take the enclosed papers into consideration.
and report to Y. L. our
opinion thereupon
个
and also with
any
observations which
may be suggested.
to
las
by the enclosed
commands
papers.
In obedience
we have taken these papers into consideration, and have the honour to report:
that we are of opinion that a Foreign Vessel, falling within the description of a Chinese passenger ship as contained in the Act 18th and 19th Vict. c. 104, may if legally seized,
Port within H.M's dominions or in the territories of "the E. I. Company" where there is no
in a
Admiralty Court, be conveyed by Officers of H.M's Navy
across
the
high
seas to
the
nearest British Port, where there is an
Admiralty Court competent to decide on the
condemnation of such vessel.
Such act if done by the Naval
officer at the instance of the Consul or other authority seizing the Ship,
cannot subject the Officer to any liability whatever even
though the Ship
be not condemned.
With respect to Y. L's request that
we would make
any
other observation that
may be suggested to us by the papers
enclosed in
your despatch we beg to state that we concur
entirely
in the
views and remarks of the Sec. Labouchere
as contained in Mr. Merivale's letter to the Sec. of the Adm. dated the 6th March
1858.
We have,
(Signed)
J. D. Harding
Richard Bettell
H. L. Cockburn