SIR,
(8)
THE CONSUL TO MR. POLLARD.
BRITISH CONSULATE,
CANTON, 21st April, 1866.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, enclosing a Petition, in English only, from Mr. Kwok a' Cheong to H. E. the Super- intendent of Customs, re-iterating in substance the purport of his first Petition, and praying for a remission of the sentence of confiscation of the steamer Prince Albert, and asking her release, and merely the infliction of such a fine as may punish the master (Captain Godsil) for his thoughtless and unauthorized act; and you request me to use my influence in the matter.
In the first place, I have to observe that persons having business in this office must come within my jurisdiction to transact it. I uced scarcely remind you that I intimated as much to you on a former accasion.
But, knowing that Mr. Kwok a' Cheong cannot conveniently absent himself from Hongkong, owing to the position he holds as Compradore to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, and inasmuch as he has already appeared in his original petition, I will, in his case and as an exception, relax the rule I have laid down, and acquaint you that on the termination of the enquiry, on the 17th instant, he was informed by the Customs Authorities that he would be allowed to redeem the Prince Albert, at a valuation if he would apply at the Custom House for that pur- pose; such, however, being a private arrangement with which I have nothing to do
As regards the petition you enclose, I have to state the question affecting the the seizure of this vessel is settled, and I must decline to re-open it again.
Edward Pollard, Esq., Q.C.,
&c., &c.,
&c. Hongkong.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) D. B. ROBERTSON,
(Copy)
$8712
th
91
Hong Hong, July 3 2 2 1867
Honble. H. VI. Ball
Asting Colonial Secretary
Ster
Ho
Jo.
I have the honor to endose for Hois
Excellency's information
a
Memorandum-
detailing the circumstances connected with the Prince Albert case in which
I was Counsel, together with a
copy of letter to Consul Robertson of April
my
19th 1866, and Sir R. Alcock's despatch
of June 14
A
Nr. 193.
with His Excellency's Memo.
I have
fo:
( Signeet) Edwardt Ho. Vollwed.