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sufficient within its framework, had been issued by the above Court for the safe and secure arrest of the Steamer "Ava".
The number of men placed on board the "Ava" was at first two, but when an Officer from the French Flagship "Alma" objected to that number being sufficient to constitute a forcible seizure of the Vessel, ten others were placed on board.
Where, I may observe that the Police of this Colony are an armed Police, and parade for duty with carbines and swords; which probably gave rise to the statement in the letter of the Agent of the Messageries Maritimes Company that soldiers were used.
3rd I communicated with the Officer Commanding Her Majesty's Naval Forces, by request of the Marshal of the Vice Admiralty Court; this I made known to the Commodore; by informing him that I only acted as Messenger.
I have …
(Signed) W. M. Deane,
Captain Superintendent of Police.