461
A
Pratas.
In other words Sir R. Hart treated this group as a Chinese possession and Sir R. Alcock does not appear to have questioned this assumption.
The Admiralty, to which Department this matter was referred some years later, communicated in November 1867, a sketch map and chart of the Pratas showing the positions of the Lighthouse recommended by them.
In September, 1882, the Board of Trade asked this office to request the Chinese Government to erect a lighthouse on the Pratas group.
The British Representative in China, to whom the matter was referred, explained in reply that Sir R. Hart had abandoned his project as Vice Admiral Keppel had pointed out that a lighthouse on the Pratas would be a source of danger rather than useful.
Sir E. Grey has no information as to the standing &c., of Messrs Newman and Wilkinson, who wish to be granted a concession for working the guano beds on