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February 16th. The Royal George was chartered by M. Gerard - she was measured, fitted, and inspected at Hongkong before proceeding to Macao to take her emigrants on board - and the application for clearance at that Port was founded on the allegation that she would thereby probably save 8 days on her voyage, and that there were greater facilities for clearing at Hongkong and Macao than at Canton.
The application was supported by the Emigration Officer and the Acting Attorney General, but was refused by the Registrar-General of Hongkong, on the grounds (1) that Macao was not a "thremse" [?], and (2) that it was uncertain whether a British Consul would always be maintained there. These appeared to us insufficient grounds for the decision - and Sir E. Bulwer Lytton having concurred in that opinion, it was conveyed to Sir J. Bowring his disapproval of it.
Sir J. Bowring's present despatch is an answer to that of Sir E. Bulwer Lytton. He expresses his satisfaction that the Secretary of State's decision on the case did not reach him until recently, after he had prepared his reply.