sailing from the Colony, and bearing the registration number, or due by "Inake boats" (small open sampans) which creep from under the land in calms, and board passing vessels and rob them; but this is not "piracy" in its true intent and meaning - indeed the day of formidable fleets of these robbers, sweeping up and down the coast, levying black-mail, and destroying life and property, is a thing of the past, and the last cruises of the Gunboats have, but not having...
...the fact that, for the present, at least, piracy on the coast has ceased to be formidable, and is, in all probability, annihilated.
I need only refer to the means by which this has been effected - when reports were made to me of many chases, fights, and captures during the past two years, I have had to tell the tale of the success of these Gunboats, and the gallantry of their officers and crew, and am sure Your Excellency will be gratified that the last Despatch I shall have the honor of addressing to China, is to inform you that under the policy of "self-help" which you strongly aided and supported, the Chinese Government in those provinces has proved itself capable of contending with the...