!
17.
158
the search, the Governor instituted was made at the end of the month of March last, the Proclamation being dated and issued on the 6th of April that is about a month or so previous to the issue of the Proclamation, and consequently every Junk in the river or on the Coast had her armament of Stink pots, there being nothing at that time illegal, in it. Moreover the Proclamation was not to come into operation till after the expiration of six months from the beginning of the Chinese year, that is the 7th of August 1869. I do not see therefore that the result of this search supports the argument of the Governor, and further I believe, that the Vice Roy has taken very stringent measures to ensure their suppression.
And I doubt if the Governor of Hong Kong would find one hundred and seven Kon these implements in six days at Canton now unless they were dunks probably, were searched by his detectives.
I have only to remark with reference to the Despatch of the Governor of Hong Kong that I read with some surprise his statement that six junks had been searched at Canton without the privity of the Chinese Authorities, and he gives the result of such search. I can only infer that this