stationed in this harbor.
Bitter experience has taught Chinese traders such utter distrust of Chinese Officials that although they might in this case have no real grounds for doing so, they look upon the presence of any of the Vice-Ray's Gunboats as part of the system of espionage and oppression practiced by the others.
Past experience points to this conclusion and we therefore deem it desirable that Chinese Gun vessels keep away from visiting this port, except for the purpose of occasional co-operation with other Gun vessels, supplying the local Authorities with intelligence, receiving information from them, for the ordinary purpose of laying Stores and supplies. Any systematic co-operation between British and Chinese cruisers would probably be found to lead to such delays in most cases as would admit of the escape of the pirates in whose pursuit they were sent.
With regard to the unfairness that the British Government should continue to bear the chief burden of the protection of all Foreign Commerce in the Chinese seas, while appreciating the force of the argument by H. E. Sir R. Alcock when he concludes that an equal contribution...