in the Venerist Astamen! of cherges which I have already sent Instructions to have prepared at Hongkong, with the object of expalding their transfer to the Military charges to the Expedition up to the date of the signing of the Treaty haring Laws Subsequent to that date the Gland of Hongking berne & Jessesion of the brown of Englands and looking to that fact as well as to the negotiations I have already had the will of which is still perching, result with the Imperial Commissioners as to the fooking which the Chinese Intigbitants residing on and reaching to the Stand are to be considered and the Lout and by which they authority of the beland having belone the flation of are to be to tir Meristys repere tendents of Grade in Chine, which has drown a number of British and other Merchants to reside there. I beg to say to pay that I neither think the Instructions from Lont Aberdean of the It. of Sine Lord Irene sax adverting to be governed, and also, now considered applicable to the altered position of the Island, nor that they could be acted on without serious public inconvenience as well as great Political Embarassment regards questions of vital moment as between between the two Governments, and which have be?274 reported by me to the Queen's Ministers.
I therefore consider it my duty to distinctly apprige Your Evallency at once of the opinions I have beroned, and also to intimate the determination I had come to, refpe I was honored with Your Exalteneys "the life me, to retain the Island of Hongkong under my direct authority and to toke for aphansibilities of paying from the day the Treaty was signed. the Establishments now employed on the Island as well as have the additions which I expect to love to make to them in furtherance of the measures which I fruses will be reque. I to carry out the provisions of the Seaty, and I trust that Your Excellency will belive me me when I say, that nothing but a conviction of the absolute marcity of the course which I extends to per ore being esential to the momentous Public interests with which I am charged, should have induced me to offer the smallest objickon to the arrangement which Your Evallency letter indicates
Here is the corrected version in HTML format as requested:in the Venerable Statement! of charges which I have already sent Instructions to have prepared at Hongkong, with the object of expediting their transfer to the Military charges to the Expedition up to the date of the signing of the Treaty having Laws. Subsequent to that date the Island of Hongkong became & Session of the Crown of England, and looking to that fact as well as to the negotiations I have already had the result of which is still pending, with the Imperial Commissioners as to the footing on which the Chinese Inhabitants residing on and attached to the Island are to be considered and the Law and by which the authority of the Island having become the Station of are to be subject to Her Majesty's representatives in China, which has drawn a number of British and other Merchants to reside there. I beg to say that I neither think the Instructions from Lord Aberdeen of the date of ... Lord ... adverting to be governed, and also, now considered applicable to the altered position of the Island, nor that they could be acted on without serious public inconvenience as well as great Political Embarassment regards questions of vital moment between between the two Governments, and which have been reported by me to the Queen's Ministers.
I therefore consider it my duty to distinctly apprise Your Excellency at once of the opinions I have formed, and also to intimate the determination I had come to, before I was honored with Your Excellency's letter, to retain the Island of Hongkong under my direct authority and to take the responsibilities of paying from the day the Treaty was signed, the Establishments now employed on the Island as well as the additions which I expect to have to make to them in furtherance of the measures which I propose will be required to carry out the provisions of the Treaty, and I trust that Your Excellency will believe me when I say, that nothing but a conviction of the absolute necessity of the course which I have adopted being essential to the momentous Public interests with which I am charged, should have induced me to offer the smallest objection to the arrangement which Your Excellency's letter indicates.