Again Sin. The intention of the Seventh State President, was that I should leave the question of apology for the flagrant outrages committed to the British Minister then settled at Peking &c. by Mr. Chargé d'affaires. This has long been my own view and with that view I have kept clear. I am pretty well acquainted with what the communications received upon the Vice Mayor of Fokhien & his Kwang on the subject.
I have & (gl) W. Ho search a matter of Police.
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At the present time the waters of the Kwang Tung Province are swarming with pirates who have plundered many merchant & shipping vessels. Among others was the S.S. Greyhound forwarded various communications from the Governor of Hongkong asking me to order the arrest of the Criminals, in consequence of which I told off successive detachments to seize them and bring them to justice.
(Translation of Viceroy's letter)
The pirates of Hwang Shan are leagued with the Smugglers in one society, bound together, both ships and men, either to plunder or on occasion serves, to trade in contraband salt or to carry Contraband Saltpetre and gunpowder, breaking the law to help thieves, to import Contraband Opium and other goods with which to evade the law.
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