It will accrue to the Chinese Government from the establishment of an Opium Custom house here, looks highly problematical, if not delusive, whilst the such injury will inflict on an institution, the principal port trade of the Colony, will be certain and unquestionably great.
12. We have thus endeavoured to lay, in a concise form before your Excellency, the statistics and facts relative to the Opium trade of this port, which, we trust, will enable Your Excellency to judge of the expediency of the forced opposition, we feel called upon by reasons which have led us to prefer making, to the proposed scheme of an Opium Custom House at this place, in justice to our invested interests made on the unreserved faith in the continuance of the Colony as a free-port.
And we respectfully request that Your Excellency will have the goodness to lay, should...