I have no means of forming any judgement thereon.
I have the honor to be,
With the highest respect,
Your Lordship's
Most Obedient,
Humble Servant
Makam
Mr. Mercoal
on this subreit.
I have made a précis of the correspondence which is annexed, & to which I beg to refer you.
I. Haur
as do Ellist will not be much longer. When I formed this to hard prey at once, in case his Excellency may misch...
is to be considered by him,
14th Oct.
I much doubt whether it will be expedient to unite a limited number of Chinese convicts at Labuan, but the consideration of the subject may be deferred till further arrangements are made.
Km M setum.
51
132
I hardly think that the proposed measure can be worth while. The Labuan Govt do not want Convicts generally, but a body of about 50 or 60 useful laboring Convicts; on the other hand, the Govt of Hong Kong has not actually in custody any body of Prisoners from whom such a selection could be made. It merely has about 30 fresh Convicts per annum, of whom it is by no means certain that all would be of the description wanted at Labuan. And at all events, 50 men could neither be a relief to one Colony nor acession to the other.
If the measure were entertained at all, it might be desirable to begin by ascertaining from the Archipelago Company whether they would wish to employ the Convicts. But for the foregoing reasons, I am inclined to think that the Plan may be dismissed.
7. H. reast
I scanned but think it ought to be wondered at, – the scheme under consideration.
Heal some Justice in liquidation. The dirt in Labuan is to oblige Chinese convicts to toil in place of the deafy Laborers by having – In drafting to Stangkay we be Eleny affer part of this
Page 7. H. 24/10
cutain led which lohnt per & meque to Labuan?? I don't think it worth while forming this establishment.
G.14