the Commander in Chief will not be able with the Force, now under his orders to detach more vessels for the suppression of Piracy, looking to the continued demands made upon him on account of British interests and their representatives in China and in Japan and other parts of his extended Station.
With respect to the second point, namely the reinforcement of the Squadron with the class of Vessels suited to the repression of Piracy on those Coasts, their Lordships would remark that the best class of vessels that could be sent is a superior Kind of Gun Boat, fast and with heavy armament. Such vessels can only be built, armed and equipped at a large outlay, and maintained there at a large annual cost.
At the present time there are increased demands for naval forces in other parts of the world, while an urgent request is made to their Lordships to reduce the amount required for the expenditure of the ensuing year. The difficulty felt by their Lordships in ordering an increase to the China Squadron would be diminished, if it were likely that the expense would ultimately be defrayed.