Two Letters Secretarial Signed "John Gore", admiral, C-in-C, East Indies and China Station, more like Reports, on the geo-political, military, naval, situation in the region.

Both marked 'Duplicate'. 1. [British Navy, East Indies and China Station, 1833] Vice Admiral Sir John Gore, extensive official Report signed, "John Gore, Vice Adm. & Com. In Chief", East Indies and China Station to Sir James Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty, dated Melville, March 4th 1833, Madras Roads, marked 'Duplicate', 6pp., folio, sewn. A detailed assessment of the situation in the region (Indian Ocean) and particularly in Ceylon : Arrival in the Madras Roads. He assures Graham of full cooperation "regarding the Mauritius". He discusses the movements of the 46th Regiment, going to England via Mauritius just in case they are needed ("The worst possible disposition exists among the French population and that they are countenanced by those of Bourbon"). '... Respecting the dutch question, I hope before any extremity can arise that the Mauritius will be tranquillized and that I shall have my whole force to devote to that object. In the interim I have given Captain Plumridge the charge of the Bay of Bengal and Straits of Malacca, making Singapore the object of his particular attention ...... | You are pleased to ask my opinion respecting Trincomalee [uncertain if he can add to what he has already said to Sir Thomas Hardy etc] ... at present it is, without any exception, the most cruelly neglected place I have ever seen - everything is in a state of absolute decay ... dilapidation extends so rapidly in the Country that when once decay is established in six months the whole is changed and this has induced me to cause some out - lay at the Admiralty House to save it...' Gore then continues at considerable length to discuss the need to remove stagnant water from the area and to provide the population with fresh water, as well as restoring harbours and building infrastructure, and cut two canals, both to deal with the stagnant water and add to defences, then adds: ' ...... two great evils have to be overcome. The obstinate indolence of the Cyngalese, than which it is scarcely possible to imagine greater and now that forced labour is abolished and it is left as an act of their own they will scarcely work to obtain their daily food [result emaciation and disease] ... and when added to their most filthy, most miserable residences, the infections & fever which assails the Troops yearly must be mainly attributed. | It would be a positive blessing if the whole of the Black Town and Bazar could be consumed by fire and new habitations built under the direction of an Overseer or Engineer who would study air and cleanliness instead of disgusting pig sties in which the natives are now permitted to swarm. | The other great evil is jungle [for defence not for health purposes] ... if the French avail themselves of a war with Holland and push out an expedition from Toulon of 7 sail of the line and frigates with 10,000 men on board it will be veni-vidi-vici and in three months from the day they sail, they will be in entire possession of Java [recalling Algiers] ... the French in possession of Java will change the view of Trincomalee from choice to necessity and all our China trade must go through the Straits of Malacca. I send you a report of the state of the Dutch Navy at Batavia. The Army is numerous.' Enclosed: The afore-mentioned report, one page, folio, undated, listing four small frigates, two corvettes, two brigs (34, 18, 14-16 guns respectively); 6-8 brigantines, 100 gun boats "among the Islands in the Java Seas". 2. [British Navy, Indian Ocean]Vice Admiral Sir John Gore Fine long and detailed Autograph Letter Signed to Sir James Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty, 7 March 1833, among several subjects, giving his assessment of the suitability of Ports in India and Ceylon, 3pp. folio, sewn. He starts by discussing the availability of coir rope in India and China (Cochin - "once the Emporium of Portuguese and Dutch commerce"), then discussing the availability of everything in Bombay which he praises as market, climate, and port. Some navigation problems in the Monsoon. '...... The Hooghly is out of the way, the Navigation at the entrance and in that River is irksome in the extreme and though I was told the Melville could be docked at Calcutta, I should be sorry to try the experiment and all her Guns, Store, Masts etc must be landed at Diamond Harbour ["the exposure and unwholesomeness of the Crews is an important consideration against Calcutta"; problems of Madras revealed in last war - its water "delicious"] ...... Trincomalie has many objections, it is generally considered unhealthy but I think this may be obviated [see report above] ... As a harbour for accommodation for capability and geographical position in relation to our oriental dominions it is entirely unequalled - it's secure and accessible at all times [example given] ...... It would be very dangerous for us to suffer any other nation to possess Trincomalie and its central position makes it a place of great importance for us in War. In peace Bombay is infinitely preferable as a port to refit at, and Madras is an incomparably central Rendezvous. A sort of horror exists among Merchant Men at going near to Trincomalie owing to Currents but as I have made clear to Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, if a Light House was built at Foul Point it will not only do away with this objection but it would be of the utmost advantage to all Ships running up and out of the Bay of Bengal.......' He concludes with the problems that would be created "if a superior Fleet was to gain a successful battle" and recommends it be made secure, suggesting how.