Government House, Hongkong, 4th June, 1844.
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter relative to the Deputy Post Master's refusal to pay you a gratuity on the Overland mails from Bombay. In reply I am directed by His Excellency the Governor in Council to state that all legal instructions seem to justify him in declining to make any payment by way of gratuity on the packets delivered by you, and His Excellency cannot interfere with his decision in a case so distinctly provided for.
Your proper course will be to get a certificate from the Post Master of the number of letters delivered, and apply
To John Hews,
"Traid of Athens"