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suspicious vessels, attempting to break the blockade of the Canton River, against the vigilance of our cruisers employed to enforce it.[1]
The "convoy business" unhappily needs no explanation now; since the horrid events of the last two years in the Ningpo and Min rivers, have shed their blood-red light to illustrate its meaning.
It is no longer permitted, to any man, to doubt the truth of Dr. MacGowan's solemn denunciations from Ningpo, about a year after the last cruise of the "Eaglet."[2]
"Being personally cognisant of the severe and protracted sufferings of the people, among whom I dwell, necessity is laid upon me of exposing the cruelties inflicted on them, and of appealing for sympathy in their behalf.
"One disastrous result of the late war with England was the discovery by the Chinese of the impotence of their rulers. Multitudes were, consequently, soon arrayed against the Government, particularly on the seaboard, where weakness and incapacity were most palpable. Piratical fleets became so numerous, as almost to destroy the coasting trade; poor fishermen, even, were not exempt from spoliation. It was seldom, however, that great cruelties were practised. Instead of acting on the maxim of western pirates, that 'dead men 'tell no tales,'—they seemed to hold, that 'dead men can furnish no more spoil;' and, accordingly, captured seamen and vessels were always redeemable by money. A deputation of the captors repaired
