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This matter is of great importance
that Commerce to and from British Ports
in these seas should
be regarded as protected against Piracy, although that commerce
may
not be carried
on in British Vessels. It should be protected against Piracy,
and whether this
protection of Security would be sufficiently maintained, if such cases were regarded as of Chinese jurisdiction, instead of
being dealt with by
the more effective justice of England, is
a serious question,
which
your opportunities of knowledge will
enable you fully to
consider.
6. That it must be extremely difficult to arrive safely at the truth in judicial dealing with such cases I plainly perceive, and
make full allowance
for the embarrassment
which the consciousness
of this uncertainty
occasions you. It is
no doubt a great evil,
but it is one to which we must necessarily be exposed more
or less.