For such purpose I may be favored with an Order from The Naval Deputy & to be received as a passenger on board the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co's Mail Steamer leaving Southampton for Hong Kong on 20th July next, as a Government contract passenger.
I have the honor to be,
Your most obedient and humble Servant,
Henry Gumthorpe
Chief Clerk to the Harbor Master
To M. Merivale
I have had occasion to see the draft of your Letter, and coupling his manner with this communication, I am decidedly of opinion that it will be better for us to depend on the repayment to us of the advance made to him, than to trust to his promises. If you concur in this view, the Draft should be to the effect that this advance is to be returned, subject to the arrangement explained in our Letter of the 15th June, but that if he can repay the advance sooner he is at liberty to do so.
Mr. Guthrie had stated that he was to be prepared with the necessary funds for paying the cost yet.
2 WBB. 27 June.
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