to there
apparently.
were
representations to me that
as it did not
our own interests
materially interfered with, and I did not consider that it was at all
even
incumbent on H. M. Vessels of War to afford protection to Chinese subjects which the latter have a right to look for at the hands
of
their
own
authorities.
Lately, however, I have
had reason to believe that the
depredations of pirates were indirectly affecting British Interests. Chinese merchants in the habit
of dealing with foreigners have frequently come to me to state
347
that they could not purchase goods
from neighbouring
ports, nor bring produce from them, on account of the great risk of their being captured by pirates, and I am inclined to believe that the
depression of
trade complained
of by foreigners at this port may lately have been partly, if not wholly, owing to
this
reason. On some occasions, too, I have heard that masters
of
British Vessels have been deterred
from
going
into anchorage in the
Court, in consequence of seeing piratical vessels there, or have left such anchorages on the arrival of heavily armed
on account