[L.S.] W. T. MERCER.
VICTORIA, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith.
To Our trusty and well-beloved EDWARD HUTCHINSON POLLARD, Esquire, Barrister at Law of Our Supreme Court of Our Colony of Hongkong, Greeting.
Now, know you that We taking into consideration your loyalty, integrity and ability, of Our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion have thought fit to constitute and appoint, and do hereby constitute and appoint you the said EDWARD HUTCHINSON POLLARD to be one of Our Counsel for Our said Colony, to hold and enjoy all and singular the Rights, Allowances, Privileges and Pre-eminences thereunto belonging or appertaining in as full and ample a manner as any other of Our Counsel Learned in the Law in any of Our Colonies doth hold or enjoy, or of right ought to have held or enjoyed the same, and also the liberty of sitting and practising within the Bar of the Supreme Court of Our said Colony as any of Our Counsel Learned in the Law, do, ought, or may.
In testimony whereof, We have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and to be sealed with the Public Seal of Our Colony aforesaid.
Witness Our Trusty and well-beloved WILLIAM Thomas Mercer, Esquire, Our Acting Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Our Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, at Victoria, in Our Colony aforesaid, this Twenty-ninth day of July, in the Twenty-ninth Year of Our Reign, and in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Sixty-five.
By Warrant under Her Majesty's Signet and Sign Manual.
EDWARD HUTCHINSON POLLARD, Esquire,
One of Her Majesty's Counsel,
Hongkong.
(Signed),
W. H. ALEXANDER, Acting Colonial Secretary.