CO129-117 - Public Offices - 1866 — Page 499

For being exposed, inhumanly and without consideration to the attacks of the disease? If they do not believe it, then how is their want of courtesy and attention towards us to be explained? This is an inevitable dilemma, and I submit it to the consideration of the Colonial authorities. In Spain, a country far behind the enlightened English nation, there are quarantines and observances: the first are performed in the Lazarettos, and the second in all the ports; but in both cases the vessels are enabled by every means to procure what they want, and every means is employed to cure the sick and to preserve the healthy from infection. In England, or rather in the Colony of Hong Kong, a vessel of war is put under rigorous observance, and it is left to its own resources and to the providence of Providence. But this is not enough: this morning I tried to provide myself with fuel for the purpose of returning to Manilla. I began the operation with my own people, in order that the crews of the barges should not come on board and should not have the least contact with my people; devious but even thus it was not allowed, and the craft had to sheer off by order of the police.

Yesterday, I wrote you an official protest against the arbitrary and inhuman conduct towards this vessel under my command; to-day I protest again, and I beg that you will please to transmit my protest to the Supreme authority of the Colony, as if this were to take place in Spain, the English...