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Emigration papers or bonds shall be forfeited to the use of Her Majesty. Your Excellency is aware that this act has never been published in the Colony of Hong Kong, you are aware that the Colonial Government takes no notice of such passenger ships despatches from Hong Kong, further than to give through the Government Surveyor a report, stating the number of passengers, which a ship is legally authorized to carry.
The Samuel Willetts was on the berth for Adelaide for nearly 3 Months, during which time applications were made to the local authorities for such certificates as were required for passenger ships leaving for the Colonies, but we were answered that there existed no law which compelled the Government to take any notice of such ships beyond the compliance with the harbor regulations.
Your Excellency will therefore, doubtless be satisfied that nothing was done by us, as Agents of the ship or by the Captain to meet the new law; and in order to prevent seizure of the ship at Adelaide under this law, we pray your Excellency that you will furnish us with such documents as will satisfy the Government of Adelaide that the Samuel Willett's could not have left provided with the documents which the New Law requires, and that she could not hence be