gross total of letters is about 18.100, producing
postage of £1,155
a
Considering that the present Packet
service between this fountry and
China
and Japan already
involves
a clear
loss
of
£ 33,000 a year,
which is
borne exclusively by the Imperial Government, and that the establishment
of a branch line between Hong Kong Toochow would considerably augment · that loss, the Postmaster General is
and
not prepared to entertain the proposal;
and His Lordship requests that:
be good enough to inform
Granville accordingly.
you Lord
will
At the same time, His Lordship
desires me to remark that it is evident,
both from the letter of the fhamber of Commerce and from the report of M
M!
Mitchell
154
Mitchell that the advantage sought is wholly to enable the merchants of Hong Kong to obtain their letters from Foochow in time to transact exchange and other business before the departure of the homeward English Mail ; and, such being the case,
case, Lord Hartington has little doubt that barl Granville will agree.
with him in the
opinion that the fiends necessary for affording the desired accomodation should be provided by the community of Honghong and not by the public of this fountry.
I am,
Sir
Your most obedient Servant,
Win Willen