be published in the next Government Gazette.
I have ….
(Signed) Richard Hoonam.
Memorandum.
As regards the first point in Mr Scales' letter, Sam - after the fullest consideration decidedly of opinion, that all "Service" letters which may pass through the Post Office here, whether coming from, or going to, India (or elsewhere) should be exempted from Postage, pending a reference to England, and until some arrangement shall be made between Her Majesty's Government and that of the East India Company, and shall be publicly notified for the information and guidance of all Departments and Official Functionaries.
The letter No:159 747
The whole of the troops serving in China, are considered to belong to the Indian Establishment and in conformity with the Post Office Act and Regulations of India, the voluminous Correspondence, Returns, and Orders, connected with them, pass "Free", nor do I see how the duty is to be carried on should any sudden change be made in this arrangement, for no Officer (however high his rank?) can be supposed to have the means, and he certainly has not the authority, to pay Postage on letters that may be addressed to him, or that he may have occasion to forward on the Public Service.
The preceding observations apply with equal force to the troops and ships of war stationed in different parts of China who are obliged to report periodically not only to the Senior Military and Naval Officers