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to a third party, i.e. the Government of the Country in which he is at the time resident. His Excellency the Governor therefore on review of the whole case regrets coming again to the conclusion that the irregular imprisonment of Brown on board the Elbe is a breach of both international law and Courtesy - a breach the more to be regretted as it might have been avoided by a simple adherence to the legal form of procedure, which would in no way have infringed on the rights or privileges of the Prussian Flag.
You yourself, Sir, cannot fail to perceive the alarming Consequences to which this precedent if permitted would give rise, any sailor having a grievance against his ship would avail himself of the opportunity to desert, and over the large Mercantile Marine constantly frequenting this port, it would be impossible to enforce law or preserve order.
Under all the circumstances then His Excellency decides to refer this correspondence to Her Majesty's Government in London, in order that this serious matter may be settled by the Supreme Authorities, and the common claims of justice recognized and satisfied.
I have …
(signed) W. J. Mercer,
(True Copy)
Colonial Secretary.
do Jae
Pasters
for the Colonial Secretary.