and doubt not your earnest desire to do all in your power to maintain a friendly and cordial understanding. But this friendliness and good understanding can only be maintained by observance of strict justice in all dealings and differences between them, by kindness, and by a ready reparation of injuries, unintentionally committed, and insults when unwittingly offered.
Believing that these principles will always characterize the administration of your government, permit me to assure you personally of my high regard.
True Copy
(Signed) Joch Abbott,
Commodore Commanding-in-chief of the U.S.
Naval Forces, E. India, China, &c., &c., &c.
Japan
Government Offices, Victoria,
15th November, 1885.
"Hongkong",
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt, on the evening of the 5th instant, of Your Excellency's Official Letter of the same date, enclosing the further proceedings of Mr. Crownl Keenan, confirming the expressed opinion of Captain W. Chiney, and protesting, on your Excellency's behalf, against the jurisdiction of this Colony over American vessels within its waters.
In deference to Your Excellency's very strong representation, I have caused further inquiry to be made into the matter of Madison and Nichols, and
To His Excellency
Commodore Abbot,
&c., &c., &c.
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