CO129-157 - Sir MacDonnell Acting Governor Sir Kennedy - 1872 [4-5] — Page 68

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

information to Your Lordships

Therefore, after communication with the Commodore and ascertaining that he would not, even with a Mandarin on board, despatch any of his Gunboats to look after the supposed Pirates, although they might have been met in waters within Admiralty jurisdiction, I determined to put in force a stratagem which I had formerly proposed, but which it had not been necessary to resort to as our cruisers had then swept the adjacent seas nearly clear of Piratical craft.

My plan had been to send one or more vessels, apparently ordinary fishing boats, to the places most frequented by suspected Piratical craft, in anticipation of their attacking them, in which case they would find themselves unexpectedly opposed by men on board and would not be warned off by the build of the vessel seeking them, and the smoke which is so notable a signal to them in the case of a Gunboat.

I therefore resolved to test the information received by trying my former proposed experiment, but as far as possible without committing this Government.

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information to Your Lordships Therefore, after communication with the Commodore and ascertaining that he would not, even with a Mandarin on board, despatch any of his Gunboats to look after the supposed Pirates, although they might have been met in waters within Admiralty jurisdiction, I determined to put in force a stratagem which I had formerly proposed, but which it had not been necessary to resort to as our cruisers had then swept the adjacent seas nearly clear of Piratical craft. My plan had been to send one or more vessels, apparently ordinary fishing boats, to the places most frequented by suspected Piratical craft, in anticipation of their attacking them, in which case they would find themselves unexpectedly opposed by men on board and would not be warned off by the build of the vessel seeking them, and the smoke which is so notable a signal to them in the case of a Gunboat. I therefore resolved to test the information received by trying my former proposed experiment, but as far as possible without committing this Government.
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information to Your Lordships te Therefore, after or communication with the Commodore and ascertaining that he would not, even with a Mandarin on board, despital any of his Gunboats to look after the supposed Pirates, although of they might have been met in waters course withie Admiralty jurisdiction, I determined to put in force stratagem which I had formerly proposed, but which it had not been necessary to resort to as our cruisers had then swept the adjacent. recent seas nearly clear of Piratical craft 7 My plan had been to send one or more 37 vessels, apparently - ordinary fishing boats to the places most frequented by suspected - Siratical craft, in anticipation of Case mens the batter attacking them, in which they would find themselves unexpectedly opposed by will around and would not be warned off by the build of the vessel seeking them, and the smoke which is so notable a signal to them in the of a Gunboat Case 8. Ithere for resolved to test the information reveined by trying my former proposed_cxperiment, but as far as possible without. committing this Government.
2026-05-20 15:47:41 · Baseline
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information to Your Lordships

te Therefore, after

or communication

with the Commodore and ascertaining that he would not, even with a Mandarin on board, despital any of his Gunboats to look after the supposed Pirates, although of they might have been met in waters

course

withie Admiralty jurisdiction, I determined to put in force stratagem which I had formerly proposed, but which it had not been necessary to resort to as our cruisers had then swept the adjacent.

recent seas nearly clear of Piratical craft

7 My plan had been to send

one or more

37

vessels, apparently

- ordinary fishing boats to the places most frequented by suspected - Siratical craft, in anticipation of

Case

mens

the batter attacking them, in which

they would find themselves unexpectedly opposed by will around and would not be warned off by the build of the vessel seeking them, and the smoke which is so notable a signal to them in the

of a Gunboat

Case

8. Ithere for resolved to test the information reveined by trying my former proposed_cxperiment, but as far as possible without. committing this Government.

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