the
seizure and confiscation of the "Prince Albert" by
Chinese Authorities has
been contested
are.
aware:
by
the
you
and the official
correspondence with the Governor
of Hongkong sufficiently demonstrates the fact. On the contrary, I was fully satisfied from
beginning that the
seizure and the confiscation were legal, and
alike
within the
competence of the Chinese Authorities, under the 47th clause of the Treaty, my action
has been limited to efforts to
obtain
a
mitigation of the penalty.
228
the ground that a lesser fine
would meet the end in view and
stop the coast smuggling which
existed to the
detriment
and great loss of the Imperial Revenue
a very legitimate object
on my part, and one
which I had
neither the right
nor the desire
to defeat. I think it essential
under the circumstances that neither
the Merchant's nor Shipowners should
be
misled by
any
random
statement of the fact made at
a
public meeting, and it may be well in general interests, not only
that the Chairman's mind
should be disabused of