20.
such alteration in the Admiralty Instructions with consent of the Chinese Government as would leave to the discretion of the Naval Commander-in-Chief, if at Hongkong or in his absence to the Commodore, the power to take such action in conjunction with the Mandarin of Kowloon, as might seem to them preferable, in cases of Piracy reported within 50 miles of Hong Kong. In all matters admitting of delay - such as a projected attack of a Piratical stronghold; I would suggest that, without interfering with the discretion which I think might be reposed as above in Officers of such high position as the Vice Admiral and the Commodore, the general practice should be understood to comprehend reference in the first instance to the Chinese Authorities through the Consul at Canton.
19. The principal difficulty at present arises from the Admiralty Instructions making that reference necessary preliminary in almost all cases whether those cases admit with propriety of such delay or not. If the Mandarin at Kowloon was an Officer of higher rank and countenanced operations sanctioned by the Admiral or Commodore,
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