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which thorough dependence can be placed, as illustrated by the remarks of the Postmaster General in the transmission of despatches during the disturbances in Perak, and during the tumult at Peking arising from the Yuen-nan murder. I am glad to learn that "on the whole the Masters of Private Steamers carry on the service with regularity, and are obliging and attentive;"
The few cases of negligence which have occurred (and many doubtless forgiven or unrecorded) show that this regularity is not to be left to chance only.
It may be said that the gratuity paid to Masters is a guarantee for the due reception and delivery of Mails. Experience shows that it is not an unfailing guarantee, and when the mails are small the gratuities are of course inconsiderable. The uncertainty arising from there being no inducement to attention except the gratuity cannot be viewed otherwise than as a grave evil.
And although it might appear that Chungking, governed under its local Ordinance, is the one place in the Far East where difficulty should not arise, yet in fact the irregularities seriously complained of occur there as much as, if not more than, anywhere else.