Robbery with violence on land, piracies on the sea, were frequent. They are now more rare. Something is due to the firmness and good sense of juries; but more is due to the energy of the Executive of which, constituted as the Colony is, the Governor is the life and the soul.'
With regard to the repression of piracy, also. Sir Richard scored an undoubted success. By the time of his arrival in the Colony, piracy was a matter of almost weekly occurrence, not only interfering with the native junk trade and small European coasting vessels, but frequently also causing the loss of many lives. The measures taken by the British Naval Authorities, for whom Sir Richard secured the co-operation of the steamcruizers of the Chinese Customs, were viewed by the public as inefficient or, when successful, as suspicious. Individual naval officers, as for instance the commander of H.M.S. Bouncer who captured, with the assistance of Chinese revenue cruizers, over 30 piratical junks in the gulf of Tungking (June 9 to July 27, 1869), were much applauded. Nevertheless the impression gained ground, that frequently British gunboats were induced by Chinese officials to treat, as pirates, vessels and men whose guilt amounted at the worst only to attempts at smuggling or resisting the illegal exactions of the rapacious revenue officers of China. This allegation was particularly made, but without clear proof, with regard to the proceedings of H.M.S. Algerine (June, 1868). The most effective measure that was ever launched against piracy in South-China was that (Ordinance 9 of 1866 and 12 of 1867) by which Sir Richard brought under surveillance and severe restrictions the haunts and stores established in the Colony by the aidors and abettors of piracy, and particularly the native dealers in marine stores. Next in effectiveness ranks Sir Richard's Junk Ordinance (1 of 1868) which amalgamated, with the preceding measure, some stringent regulations providing that all native vessels (junks) should report arrival at the Harbour Office, take out an anchorage permit by payment of a fee (subsequently remitted) and obtain clearance papers before sailing. For the same purpose
