James Stirling thinks that the Act of Parliament affords no adequate protection to the hary, except when it acts under the remission of the Civil Authorities. His opinion is not shared by the Attorney General, nor by myself, but it is perfectly obvious that the Act of Parliament is altogether a dead letter, if the active assistance of the naval Authority cannot be counted on in places where no Consular or Colonial Authority exists.
I hope to forward to the Colonial Office by this mail copies of correspondence with Sir James Stirling, on the subject of a vessel which, in this harbour, has been shipping Chinese passengers for Australia, in utter disregard of the Act of Parliament to which this department refers.
No doubt the subject will engage your Lordship's attention.
& 5082/202