for the conveyance of lung grants to "Melbourne. I have seen the Bill of Sale, and a communication from Mr. Jardine, the Hongsiong Consul, to the effect that a Sailing Letter will be granted as soon as the usual documents are presented for verification.
It was arranged that she should prepare for sea in this harbor, get a clearance for Macao, take her passengers on board in the vicinity of this city - beyond the limits of the "port" - and thence proceed to Melbourne. Through a mistake of the master, the ship sailed beyond the limits, and took on board her passengers before she had obtained a full clearance from the Harbor Master, and this document being in consequence refused, she returned to the harbor with her passengers on board. It is stated that a portion of her passengers embarked within the limits of the port; but of this I have not yet been able to obtain any certain information. No notice was given to the Emigration Officer that the ship was fitting for passengers.
Mr. McCormick informs me that he despatched the Hongsiong ship "Emma" from this place under similar circumstances, and intends to pursue the same course with the ships "General Havelock" and others sailing under the same flag, being assured by his legal adviser that by so doing he does not infringe the provisions of the British Passenger Act of 1855.
Under these circumstances, before ...
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