AL
Chinese Revenues, I should feel quite
unperstified in
any
step calculated
to call in question the legal right of the Chinese Sperriment to confiscate, dictinetly provided in XII Article on the other hand, if
of the Greaty.
the plea set up bif the owner were
on
really founded of substantiation
fact and susceptible
by
evidner, I should
" not be unwilling to represent to the Chinese Government a mitigation of penalty us perfectly consistent with the maintenance of their legal rights and the protection of their
trade
I have accordingly to instruct
You
270
You Supermtendant of Customs or the Vicerry
to communicate with the Chinese
and request that the Dependant might
be called upon to produce such further
evidence as
be may possess
on
the
points I have indicated, especially
as
to the state and habitat of the punk its ownership &c. and if this
should be accorded.
you
will come
- municate with His Excellency Sir R. Macdonnell and inform him
of the fact and in concert with
the Chinese Authorities.
yourself
will
you
endeavour to ascertain
the bruth and report to me the reauet
I