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In accordance with the Instructions conveyed in the letter, the Emigration Officer has been directed to pursue the course already sanctioned by the Government pending the reference home.
In future therefore the Chinese Surgeon will be permitted to go with the Free Emigrants from this port, the Emigration Officer will exercise his discretion with reference to Coolie Emigrants.
I may add that the Members of this Government were unanimous in reading the Imperial Chinese Passenger Act as you have now decided it, with the sole exception as far as I can see, of Mr. Anstey, the late Attorney General, and that that Gentleman may have considered himself supported by the subjoined extract from a letter of the Craig rankin Commissioners hence to Havana dated 16th February 1858, and forming enclosure in Colonial Office Despatch No. 20 of 25th February 1858.