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3.
On the morning of the 14th Ultimo, Mr Divion, Editor of the China Mail Newspaper, came with his Attorney to the office of the Colonial Secretary to whom they preferred a formal complaint against Mr Mitchill, who, as they represented, had informed certain coolies under his charge that they on their return to their friends must refund to him, Mr Mitchell, certain moneys due to a provision shop on their account. In support of the charge they handed in two papers (copies enclosed A. and B.) and a Chinese letter of which A is a translation.
4.
The Colonial Secretary immediately reported this unpleasant circumstance to me, and it was arranged that the Colonial Secretary should take the preliminary course of ascertaining if there were even the appearance of grounds wherein to entertain so serious a charge.
5
Without delay therefore the Colonial Secretary proceeded to the brothel, accompanied by the Attorney General and a lad, named Dick in Mr...