Having payable under the Ordinances receivable during the first month of the year, many of them are not payable a second time, unless the Certificates have been filed at last. There have, however, been ample revenues.
8. We have no doubt that our expenses will be met. Mr. Cecil Clementi Smith, the Registrar General, has appended an explanatory report, chiefly illustrating the feeling of the Chinese in reference to recent legislation, and I doubt not that Your Lordship will peruse that report with equal interest and satisfaction.
It would be a great mistake to suppose that the most influential Chinese are not quite sensible of the solid advantage conferred on them by every attempt to uproot piracy and the abettors of piracy from this settlement. They have themselves been the principal sufferers by it, and I am convinced they take quite a sincere and much interest in its suppression.
The European Community, although from the timidity of some, or from other causes, they have hitherto been overawed, and compelled to pay a species of black mail in the shape either of money, or indirect compliance by suffering and withholding information from the Government.
I have the honour to be, in Your Lordship's Command,
Most obedient servant,
Governor.