it might not be desirable to insist that US repel should be permitted to leave Macao with
arms and munitions of war of any description on board whether cargo or ostensibly
means of defence, unless such vessel had a license from the Harbor Master or other suitable officer, in which license should be stated clearly and fully the description of armament on board. In the event of any vessel being found with a greater amount
of ammunition than stated in the license, such vessel to be liable to forfeiture.
It will be observed that such
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Regulation as that last mentioned does not in the least interfere with vessels arming themselves for protection against Pirates, provided the authorities of the Port &c. are correctly informed of the tonnage and the equipment
of each vessel. Hereafter it may be possible to forbid
any
Government vessels to carry arms
– or ammunition. At present such a regulation might prove
of greater injury to the honest trader than to the Pirate. Meantime however I see no
objection to licensing such
as I have described, and if the