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had not strictly and accurately stated the determination of the Chinese Government on a point within the prerogative of the latter. 8. I therefore can now only supplement the Admiral's letter of October by publishing the substance of subsequent letter of the same subject. In fact, my position in the matter has from the first been necessarily nothing more than that of a Public Reporter to this community of such authentic official information as might from time to time be supplied to me on a matter quite outside of my arrange. I further respectfully suggest that so long as I conceived my information to be based on direct instructions of the Queen's Government it was not for Konsul, Vice May, or any one else to set aside those instructions. Nevertheless, the enclosed letter to Consul Robertson shows that I was quite prepared to notify any sort of Flag recognized by our Navy. 9. I beg to add, as I fancy there is an impression to the contrary, that acting on precisely the same principles I am equally disinclined to permit myself in any way to run counter to any policy of Her Majesty's Government once I am aware that it is advisedly adopted, whatever be my own opinions. Except to promote it I can have no responsibility as to such policy or the machinery used selected by Her...