We have the opinion of the Surveyor General, that unless proper means of security are provided for him, he did not think, as the Chinese informes are not accurately given on these subjects, that any large sum of money would be safe in his possession for a single night.
It was therefore determined to entrust the Treasurer with the receipt, for the present, of the Land Revenue, and I did so with his entire concurrence, as the other duties of the Land Office were already more than sufficient for that Department.
I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, Your Lordships' Most Obedient, Humble Servant,
Main Davis
Forwarded by Order, Mapunda (Mr Stephen & Mr Hood)
Lord Stanley
2nd Share
382
Despatch of the 20th July 1843, reporting the circumstances under which I had determined that the Collector should receive all Rent and other Dues on Land &c. which had been hitherto imposed on that department.