THE CONSUL TO MR. POLLARD.
BRITISH CONSULATE,
(Copy)
N. 472
242
Government House,
CANTON, 21st April, 1866.
SIR,
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 Superintendent 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 need scarcely remind you that I intimated as much to you on a former occasion,
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 purpose; 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 seizure of this vessel is settled, and I must decline to re-open it again.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) D. B. ROBERTSON.
Edward Pollard, Esq.,
&c., &c., &c.
Hongkong.
Stor Mong Mong,
15th December, ...
I received on the 2nd instant your despatch covering copy of one dated the 7th ultimo addressed to Consul Robertson with instructions to publish it for general information, an instruction which he has carried out by inserting the despatch in extenso.
His Excellency,
Sir Rutherford Alcock, K.C.B.,
Her Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary in China.