Director of New Gardens, directing me to give up in my accounts with the Home Government the sum of £16.8.10, for which this Department received credit on account of the Box in question, and requesting explanation of the circumstances under which the said Box was sent through the Post, if within my recollection, and in reply I beg to report
Firstly, That the £16.8.10 will be duly credited in my accounts with London for the present month, and the same will be claimed in my account with the Colony.
Secondly, That the Box was brought to this office on the 17 February last with the mails from Japan by H. M. S. Ringdove, and that the person who delivered the same here was informed that it was evidently not intended to go through the post, and that if he persisted in leaving it, there was no alternative but for it to be charged with the letter rate of postage, to which he replied that his orders were clear to leave it at the Post Office, and therefore he would do so, and I consequently dispatched it by the first British Mail, which left Hongkong on the 1st March last in the Contract Packet "Columbian".
I have to
(Signed) MeMitchel Post Master General
(True Copy) MARlesande Acting Colonial Secretary.