CO129-118 - Public Offices - 1866 — Page 62

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

60

have a wholesome dread of shell. A smaller rifled gun that can also throw shell would be still more useful and I would therefore beg you to select & send out eight or ten of these guns as soon as possible. The description of Gun most suitable you will have the best means of deciding on but it ought to have these three requisites: 1. Riffiling. 2. Capability of throwing shell. 3. Lightness, and appliances for being moved from one part of the vessel to another.

In the meantime Instructors will be procured from the Men of War and our Officers and men will be drilled as efficiently as consistent with their other duties.

Piracy has lately spread to an alarming extent, and the crimes committed have been gradually increasing in boldness till they have at length reached to a degree of extraordinary audacity. It has become systematized and is now carried out by regular professional and organized Associations in a most determined manner. Practical raids have been made on small native Craft. The latter class of Junks comparatively exempt from attack and European vessels were never openly meddled with, though one or two instances had occurred of their being treacherously captured by some portion of their Crews; such exemption however no longer exists. Native vessels of the largest description are constantly being captured, with the most frightful bloodshed; and within the last few months we have had, at least, two or three large European ships similarly treated, the last being that of the Henriette, the particulars of which the newspapers will give you.

It is difficult to see at what point this is to stop. Sailing vessels of any kind whatsoever are evidently very far from safe. The Pirates possess heavily armed and fast sailing vessels manned with Crews composed of the most reckless & desperate men drawn from the scum of China, and are not unfrequently assisted, it is feared, by Europeans. Unless superior in point of speed to a sailing vessel would therefore have much chance in an encounter with these scoundrels and I feel certain that they have become so confident that they would not hesitate to attack a Steamer if they found her with machinery broken or could contrive to render her helpless in that way by the treachery of some Confederates who might be put on board for that purpose. To carry out some such design would indeed be...

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60 have a wholesome dread of shell. A smaller rifled gun that can also throw shell would be still more useful and I would therefore beg you to select & send out eight or ten of these guns as soon as possible. The description of Gun most suitable you will have the best means of deciding on but it ought to have these three requisites: 1. Riffiling. 2. Capability of throwing shell. 3. Lightness, and appliances for being moved from one part of the vessel to another. In the meantime Instructors will be procured from the Men of War and our Officers and men will be drilled as efficiently as consistent with their other duties. Piracy has lately spread to an alarming extent, and the crimes committed have been gradually increasing in boldness till they have at length reached to a degree of extraordinary audacity. It has become systematized and is now carried out by regular professional and organized Associations in a most determined manner. Practical raids have been made on small native Craft. The latter class of Junks comparatively exempt from attack and European vessels were never openly meddled with, though one or two instances had occurred of their being treacherously captured by some portion of their Crews; such exemption however no longer exists. Native vessels of the largest description are constantly being captured, with the most frightful bloodshed; and within the last few months we have had, at least, two or three large European ships similarly treated, the last being that of the Henriette, the particulars of which the newspapers will give you. It is difficult to see at what point this is to stop. Sailing vessels of any kind whatsoever are evidently very far from safe. The Pirates possess heavily armed and fast sailing vessels manned with Crews composed of the most reckless & desperate men drawn from the scum of China, and are not unfrequently assisted, it is feared, by Europeans. Unless superior in point of speed to a sailing vessel would therefore have much chance in an encounter with these scoundrels and I feel certain that they have become so confident that they would not hesitate to attack a Steamer if they found her with machinery broken or could contrive to render her helpless in that way by the treachery of some Confederates who might be put on board for that purpose. To carry out some such design would indeed be...
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60 have a wholesome dread of shell. A smalle quee rifled that can also throw shell would be still. no av Roomas useful an and I would therefore beg you to select & rend out eight or ten of these gene as possible. The d description of Gun most suitable you will have the best meaus of deaiding on but it ought to have these three requisites It richting. 3. Bapability of throwing shell. 34 Lightness, and appliances for being. one part of the sessel to another: moved. d from In the meantine Instructors will be procured from the Men of War and out Officers and men will be drilled an effeciently your consistent with their other duties. as Ikey love to resure They ures are these precash ovary. without very exfficient cause. کنیم most. sure you not adopted Peracy hoo lately spread to alarming aftant, and the crimes committed have bean gradually increasing in boldwap sill they have at length reached to a degree of extra- -ordinary audacity. It has become infect a and is now carried out by regular profession extensivel of organized Associations in a mosty .__ Some years expetematic & determined mannet ) Pratical raids ever heard of bere made on small native Craft. The letter clap of Bunks comparatively exempt from attack and European vessels were never openly. openly meddled the o with, though one or two, one or two instances had occurred, some of their being treacherously captured by conce portion of their Cres; ench exemption how he longer exists. Native sepets of the largest description, are constantly being captured, with the most frightfull bloodshed; and withen the last few months we have had, at least, two or three, large European chips similarly treated the last base being that of the Henri Parking which the newspape the particulars . are AAQAA and not mail will; by this ma ill give you It is difficult to see at what point characters drawn this is to stop. Vailing vessels of any kind whatsoe edly very far from safe. The Pirates porsces heavily armed ans fast exiling Forches. manned with Crevo composed of the most reckles & desperate drawn from the scum of China unfrequently assisted it is feared by __ Europeans. Unles experior in point of exeed to sailing vessel would therefore have much chance in an encounter. with these scoundrels and I feel certain that, they have that they would not hesitate become so confident that they would not to attack a Steamer if they found her with machinery or could contrive to render her helpless in that way by the treachery of Confederatio who might be put on board for that purpose. To carry out some such design the latter with the utmost. How broken as perel verances and a conning would windeed be
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60

