The Bill for £10,000, discounted before the bankruptcy took place, must be provided the 22nd instant, and if the Crown Agents cannot arrange for an extension of Bank of England they propose to retire it by discounting acceptance of the Union Bank of London which they hold for a like amount but which will not mature until the 3rd August following.
The enclosed statement shows that, after providing for this Bill, a deficiency of upwards of £9500 will still exist, irrespective of any payments which may fall due for coinage executed by, through, the Royal Mint, and of charges for Military stores which have been ordered from the War Department without communication with this Office.
The state of the general balance of the Crown Agents at the Bank of England will not, it is feared, admit continuing to make these large advances, and they would suggest that the Mint and War Office should be requested to refrain from making any further demands upon them, in respect of Hong Kong, until the Colony shall have had time to make the further remittances rendered necessary by the suspension of the Agra & Masterman's Bank.