Thanks
to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are able to read
books that are some times for decades no longer available for the public for
several reasons. That’s quite a pity while these books contains useful
information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor accessible. Of
essential interest for navy and merchant ships was where in the world dock
(yard) facilities were available for ordinary repairs or in case of emergency.
The costs of using such a facility was of course also of interest and finally
these information was of great value in times of war.
P:
718: “Singapore. Police gunboats. The first of the two small gunboats for the
use of the police, ordered some time ago, has been launched, and the other will
be ready in a day or two. They have been built by Messrs. Tivendale and Co. and
promise to he very efficient craft, going fast either with oar or sail, and being
of very light draught in the water. They will be manned by eleven men each,
armed with, pistols and cutlasses, and each boat carrying a brass 3-pounder
gun. They will be stationed no as to make a complete sweep round the island,
and it will be their duty to be constantly on the more, looking into the
different creeks and rivers, and other resorts of see robbers. These vessels,
in combination with the larger gunboats of the Royal Navy, which may soon be
expected from home, will, we trust, keep the waters round Singapore and the
neighbouring seas clear of the pirates which now give so much annoyance.
Singapore Free Press.
Source
Wm.
H. Allen and co. Allen’s Mail, and Register of Intelligence of British and
Foreign, 2 December 1850.
