given to understand that a subscription has been set on foot to provide counsel and supply means of defence. I must, of course, believe that such a subscription cannot be made from a feeling that it is a lawful undertaking for private individuals to fit out vessels to capture Chinese pirates, without sanction or authority from either Government; and a venial offence if they happened to make a mistake and kill innocent men.
Nevertheless, so general an impression has, I think, existed for some time, here and elsewhere, that a foreign ship feels right, without illegality, to convoy for their protection, the parties employed necessarily accepting the responsibility of attacking vessels rightly or otherwise pointed out to them as dangerous to the junks sailing under this foreign escort.
The first result of this assumed liberty of acting without commission from either Government, has been a transgression of the Navigation Laws as to equipment, &c., and secondly, a series of piratical offences by foreigners against the Law of Nations. Here the ostensible object is specious, no question can be entertained as to its being laudable and unexceptionable, as well as its evil consequences such conduct entails.
But the definition of Piracy supplied by the Law of civilised Nations must set at rest all doubt as to the illegality, as well as inexpediency of enterprises of this nature, taken upon the responsibility of private individuals: Nor can the fact that Chinese merchants and junk owners interested in a legitimate trade may themselves have been the parties to seek this irregular and doubtful kind of protection from foreign vessels, by offering large sums for their convey, in any way affect the question at issue.
Piracy is defined to be robbery and depredation upon the High Seas, without authority from any prince or state, and it is even held...
Page 143
JIMA Meu ... (rest of text not corrected as it appears to be cut off or not fully provided)
TO
10.
Jam
given to understand that a subscription_ has been set on foot to provide counsel and supply
s of defence . Imust of course-believe-that-
Means
a
laudable and
in this community such a subscription, cannot be made from a feeling that it is lawful undertaking for private individuals to fite out. vessels to capture- Chinese. Perates, without- sauction. a authority from either Covernment;
- and a venial offenced if they happened to suake-
a mistake and kill innocent. men.
Nevertheless
so
a general impression has I think existed for some time, here and. :lsewhere, that a foreign_ Sinks sefeel right, without sliegality, convoy for their protection, the parties to employed necessarily accepting the responsibility of attacking vessels rightly or otherwise pointed
Prates dangerous to the funks sailing under this Freign-escort
out to them as
The first result of this assumed. liberty of acting without commission from wither- Government, has been a transgression.
State
CL-
143
11.
JIMA Meu
t
of the Navigation Laws as to equiferment, &e, and secondly a. series of piratical offences by foreigners against the law of Nations _ Here the
ostensible object therefore as unexceptionable, as its be entertained as to
is shecious, no
• questio. -
Cat
the evil consequences such, conducts entails.
But the definition of Piracy supplied
by the Laur of civilised - Nations must set at.
rest all doubt as to the
the
illegality.
well as
incxpediency of enterprises of this nature, taken upon the responsibility of private.
-
individuals: NOL-CAN- the fact that : Chinese
Merchants and Fink owners interested in a
legitimate trade, on
may
themselves have been the
fracties to secke this irregular and doubtful.
kind of protection from foreign = dessel's, by offering large sums
for their
the question at issue .
convey, in any way affect
Piracy is defined to be- robbery and-
depredation upon the Righ_ Leas, without authorites from any prince or state, and it is even held-
TO
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