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all that has been done). The action at present undertaken by the British patrol on the inland waters of the West River, &c. is I understand limited to the examination of Tugs flying the British flag, and the search for unauthorised arms upon such vessels. I understand further that the so-called pirates are believed to be chiefly villagers inhabiting the riverain villages, who are prompted to these excesses either by failure of crops or by cupidity, and that the boat population do not (or only rarely) join these piratical bands. If I am right in these premises and if it is desired to bring greater pressure upon the Viceroy than the patrol with its existing limitations of action can effect, it would seem to me that the extension of search to vessels bearing the Chinese flag (which presumably are the only ones which commit piratical acts) would increase the pressure (a course I understand to have been covered by Your Excellency's proposals in March last). The Viceroy might also be urged to locate troops in the riverain districts without delay and to issue an Order that the Chief Official of a district in which an act of piracy occurred would be summarily deprived of office. The effectual action taken by the Taotai of Wuchow would seem to indicate that it lies within the power of these district officials to suppress piracy if they desire to do so and those demands (since they do not involve foreign control) would probably not be repugnant to His Excellency. The Foreign Office has suggested the destruction of villages harbouring pirates and robbers, but Your Excellency would probably consider that the landing of armed parties to search villages for arms would probably necessitate the despatch of troops and would not improbably in the present state of feeling give rise to a conflagration. Such a measure could not thereafter