Exactly consistent with the Chinese character, their utter recklessness in the pursuit of gain is only equalled by the patience with which they will prosecute the most remote and difficult chances of success. The land thieves in Hongkong have burrowed and mined under it to such an extent, from drains and houses, that every Treasury has had to be strengthened with masses of Granite and Brick, and even then are scarcely safe. The Chinese robbers are equally ingenious and persevering, and though it may be rather anticipating danger, to presume that they may entertain the idea of seizing one of the Company's Steamers, the time has clearly arrived to provide most fully against such a Contingency.
That this state of things should be allowed to exist is the more extensive and remarkable on a Coast where Commerce is so valuable that the Company should therefore be obliged to have recourse to unusual precautions is to say the least remarkable. Facts in the present day show that really effective steps are not being taken to put an end to the evils. The disruption of the Ley Onto fleet, the Chinese Government have made no effort whatever, and the costly mismanagement of that business, for which the British Government is morally responsible, gives the Authorities at Peking something like an excuse for not incurring any further expenditure. The main check therefore is given by our Open Boats; but as they are not systematically employed for the purpose, it may easily be supposed that an occasional Cruise or Anise has but little effect on such an extensive range of scallops and haunts of the Piratical population. In fact, these vessels can scarcely be said to act, as they are only sent out to deal Vengeance after the news has been received of some capture in the vicinity of Hongkong or one of the Consular Ports. It must be admitted that they are always prompt to do this work, but the final result of such expeditions are of little value, and from recent experiences, it might be doubted that two pirates rise up in place of every one destroyed.
It is too evident that nothing short of a systematic organization for the suppression of Piracy and thoroughly carried out will eradicate this evil or render the Coast of China safe for Merchant vessels. The facilities which the Chinese now possess for procuring European arms, with their skill and...
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