uring Sir Edward
Pellew's command than at any former period.

"--That since the arrival of Sir Edward Pellew, a period of only
three years, one hundred and ten ships have exported and imported,
to and from China, under convoy during the whole voyage; while only
twenty-eight have run the passage unprotected, in consequence of
their sailing out of the seasons fixed for the regular convoys; at
the same time that those which have departed unprotected on the eve
of appointed convoys, or have separated in the course of the
voyage, have not failed to attract the notice and remonstrance of
his Excellency.

"--That the operation of the system of convoys had afforded
complete security to the trading capital of Bombay, of which the
amount insured at this settlement, from May 1st, 1806, to October
31st, 1808, has been 6,700,000_l._; that the premium paid by the
trade on that sum amounts to 445,000_l._; that the losses by
captures amount to 61,000_l._; that the losses by sea risks
extended to 69,000_l._; and that the profits to the underwriters
amount to the sum of 314,000_l._; the losses by captures being
under one per cent, on the principal insured, and exceeded by those
arising from sea-risks; while the former have occurred beyond the
influence, or have been a consequence of a departure from that
regular system of convoy, by which the commerce of the western
division of the peninsula of India has been so extensively
benefited.

"--That the advantage resulting from protection by convoys, which
the trade of this port has thus experienced, has originated in that
system which was established, and has prevailed, since the
succession to the command of H.M.'s ships in India by Sir Edward
Pellew; a system proposed at his express invitation, in the letter
addressed to his Excellency by the three leading firms in behalf of
the merchants of Bombay, on the 12th of February, 1806, and adopted
in the reply of his Excellency's secretary of the following day.

"--That at a time when the enemy has sacrificed his maritime
reputation, and every feeling of naval ambition, to a degrading
system of privateering, in the prosecution of which national ships
of superior force and construction are employed, for the purpose of
committing depredations on our trade, it is i