Also enclosing a letter from the Colonial Office, pointing out the inconvenience and embarrassment which are likely to result from an acquiescence in the pretensions of the Chinese Govt and the Draft of an Answer which has been prepared in that letter. Your Lordship requests that we would take these papers into consideration & report Your Lordship's opinion upon the Draft, when your answer shall be returned to the Colonial Office.
Mr. Addington further states that Your Lordship is, however, aware that there are some matters of importance still unprovided for by this Draft, and which are adverted to in the Letter from the Colonial Office, namely what course is to be taken with regard to cases in which a British & Chinese Subject may be engaged together in the commission of a crime. That the act may be regarded as a capital offence by British Law, and as comparatively trivial by Chinese Law, or is capital punishment to be inflicted on one of the Parties, and the other to be slightly punished for the same act!
Again, in case an injury has been committed against the person, or property of a British Subject by a Chinese, where a possession of the Crown has been committed against the Life, person, or property of a British Subject by a Chinese, would it be possible to insist on reparation to the effect of the Chinese Law alone? That this might perhaps be necessary and unavoidable on Chinese Territory, but could it be tolerated under British Jurisdiction?
Your Lordship is pleased to request that
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