he whole amount of
artillery throughout this island only consists of two weak companies,
reduced in their number of Europeans in consequence of a proportion
of gun-lascars; and the only ordnance that I could spare, at present
equipped for service, are 4 2/5 inch howitzer guns, having neither
9-pounder nor 6-pounder guns, excepting two of the latter, which have no
carriages.

"Under these circumstances, and with the recommendation of his
excellency the governor, I should be able to afford a detachment of one
officer and twenty-five gunners, with a proportion of non-commissioned
officers and the two howitzers above mentioned. I am informed by General
D'Aguilar, who will give me the earliest notice of his plans, that he
would only require this force for six weeks, and that it should be sent
back to me immediately the service is over; in the meantime, as this
draft would reduce my strength of European artillerymen in this island
by about one-third, I shall, in order to repair the deficiency, cause a
portion of the soldiers from the line regiment, equal to about five men
per company, to be trained and exercised at the gun drill.

"I have to add that a draft of one hundred and twenty men of the Ceylon
Rifle Regiment are under orders, and will probably sail the end of this
month for Hong-Kong, to complete the six companies at present serving
there to their full complement of one hundred rank and file; these
companies having been sent to China so much under their establishment
with a view to their being completed by recruits sent from Singapore,
but the uncertain state of things there rendering it quite necessary now
that trained soldiers should be sent from this place, which I trust will
meet with the approbation of his grace the commander-inchief."

The foregoing offer of assistance was finally countermanded by Earl
Grey, in a despatch to Major-general D'Aguilar, dated Colonial Office,
November the 24th, 1847:--

"The governor of Ceylon has communicated to me an application which you
have made to the major-general commanding her majesty's troops in that
island, for a reinforcement of half a company of artillery, with two
guns, and a proportionate supply of ammunition, to be held in readiness
to be forwarded to Hong-Kong, should circumstances render it necessary
to undertake any further military operations at Canton.

"I have desired the governor of Ceylon not to send to Hong-Kong the
detachment for which you have made ap