Tax and I approve of the extension of it to all classes of the Inhabitants.
From the news extract pressed by you of the 29th June in Despatch regarding the Collection of Revenue from Salt by farming I conclude that the terms Salt and Opium Licenses in the despatch of the 24th July No 29 and No 42 are intended to imply grants of the exclusive right of Sale of those Articles.
In the case of opium this mode of realizing a Revenue, which, I consider to be the best adapted to a Chinese Population, is both productive and consistent with other points of view and it may possibly be the only feasible mode of realizing a Revenue from Salt.