certain measures, reply of disarming event and fortification, written to the Supervising Censor Minister of Grain for the Northern and Southern Posts; as also to the respective Governors General of the Maritime Provinces, directing them to take into consideration the best means of enforcing an act against the armament of Junks and their plans for giving it effect, and draw up a code of Regulations, reporting certain to Peking.
I send you a copy of the Law in question for your information, although it falls within the sphere of the total and absolute disarmament so much insisted upon in Admiral Bell's letter to you of the 22nd October last, (copy of which I received from the Legation of the United States) yet if put into execution it would take away the means of attack by cannon and leave but a very small equipment of missiles even for a fight at close quarters. I doubt whether spears and matchlocks are by any means so dangerous as artillery in Chinese craft where either attack or defence is contemplated; and if it be deemed necessary to take from all Chinese boats the means of self-defence, these means of aggression would have to be more strictly prohibited, especially...