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as it does from
Customs Coming so intelligent and Zealous an Officer valuable, and I thank you for allowing me to see his letter for it confirms what necessarily, I had but confused intelligence of although sufficient to excite suspicion consequently, Enquiry by the Colonial Government - And I feel certain that under your clear appreciation of the situation, any action you take to remove this evil of Annoying would tend to improve the true interests of the Colony, by relieving the honest Chinese Trader from "blockade" as it is called, which never would have been brought into existence had the protection of the Chinese Revenue not been a necessity.
No better proof could be afforded of the soundness of your views on this question, than the results of the prosecution you directed to be instituted. When the Imperial Government at Canton comes to the conviction that that of the Colony is doing its best to suppress Smuggling, confidence, to an extent, hitherto more in word than deed, will be established to the benefit of the trade of both Countries. It is difficult however to get people to see this at once.
I return Mr Greaghis letter with many thanks and am
(True copy)
Colonial Secretary
Jours
(Signed) B. Robertson