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navigation has already been conceded, while in practice, as is so widely known, the concession has been rendered of no effect. The grounds on which this demand should be made are, therefore, first to secure us the reality of what has only been given, apparently, with intent to convert it into a sham: and secondly, that it is necessary to give security to trade, to the traders travelling and to the natives who form their
constituency.
At the present moment the greatest sufferers from these perpetual piracies are the native traders who carry on
the business with the foreign merchants. That they should
receive protection again lawless character is of supreme im-
portance, and it is the policy as well as the desire of the
British merchants to see that the peaceable portion of the
population is not disturbed or plundered.
Seeing, therefore, that the privilege suggested is but a means (and that an easy and practicable one) of secu-
ring a concession previously made, and that it will be the
means of conferring benefits on the whole of the districts
concerned, while at the same time yielding increased revenue
to the Chinese Government, the Committee are of opinion that
there should be no difficulty in obtaining it. They accordingly
hope that His Excellency the Governor will see his way to
make representations to this effect to the Right Honourable
the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
I have etc.,
(Sd.) R.Chatterton Wilcox,
Secretary.
Hon. J.H.Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G.
Colonial Secretary.