and it being necessary that the Officer and seamen
and seamen of the "Winchester"
at present in custody of the "Levant"
should return to them "Winchester" as
speedily as possible, I request you
give directions for such proceedings to be taken as you may see fit to adopt, in order that the Naval
Department may be relieved further charge.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) J. Stirling.
Rear Admiral and Commander-in-Chief to
Colonial Secretary.
{
(Copy.)
No. 8.
To
Sir,
Emigration Office
Hongkong,
28th March, 1856.
I have the honour to report for
the information of His Excellency the Governor, that immediately on the receipt of the Attorney General's opinion, enclosing the facts detailed in my letter No. 33, of 21st March, I waited on His Excellency the Rear Admiral and
laid before him those documents in his hand, and stated
that I had been instructed by His Excellency the Governor to ascertain the circumstances attending the departure of the "Levant", and to request that the Law might be enforced against her in conformity with the 10th Section
The Honorable
W. J. Mercer, Esquire,
Colonial Secretary.