A disadvantage.
I have, &c., L. Aen, Signed; I W. Mitchell,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
MA Alexander
Post
(Fruit City)
PENINSULAR & ORIENTAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.
NOTICE.
As some misapprehension having occurred in Company's Packets refusing to receive letters for transmission in a private manner, it is advisable to publish the following correspondence between the Home Post Office and the Directors of the Company in reference to the point,
The stringent nature of the Mail Contract will be understood from these letters, and it may be added that its infringement in any manner subjects the Company to a severe penalty.
THOS. SUTHERLAND,
Superintendent.
Hongkong 3d December, 1863.
(Copy.)
GENERAL POST-OFFICE, LONDON, 19th March, 1863,
I beg to inform you that a letter has been received from the Post-master General of Hongkong, stating that it has come to his knowledge that some of the large houses at Hongkong and at Shanghae are in the habit of sending their correspondence between those places by the Packets of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, otherwise than in the Mail; "which gives such firms an advantage over that portion of the community who adopt the legitimate means of transmitting their correspondence."
I have to request that the Directors of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company will have the goodness to cause enquiry to be made into the alleged illegal conveyance of letters by their Packets between Shanghae and Hongkong, and acquaint me with the result.-I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) F. HILL.
C. W. HOWELL, Esq.
(Copy)
122, LEADENHALL STREET, LONDON, E.C., 25th March, 1863.
F. HILL, Esq.
General Post-Office.
SIR,
I have the honor by order of the Directors to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 19th Inst., informing them that a letter had been received from the Post-master General of Hongkong, stating that it has come to his knowledge that some of the large houses at Hongkong and at Shanghae are in the habit of sending their correspondence between those places by Packets of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company, otherwise than in the Mails; "which gives such firms an advantage over that portion of the community who adopt the legitimate means of transmitting their correspondence." In reply, I am desired to state that if any such practice has existed, it has been entirely without the knowledge and in direct opposition with standing orders of the Directors, and to assure the Post-master General that the Company's Superintendent in China will be instructed by the present outgoing Mail to investigate the matter and to prevent a recurrence of similar irregularities, should the information supplied to the Post-master General at Hongkong be found to have been correct.
-I am, &c.,
(Signed) H. BAYLEY, for the Secretary.
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