58.
36 vessels have been unwittingly made by the officers of Your Excellency's Government in the granting of Seaport Permits to vessels for Pakhoi or Hainan, as although "Hoi-how Chow" is mentioned as one of the new treaty Ports to be opened, yet consequently the vessel can be authorized to call even there, much less at Hainan generally. Possibly, and indeed probably, the mistake made in the case of a Permit to the "Carisbrook" may be her protection at Peking, to which appeal has been made, but if such should not be the case, it will be greatly to her advantage, in lieu of proceeding to Thomson as directed, sought after leisure to confer with the Custom's Cruiser and thereby increased Complications.
As regards the other vessels referred to by Your Excellency, I think, as they were not seen by this "Egeria", that they will otherwise have received timely notice to keep clear of forbidden ground.
[(Signed) J. Gardiner Austin]
Acting Colonial Secretary
(True Copy)
John L. Smit