ben committed, but as there were several American and other foreign vessels lying off the Chinese coast at the time, it was possible that the offenders were otherwise than English; though.
hold
Any opportunity occurring of identifying them as British Subjects I should not fail to take further notice of them.
A most atrocious and barbarous robbery and plunder of Military Treasure having been committed near Chekchu, the Military Station, on the north side of this Colony by some piratical Chinese, the particulars of which I had the honor to detail in my despatch of the 1st May, 1825 to Findlay's address, I took occasion of the Relieving Viceroy's abovementioned Letter to bring the same to his Notice, in Enclosure No.2, and to suggest his assistance towards the discovery and punishment of the pirates. Both our Chief Police Magistrate, and the Chinese authorities in the opposite shore have apprehended persons under circumstances of suspicion, though I regret to say that nothing positive has yet been proved. Should any of these criminals be duly convicted, and condemned, by the Chief Justice after his arrival, I shall not fail to make a terrible example of them; for I am persuaded that the amount of robbery, with violence which has hitherto prevailed among the Chinese inhabitants of this Colony stands in great need of it.
I this day received the enclosed reply from His Excellency the Viceroy, courteously acknowledging my letter, and expressing his determination to use the most effectual means for the detection of the pirates. The Triad and other societies or combinations for the perpetration of crime referred to in your own letter and the Viceroy's, are known to exist largely not only in China but in foreign countries colonized by Chinese; and as they sin at the root of all security both of life and property.