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and at the same time of their inability to do so. Minister at the court of Pekin has expressed his regret at being unable to prevent the barracoons at Macao from being filled, and I knowing how the sufferance of the Foreign authorities is construed into a tacit consent of the nefarious traffic by those concerned in it, and how desirable it is that some demonstration should be made to check the growth of such opinion in order to preserve and maintain the good feeling of the people toward foreigners, and to prevent these attempts on the lives and property of British subjects, for which this odious trade would afford a pretext - consider myself justified in adopting the only course that presents itself to me for driving this detestable trade from the limits of the Port, and in asking your assistance - since I am in receipt of reliable information, the details of which I have personally communicated to you, that several boats being about to sail tonight for Macao laden with kidnapped men, I therefore request that you will board these vessels on their departure, and should it be apparent that the passengers therein