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Government and executive Authorities of the
Colony of Hong Kong
It would be superfluous to say one syllable more to account for my having felt it necessary to address this despatch to Your Lordship. The points discussed in it demonstrate the correctness.
"that it may be of Your Lordship's remark in despatch No 8 of the 3rd instant, impossible for you confidently to determine to which of Her Majesty's Secretaries of State you have a right to report your proceedings, and difficulties, and to apply for instructions, and I will therefore trust to Your Lordship to furnish Lord Aberdeen with a copy of this communication.
"I hope Lieut. Col. Malcolm will have left the Akbar steamer at Suez for the purpose of bringing me replies to some of my most urgent references sent by him. And possibly some Officer to join me; but as that may not be the case, I intend to address the Government of Bombay, and beg that a steamer may be held in readiness at that port to come on to China, at any moment I may desire, 1844. That His Majesty's Government will approve of my doing so, I have no doubt.
"I should propose to keep here till the 10 of January to cover me, as far as Bombay, when relieved, on my terra to Europe, and I hope Her Majesty's Government will approve of my doing so, and will likewise direct, that she shall be placed under my orders and at my exclusive disposal. I trust, with God's blessing, under the additional weight of labour and anxiety that awaits me, but it...