Excellency for calling my attention to this circumstance, I beg to observe that as munitions of war are allowed to be exported from England, it is not at present in my power in any way to check the sale of these articles in this Colony; and that, if an ordinance were passed prohibiting their import, the good results that might be anticipated from enactment of this nature would be lost. The Pirates could easily be supplied at Macao, or at Canton, into which places it would be impossible to prevent their import.
I beg to enclose for Your Excellency's information, copy of an official communication from the Superintendent of Police, showing the result of his inquiries into the quantity of munitions of war for sale in the stores of Victoria.
As regards the question of the importation generally of the arms by British subjects, into China; I transmit herewith a copy of Viscount Palmerston's reply to a reference which Sir John Davis made to the subject. Your Lordship or Your Excellency will perceive, from the statement by Viscount Palmerston, that it would be useless to prohibit British subjects from importing arms into China, and that it is impossible for the Chinese authorities themselves to prohibit such importation.