419
"lescope,
she had no signal flying and had made none, for she
"had been closely watched since early morning, as she was
"evidently doing her best to overtake my steamer and was in
fact gaining upon us. Just after firing the gun her small ensign was exchanged for a large one. When looking at her I saw
the bow port on the port side was open and the men evidently
"getting the gun ready. While watching her the gun was fired,
a heavy report this time, and still no signal flags were hoisted.
"I then had the signal Q.V.S. - "What is the matter?" and our
"ensign also hoisted and soon after the French vessel hoisted
"the signal B.C. "Show your ensign." which was already flying.
"I then had the signal d.V.H. - "Any more? anything further?"
"hoisted, which was replied to by D. - "No" and Q.K.D. - "Nothing
more". The two vessels continued in company, the French vessel
judging from the dense volume of smoke pouring from her funnel, making strong efforts to pass my steamer, until the Lammock Islands were passed at 4.20 P.M. when she gradually
kept outside to seaward, and was about four miles astern on
entering port this morning.
DY
"As it appears to me that the firing of guns
by a French vessel of war in the direction of a British merchant vessel without, or even with an explanatory signal
hoisted, is very irregular and wanting in good feeling also an
unwarrantable assumption of authority, I should be glad to
"know what the meaning of firing guns by a war vessel in the
direction of a merchant vessel is?, except, as I understand it
a peremptory summons to stop or heave to; whether the French
vessel had any right to fire the guns without a signal ex-
419
"lescope,
she had no signal flying and had made none, for she
"had been closely watched since early morning, as she was
"evidently doing her best to overtake my steamer and was in
fact gaining upon us. Just after firing the gun her small en-
"sign was exchanged for a large one. When looking at her I saw
the bow port on the port side was open and the men evidently
"getting the gun ready. While watching her the gun was fired,
a heavy report this time, and still no signal flags were hoisted.
"I then had the signal Q. V. S. -"What is the matter?" and our
"ensign also hoisted and soon after the French vessel hoisted
"the signal B. C. "Show your ensign." which was alreay flying
"I then had the signal d. V. H. -"Any more? anything further?"
"hoistea,which was replied to by D.-"No" and Q.K.D. -"Nothing
"more". The two vessels continued in company, the French vessel
* juuging from the dense volume of smoke pouring from her fun-
*nel,making strong efforts to pass my steamer, until the Lan-
*mock Islands were passed at 4.20 P.M. when she gradually
"kept outside to seaward, and was about four miles astern on
"entering port this morning.
*DY
"As it appears to we that the firing of guns
French vessel of war in the direction of a British mer-
"chant vessel without, or even with an explanatory signal
"hoisted, is very irregular and wanting in good feeling also an
unwarrantable assumption of authority,I should be glad to
"know what the meaning of firing guns by a war vessel in the
"direction of a merchant vessel is?, except, as I understand it
"a peremptory summons to stop or heave to; whether the French
*vessel had any right to fire the guns without a signal ex-
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