have a wholesome dread of shell. A smalle

quee

rifled

that can also throw shell would be still.

no av Roomas

useful an

and I would therefore beg you to select & rend out eight or ten of these gene

as possible. The d

description of Gun most suitable you will have the best meaus

of deaiding on but it ought to have these three requisites It richting. 3. Bapability of throwing shell. 34 Lightness, and appliances for being.

one part of the sessel to another:

moved.

d from

In the meantine Instructors

will be procured from the Men of War and out Officers and men will be drilled an effeciently your consistent with their other duties.

as

Ikey love to resure They

ures are

these precash ovary. without very exfficient cause.

کنیم

most.

sure you

not adopted

Peracy hoo lately spread to

alarming aftant, and the crimes committed have bean gradually increasing in boldwap sill they have at length reached to a degree of extra- -ordinary audacity. It has become infect a

and is now carried out by regular profession extensivel of organized Associations in a mosty .__ Some years expetematic & determined mannet )

Pratical raids ever heard of bere made on small native Craft. The letter clap of Bunks comparatively exempt from attack and European vessels

were never openly.

openly meddled

the o

with, though one or two,

one or two instances had occurred,

some

of their being treacherously captured by conce portion of their Cres; ench exemption how he longer exists. Native sepets of the largest description, are constantly being captured, with the most

frightfull bloodshed; and withen

the last few months we have had, at least, two or three, large European chips similarly treated the last base being that of the Henri Parking

which the newspape the particulars .

are AAQAA

and not

mail will;

by this ma

ill give you

It is difficult to see at what point

characters drawn

this is to stop. Vailing vessels of any kind whatsoe

edly very far from safe. The Pirates porsces heavily armed ans fast exiling Forches. manned with Crevo composed of the most reckles & desperate drawn from the scum of China

unfrequently assisted it is feared by __ Europeans. Unles experior in point of exeed to sailing vessel would therefore have much chance in an encounter. with these scoundrels and I feel certain that, they have that they would not hesitate become so confident that they would not to attack a Steamer if they found her with machinery

or could contrive to render her helpless in that way by the treachery of Confederatio who might be put on board for that purpose. To carry out some such design

the latter with the utmost.

How

broken

as

perel verances and a

conning would windeed be

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