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again stationed herself in the same position, but that some of her officers and men had twice boarded a junk which was clearly in British waters making a regular search for contraband goods on board of her. Upon receiving this information I immediately ordered the Government Steam Launch to proceed to Stanley Bay, giving strict injunctions that she was to anchor within British territory, and not to make use of any force except in self defence, or in the protection of British interests. On her arrival at Stanley Bay the Chinese gunboat had disappeared, and after remaining there for about twenty-four hours the steam launch returned, reporting that nothing more had taken place.