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authorities to treat this matter in a spirit of leniency as they are convinced that it would be unfair to punish the owner of this vessel to the full extent of a penalty which is intended only for people who flagrantly and glaringly violate the Treaty. If the "Prince Albert" had left here full of cargo expressly for illicit trade and had called and traded at twenty places on the Coast no further punishment could have been inflicted than is now done.
(Copy) No. 163.
Sir,
The offence committed by this vessel is a trifling one, as has been I have stated.
Hr: (S$) Edward H. Follard, Consul for Keck Acheong.
Henry John Ball Fanshawe, Acting Colonial Secretary.
True Copy) (Signed) B. H. I
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, 1st April, 1869.
I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to acknowledge yours No. S.S. of yesterday respecting the "Prince Albert" Steamer, and to state that His Excellency would feel obliged by your favouring him with any information it may be in your power to supply which may influence the principle of the recommendation of a fine of $1,000 in addition to the heavy losses already sustained by those concerned.
D. B. Robertson, Esq. C.B., H.M.'s Consul, Canton.