returned from a four days' cruise, having visited the places named in your letter, from Chung Chow towards the West and Mirs' Bay towards the East -- Acting Commander Licken reports all quiet in those localities and that he fell in with no vessels of suspicious character.
With reference to this matter, I have further to inform Your Excellency that I have taken the opportunity of the Gun-vessels or boats under his orders going out for gunnery practice for them to visit the localities referred to in letter before mentioned.
I have to,
(Signed) Chas. J. Shadwell,
Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
True Copy)
J. Smith,
Acting Colonial Secretary.