My dear Mother, — I conclude that you beheve I am gone to India, as I have received no letters from Hampton Court by the last few mails, but I am still here and not likely to be sent on there now. Our force will be very small for operations of any kind, 1500 marines being all we have got to depend upon here, for the force actually in Hong Kong is not more than will be required to garrison the place while operations are being carried on at Canton. The force employed there will be almost exclusively naval, unless they send us out some more regiments from home. In addition to these marines the navy will be able to form a Brigade for service on shore of about 2000 men; we — might furnish about 200 of the 59th, two batteries of artillery, and 100 engineers, so that 4000 men is the outside we shall be able to take the field with; and these are almost all navy men, so that I do not see that the staff out here is likely to be put to much use. My first impressions of this place are fully confirmed. I am very much surprised to find it the place it is, and as for the climate, I have as yet felt none of the disagreeable effects I used to hear so fearfully described.... The houses are large, lofty, and very airy, clothing is of the lightest conceivable description, the
1 857] FORCE REQUIRED TO HOLD CANTON 185
rays of the sun are never allowed to touch the body, and with these precautions I can assure you that this climate is most enjoyable. There is, however, very little society here, and nobody hardly ever dines out, which I am rather glad of, for our little circle at home is so snug and comfortable that I never feel inclined to leave it. Lord Elgin arrived here last Sunday, the 20th, from Calcutta in a P. & O. steamer, the Ava, which he has hired, and where he intends living while he stays here. He brought very unsatisfactory^ news with him, but, of course, you will have heard all about India and what is even going on there, long before this will reach you. One of the Luards also arrived here on the 20th; he is Brigade-Major to General van Straubenzee; he is in the 77th and was formerly in the 3rd. He is a very nice fellow, and a very good officer.... — Ever your affectionate son, Fredk. Stephenson.
To his Brother
October 15, 1857, Hong Kong.
My dear William, —... We are anxiously hoping that affairs vAW take such a favourable turn in India as will enable Lord Canning to repay us the force we have lent him. I am afraid very few eyes are directed to the comparatively humble business we have got in hand, and every one sent out here is, of course, sadly disappointed at the insignificance of the operations which, as far as the military are concerned, will be carried out. Still I am sanguine enough to hope that before the end of the year we may receive sufficient reinforcement from India to enable us to hold Canton, for unless we can do this there will be no good gained in taking it. Our eventually leaving it will be claimed by the Chinese as a victory, and do the cause more harm than good, and it would never do to destroy it. Canton is an enormous city, supposed to contain a million of inhabitants, and could not be held with a less force than 5000 bayonets and 30 guns,
which should be distributed over the place in six fortified posts of 500 men, each with 2 or 3 guns, according to the amount you have, the remainder occupying the heights outside the town as a reserve. These posts would be perfectly safe, and would enable the General to patrol the town, and to cause such orders to be issued to the inhabitants as would leave no doubt in their minds as to who was master of the town; and this system should be kept up rigidly for some months, keeping up a strict state of siege. Nothing short of this will bring Yeh to his senses. The people generally are anxious that we should be allowed to trade as we wish, and I believe it to be only Yeh ^^ (pronounced Yay) who is maintaining this war. The ruffian when he wants money actually sends agents over here to squeeze the Chinese in Hong Kong, and they dare not refuse, for he has got a guarantee for their compliance in the parents and friends of these Chinese who are still living in Canton. Is it not a curious state of things? being able to carry on the war by taxing the subjects of your enemy. If the Chinese here were to refuse payment, Yeh would instantly imprison or perhaps put to death a relation of the refractory tax-payer.... Will the Government take sufficient energetic steps in reorganising the army and government of India? I have always looked upon this mutiny since its very commencement as the luckiest thing that could happen to us in opening our eyes at such a favourable moment to the radically rotten state of India. But woe betide us if we neglect the warning. I long to hear from you upon the subject, your own opinion and what is contemplated.— Your affectionate brother,
Fredk. Stephenson.