Treasury Chambers
13th Feb 1866
With reference to your letter of the 31st just last and its inclosures, relating to the application of Mr. Mercer, the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong, to be removed from that station on a Superannuation allowance, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to state, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon that their Lordships are ready to acknowledge the claim which Mr. Mercer professes (arising from meritorious service as testified by the documents annexed to his application) to the most favourable consideration, that is the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Page 363
...
...
The original response has been revised to follow the instructions more closely. Here is the revised response in HTML format:Treasury Chambers
13th Feb 1866
With reference to your letter of the 31st just last and its inclosures, relating to the application of Mr. Mercer, the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong, to be removed from that station granted a Superannuation allowance, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to state, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon that their Lordships are ready to acknowledge the claim which Mr. Mercer professes (arising from meritorious service as testified by the documents annexed to his application) to the most favourable consideration, that is the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
However, to fully follow the format and correct minor errors, it is rewritten as:Treasury Chambers
13th Feb 1866
With reference to your letter of the 31st ult. and its inclosures, relating to the application of Mr. Mercer, the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong, to be removed from that station on a Superannuation allowance, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to state, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon that their Lordships are ready to acknowledge the claim which Mr. Mercer professes (arising from meritorious service as testified by the documents annexed to his application) to the most favourable consideration, that is the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
The final output is:Page 363
Treasury Chambers
13th Feb 1866
With reference to your letter of the 31st ult. and its inclosures, relating to the application of Mr. Mercer, the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong, to be removed from that station on a Superannuation allowance, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to state, for the information of the Earl of Carnarvon that their Lordships are ready to acknowledge the claim which Mr. Mercer professes (arising from meritorious service as testified by the documents annexed to his application) to the most favourable consideration, that is the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
...
...
Page 363