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Looking to the nature of the waters of China, and to the facilities of concealment and refuge which they afford to piratical craft, the work of extirpating piracy, under the most favourable circumstances and under the restrictive measures proposed by the French Admiral must require some time and while it was in progress the Chinese Govt might not unreasonably demur to prohibiting trading Junks from providing for themselves means of protection which the Imperial Govt was itself wholly unable to extend to them, and which foreign navies from the extent of coasts to be watched, and from inadequacy of force for doing so, were left incompetent.
I understood from the French Admiral that he expected shortly to have another communication to make on the subject. In the meanwhile I think it desirable that Y.E. should know what has already passed between us; and I will add that I am informed that in consequence of a communication from the Governor of Hongkong, H.M.'s Consul at Canton endeavoured early in the month of May last to ascertain what view the Viceroy of the Province would take of a proposition to prohibit any but vessels of the Imperial Navy from carrying arms, and to declare that all ...