subject to the confirmation of Her Majesty's Government -
which
My duties as Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary having required that I should proceed to Macao - from whence I could with much greater facility carry on my Communications with the Imperial Commissioner at Canton, I announced
Notification,
L
that intention by dated the 24th of August, of which I forward a Copy. The late Mr. Morrison had preceded me to Macao some days before, owing to his severe and final illness; but even had he been in good health,
I must have taken him with me to aid in the Chinese my ... to Nr. 4.
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Government in my own hands, whilst I was absent from Hongkong...
In
spite of every exertion.
In my part, a variety of circumstances, the chief one of which was Mr Morrison's demise, and in consequence, my having to summon Mr Thom from Canton, and to send that Gentleman back and forward, with my written and verbal communications to the Imperial Commissioner – protracted my stay at Macao much longer than I had originally anticipated. and I only returned to this Colony on the 13th of last month.
Ever since my return here my time and thoughts have been almost solely and incessantly occupied with matters appertaining to my duties as Negotiations; and therefore I had no alternative but to retain the Government Plenipotentiary and