No local or Imperial legislation could touch American vessels clearing from a Treaty Port in China, nor is it proposed to deal with any other sort of Emigration than that from Macao.
The American Admiral was, too, in close and friendly communication with me not long ago, and I think I should have learnt from him if there were, in his opinion, just grounds to complain of the action of his Nationals in the matter reported.
Anyway that may be, I must confess my inability to follow the logic of the Chief Justice, who after recapitulating what I have referred to, he adds "I also believe that a report has been forwarded to Washington which that Government will probably be not unwilling to use such information in checking similar occurrences."
Regarding the case of the "Equest", I can only say, that she cleared from Swatow, and that being a British Vessel she must have sailed with the knowledge and the approval of Her Majesty's Consul, who may justly be assumed to have performed the duties imposed upon him by the Chinese Passenger Act.
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