By 1831, the East India Company decided it no longer wanted to trade with the Chinese on their terms and planned more aggressive measures. Given the strategic and commercial value of Taiwan, there were British suggestions in 1840 and 1841 to seize the island. William Huttman wrote to Lord Palmerston pointing out "China's benign rule over Taiwan and the strategic and commercial importance of the island."^[47] He suggested that Taiwan could be occupied with only a warship and less than 1,500 troops, and the English would be able to spread Christianity among the natives as well as develop trade.^[48] In 1841, during the First Opium War, the British tried to scale the heights around the harbor of Keelung three times but failed.^[49] Ultimately, the British were unable to establish a strong foothold, and the expedition is considered a failure.