respectable man, Lai Lee Heen, Compradore of Messrs. Halliday, Wise & Co., who had resided here 22 years, and had appealed to me for protection against the coercion and threats of emissaries from Canton. This offence was, I consider, a refusal to compel his daughter to do what he had no legal right to force her to do, as she had been born here, and was about to complete her 21st year, at which age she would be of full age, and free to contract or not for a marriage to which she declared a decided aversion, and which had been not merely arranged by her grandmother without her consent, but originally without that of her father.
When I saw the daughter on the 21st instant, I assured her against molestation here, and explained that on her being of age she must determine her own conduct by her own inclination, which, I am assured by Mr. Parker, she is perfectly free to do.
As I had previously alluded to this case in my despatch of the 10th instant, I now complete the story by adding that, as I had anticipated, Lai Lee Heen and his daughter have given in their adhesion to the result, however, mainly due to the legitimate influence of the intended bridegroom himself, as appears from the enclosed Memo. of the Registrar General. It was on personal acquaintance with the bridegroom first made by the daughter.
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Enclosure No. 1.
8349-69.