below, commemorates by its name the position of this former defence. An old photograph in my possession (taken in 1869) shows the battery still intact, with four muzzle-loading cannon, on gun-carriages, facing the embrasures, westward, down Queen's Road. It is obvious that the original idea of the battery was to command the centre of the city, where in the old days the important Government and business premises were built. There are still to be found around the old site of Murray Battery, some boundary stones bearing the letters B.O. standing for the Board of Ordnance under whose aegis the emplacement was constructed. So we get the Master-General of the Ordnance, who was also Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Engineers (who helped to build the battery). 673

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MILITARY (Contd.) Sir George held the office of Colonial Secretary from 1828 to 1830, On the fall of the Wellington administration in the latter year, he followed his pary, and continued unemployed till 1834, when he was made Master-General of the Ordnance post which he did not long hold, being succeeded in 1835 by Lord Vivian. G a The return of the Conservative party to Parliament in 1841 again witnessed Sir George Murray Master-General of the Ordnance, and he continued to act as such up to the change of ministry a few weeks since. It is understood that Sir George Murray, on more than one occasion, owing to the state of his health, tendered his resignation to Sir Robert Peel, but Sir Robert, it is stated, entreated the Gallant General to retain his office. For eight years, namely, from 1824 to 1832, he represented his native country (Perth) in Parliament. He was also elected in 1834; but in 1837 hid connection with that county ceased. On the occasion of the general election in the latter year he contested Westminster with the present members, but was left in a considerable minority on the poll. In 1841 he contested Manchester with the present members (Gibson and Phillips), and not succeeding in finding a seat elsewhere, he was obliged like some others of his colleagues in the Peel Government, to discharge the duties of his office without one. The personal appearance of Sir George Murray, when in the enjoyment of health, was distinguished by that bearing in character which bespeaks the soldier as well as the gentleman. He was above the middle height, and notwithstanding the wear and tear of his active life, looked much younger than he really Lengthened illness, however, wrought a remarkable change. His hitherto noble from was fearfully emaciated, and it for some time past became painfully evident to his friends that the hand of death was upon him. The Colonelcy of the 1st Royals becomes vacant by the Right Hon, Baronet's decease. By virtue of the office of Master- General of the Ordnance, the deceased for many years held the Colonelcies-in-chief of the Royal Artillery and Corps of Royal Engineers. # * * That concludes the sketch of the career of a man who, though he appears never to have visited the East, was so high in military ranking, and so revered by his fellow soldiers, that when batteries were built in Hong Kong in 1841-42, at a time Sir George Murray was head of the Ordnance at Home, it was Murray Battery, which stood on the rise just below Government House, at a spot where the Boy Scout headquarters are now located. The remains of an embazure and gun emplacement are still to be seen there; and an old gun lay for some time, up to quite recently, opposite the new Governement Offices extension, which was built partly on the site of the former battery. Battery Path, immediately below, commemorates by its name the position of this former defence. An old photograph in my possession (taken in 1869) shows the battery still intact, with four muzzle-loading cannon, on gun-carriages, facing the embrazures, westward, down Queen's Road. It is obvious that the original idea of the battery was to command the centre of the city, where in the old days the important Government and business premises were built. There are still to be found around the old site of Murray Battery, some boundary stones bearing the letters B.0. standing for the Board of Ordnance under whose aegis the emplacement was conctructed. So we get the Master-General of the Ordnance, who was also Colonel-in- Chief of the Royal Engineers (who helped to build the battery) 673

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MILITARY

(Contd.)

Sir George held the office of Colonial Secretary from 1828 to 1830, On the fall of the Wellington administration in the latter year, he followed his pary, and continued unemployed till 1834, when he was made Master-General of the Ordnance post which he did not long hold, being succeeded in 1835 by Lord Vivian.

The return of the Conservative party to Parliament in 1841 again witnessed Sir George Murray Master-General of the Ordnance, and he continued to act as such up to the change of ministry a few weeks since. It is understood that Sir George Murray, on more than one occasion, owing to the state of his health, tendered his resignation to Sir Robert Peel, but Sir Robert, it is stated, entreated the Gallant General to retain his office.

For eight years, namely, from 1824 to 1832, he represented his native country (Perth) in Parliament. He was also elected in 1834; but in 1837 hid connection with that county ceased. On the occasion of the general election in the latter year he contested Westminster with the present members, but was left in a considerable minority on the poll. In 1841 he contested Manchester with the present members (Gibson and Phillips), and not succeeding in finding a seat elsewhere, he was obliged like some others of his colleagues in the Peel Government, to discharge the duties of his office without one.

Lengthened illness, however, wrought a remarkable change. His hitherto noble from was fearfully emaciated, and it for some time past became painfully evident to his friends that the hand of death was upon him.

The Colonelcy of the 1st Royals becomes vacant by the Right Hon, Baronet's decease. By virtue of the office of Master- General of the Ordnance, the deceased for many years held the Colonelcies-in-chief of the Royal Artillery and Corps of Royal

Engineers.

That concludes the sketch of the career of a man who, though he appears never to have visited the East, was so high in military ranking, and so revered by his fellow soldiers, that when batteries were built in Hong Kong in 1841-42, at a time Sir George Murray was head of the Ordnance at Home, it was Murray Battery, which stood on the rise just below Government House, at a spot where the Boy Scout headquarters are now located. The remains of an embazure and gun emplacement are still to be seen there; and an old gun lay for some time, up to quite recently, opposite the new Governement Offices extension, which was built partly on the site of the former battery.

Battery Path, immediately below, commemorates by its name the position of this former defence. An old photograph in my possession (taken in 1869) shows the battery still intact, with four muzzle-loading cannon, on gun-carriages, facing the embrazures, westward, down Queen's Road. It is obvious that the original idea of the battery was to command the centre of the city, where in the old days the important Government and business premises were built. There are still to be found around the old site of Murray Battery, some boundary stones bearing the letters B.0. standing for the Board of Ordnance under whose aegis the emplacement was conctructed. So we get the Master-General of the Ordnance, who was also Colonel-in- Chief of the Royal Engineers (who helped to build the battery)

Old Hong Kong-3 — Page 97

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