by Europeans and will require protection from the practical and wrecking population which will look upon it with no
as
friendly eye interfering with their gains. Understand that the shoal
was surveyed last year and a report on the whole question transmitted either to the Lords
of the Admiralty or to the Board of Trade.
I have … (12) Frederick W. A. Bruce
(Copy)
£206
Office of Committee of Privy Council for Trade,
9157 11537
Whitehall. 20 December 1859.
Referring to your Letter
193
of the 12 Instant, transmitting copy of a despatch from
Her Majesty's Minister in China on the subject of the proposed Lighthouse on the
Prata's Shoal, I am directed by the Lords
of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade to
state to Lord John Russell that My Lords are of opinion that
it is desirable for the safety of Vessels trading
in the China Sea that some light should be placed on Prata Shoal.
My Lords presume that there would
now be no difficulty about the right to
take possession of the Shoal if it were
determined …
The Under Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs
Foreign Office
A