Dear Sir,
Hong Kong, 4th October, 1881
273
23
REOP
REGO 2 JAN 82
You have been good enough to express interest in the treatment which our Chartered Steamer "Ocean", Captain Webber, and her Passengers were subjected to by the Government of New South Wales upon her recent voyage hence to Australia and back, when at Sydney.
Various fallacious reports have appeared in print, and we have requested Captain Webber to write out, and swear to, a plain and unvarnished statement of what actually took place, and this we have now the honor of enclosing.
The Narrative makes no allusion to the pecuniary losses which we have suffered through delay and other causes, which losses you will readily understand are very considerable. We are preparing a Claim for presentation to the proper Authorities at Sydney, whose high-handed behavior is most unjust.
The real aim of the Government has evidently been to check Chinese Immigration, which we believe to be honourable.
F. Bulkeley Johnson