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Mr. J. R. I. Lockhart as to the progress which he has made in his study of the Chinese language
2.
As their report is restricted to the result of his examination in the particular subjects which he was told to take up for this examination, I considered it right before I directed Mr Lockhart to return to Canton for another period of six months to put certain questions to the examiners in the spirit of Your Lordship's instructions in order to ascertain if he had already acquired a sufficient mastery of the Chinese language as to render him eligible for an increase of pay.
The reply of the Examiners, as will be seen from the papers enclosed, was not satisfactory, and in a subsequent conversation which I had with them, they advised Mr Lockhart's return to Canton for another period. I have therefore directed Mr Lockhart to proceed to Canton at once and while there to avoid intercourse with foreigners and mingle with the Chinese as much as possible so as to attain a fluency...