CO129-042 - Sir Bonham - 1853 [1-6] — Page 379

N

3

of the Ceylon Rifles.

2.

Imediately

Mi

the

receipt

of this despatch, Sir William Ante,

the Seuin Naval

officer,

issued

the usual Notification for tenders for Shipping, to enable there

instructions to be carried into

execution.

3.

On the 23rd Mustant, however, Ireceived a Communication from the Right Honorable the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, dated * May, conveying to me the views of Her Majesty's Government. relative to the contest at present

existing in China between the this Country, and

certain insurgents who are in

against

him.

Sovereign of

open

eu

rebellion

4. In this Tespatch, the harl

of

Clarendon sanctions the.

engaging

my

· services of any

British Verrels and their Crews

the protection of British

for

Subjects at the

open

Ports, should

it be necessary to have recourse

to such

5.

At

a measure.

present the Naval Force in China is on a smaller scale than ordinary, and quite