Sir F. Bruce to Mr. Hunter
Sir: Her Majesty’s government have recently had under their consideration the proceedings and finding of a court held at Swatow to inquire into the circumstances attending the loss of a British bark, Electricity, which vessel was totally wrecked on the Sal Rock, off Namoa, on the 14th of June last. Their attention has also been called to the circumstances that the Mischief, of Belfast, was lost in almost the same place on the 5th of May, 1865; and the British consul at Swatow reports that, in his opinion, a good light on the adjacent Cape of Good Hope would, in all probability, have prevented the loss of both these vessels, and would be of great service to vessels frequenting those seas.
In this opinion her Majesty’s government concur, but it appears to them that the dangers which at present attend the navigation of the China seas, as evidenced in the cases above referred to, suggest the question whether the time has not arrived for nations who have commercial relations with China to represent, through their respective legations to the government of that country the importance of the subject, and the mutual benefits which would arise were the Chinese government to undertake, as one of its regular functions, the exhibition of lights, placing of buoys, &c., in such places on the coast of the Chinese empire as may have been shown to require them.
It will, doubtless, not have escaped your recollection that Japan, in her recent commercial treaties with foreign powers, has undertaken to construct lighthouses and lay down buoys, with the view of facilitating the navigation of her coasts and harbors, and considered both as a matter of principle as well as of practice.
Her Majesty’s government conceive that an effort should be made to induce the Chinese government to adopt a similar course. I am accordingly directed [Page 262] to express the hope of her Majesty’s government that the government of the United States will be disposed to instruct its representative at Pekin to join with her Majesty’s minister in pressing this matter upon the attention of the Chinese government.
I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,
Hon. William Hunter, &c., &c., &c.