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sanctioned and regulated by Local Ordinance, which would clearly define its sentires and objects, and in point of fact Mr Hart would be the Agent as well of the British as of the Chinese Government for the purposes of carrying out an arrangement devised for the mutual benefit of both parties.
The brand features of Mr Hart's scheme are sketched out in the third page of his letter, that all Opium arriving in Hong Kong (it is all brought in steamers from Calcutta) should be landed in Opium Hulks, which would serve the purpose of floating bonded warehouses; and that it should be cleared from thence, if for shipment in Chinese Junks, upon payment of duty; if for shipment in Foreign ships, upon a Bond being given to secure being landed at the Port of destination. Regulations would have to be made for opium, also in transit, and in the case also of Opium intended to be prepared in Hong Kong for the Californian Market. The scheme might