veals sufficiently the incompetent arrangements
for British interests in China, in 1847:--

"Although I have not the pleasure of your personal acquaintance, your
character and services are so well known to me, that I venture to
address you without form or ceremony. I have every reason to hope that
things will settle down here peaceably, but I have no positive assurance
of it; and if circumstances should occur to oblige me to go to Canton
again, I am but badly off for artillery. I can never hope to surprise
the Chinese defences a second time; and whatever I do must be done in
form, and with reference to the altered position of things.

"Under these circumstances, I write to ask if you can spare me half a
company of artillery, with their proportionate number of field-guns
and ammunition complete. I should only want them for six weeks, and I
promise you to send them faithfully back the moment the service is over.

"Should the contingency--the possibility of which is on the
cards--occur, I shall endeavour to avoid taking the field before the end
of November, when the cool weather will add strength to our exertions;
and I will take care to give you the earliest notice of my intention. In
the meantime, perhaps, you would kindly prepare Lord Torrington for this
request on my part, and afford me your interest in giving effect to it,
should circumstances render it necessary.

"A couple of 9-pounders, with the half-company of artillery, would be
the best; but if they are not to be had, then anything your people are
supplied with."

On receipt of the above, Major-general Smelt wrote as follows to
Lieutenant-general Lord Fitzroy Somerset.

The letter was dated Colombo, Ceylon, September 22nd, 1847:--

"I have the honour to inform your lordship that I received, two days
ago, a letter from Major-general D'Aguilar, commanding in China,
informing me that it is likely that he would require a reinforcement of
artillery in the event of operations being carried on at Canton towards
the end? of this year, and requesting me, if I could spare it, and
circumstances rendered it necessary, to afford him a half company of
artillery, with two 9-pounder guns complete, with ammunition, &c.

"I shall therefore be prepared, should I hear again from General
D'Aguilar that their services would actually be required, to send such
force as, in the present strength of artillery in this command, would
be in my power. But your lordship is aware that t