Mas
Chinese government as to such cession must form a leading point of consideration, Her Majesty's Government will be guided by your judgment, though I confess I should have preferred learning that no difficulty
likely to be thrown in the way of a cession which would undoubtedly have consolidated British Interest here, and afforded an efficient guarantee against the risk hereafter of very unpleasant foreign interference.
"also much obliged to your Excellency for favouring me with a Copy of Sir Edmund Hornby's opinion, but however desirable it may be in practice occasionally to
I am
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act up to his views as to pursuit and arrest of fugitive Criminals on Chinese Territory, I fear they differ too materially from the opinions of Her Majesty's Law Officers to justify my adopting them as a safe guide in all the circumstances to which they advert. They are nevertheless entitled to much weight as emanating from Sir Edmund Hornby, and I shall not fail to transmit them with your Excellency's despatch to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State.
I have, &c.
(Signed) Richard Graves Macdonnell Governor and Commander-in-Chief
(True Copy)
acting Colonial Secretary