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but think is as much as they could reasonably expect for any one Establishment.
and as opposed to such a formidable force as they wish to provide for) is as much as the Queen's more valuable stores at the West Point commands - the small Corporal's party stationed there being only equal to, or required to perform the duties that the Watchman of private Establishment ought to undertake.
As however Her Majesty's Stores at West Point were plundered upon the night the attack was made upon Messrs Jamieson How & Co's Establishment; and as they at present do not even possess the means of successful resistance which those Gentlemen were able to oppose; and as the duty imposed on the Guard Boat of rowing nearly eighteen miles every night is extremely onerous upon her crew; it is my intention, as far as possible, to relieve her from that service by stationing the "Proserpine" by night, off the West Point Stores, wherever her other duties will admit of it : and it will give me much pleasure to learn that she has been the means of affording greater security to the premises of Messrs Jamieson How & Co.
At the same time I am confident, Gentlemen, that you will concur with me in opinion, that if private individuals choose to erect buildings, for their own convenience, in places remote from the usual Police protection, it is only just they should guard their own property, and not expect to have it protected at the public cost or inconvenience. And I have little doubt, if instead of hiring Chinese, - and probably confederates - as Watchmen