Correspondence at Washington giving the sanction by that Government of the principles I have enunciated; but the Attorney General (in whose opinion eminent Lawyers in England have, I understand, concurred) does not accede to that decision, which is now under appeal to the Privy Council.
5. If my decision is correct; there would obviously be a power to put down those fittings out of Ship within the waters of this Colony as being felony within the provisions of the Acts; but under that decision, I am not surprised at your statement that His Excellency is advised that he has no power to interfere with the vessels thus fitted out in this Harbour. I understand that there is no one who denies the necessity for additional powers to put down the traffic in which these vessels are engaged.
6. The Harbour Master's Report discloses, as I believe not an exceptional but the usual state of activity during the season of the Coolie Trade in this Harbour, which appears to be actually a justification for at least some portion of the imputation by the Portuguese Government that