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suitable to regulate on future political relations with China, as taught by experience of the past. On such a point no one is more able to speak with authority than the Memorialists - thoroughly whose vast interests are identified with the maintenance of peace, and good-faith, and who are qualified to form a sound opinion by their long residence and intimate personal relations with the Chinese.
Many of those questions involve debatable matter and special supervision. I shall therefore, not occupy Your Lordship's time by diversing points connected with Inland Navigation, Railways, Telegraph, Mr. Burlingham's mission, and many other interesting topics of a general character to which the Memorial adverts in detail. I am satisfied that the fullness of matters and fairness in which those must ensure treated by the Memorialists for their arguments will command respectful consideration.
which China, if an independent Power, has a clear right to have an opinion of her own. Other questions of policy and ... over which this Government has no control. I may, nevertheless, be permitted to observe that, although on some points, and unfortunately those which most affect this Colony, Sir Rutherford Alcock's policy appears to me more ... than ...