I beg you to represent to His Excellency the Governor that I am not unaware that the promise given by the Governor is not obligatory under the Grosley. As far as my matter is concerned, it is not an action in the way that will be concerned.
For the way we will be loved is to proceed with caution so as not to give countenance to the high Chinese Authorities.
I feel, however, that it is nevertheless incumbent on me not to conceal from His Excellency the Governor what, after careful consideration, I believe to be the actual value of the promise given by His Excellency the Governor.
I am, in the main, induced to write thus unreservedly because there is no doubt, from confidential information that has reached me, that in spite of assurances to the contrary, positive which were given by the Viceroy Lew-Kodu-e, torture in a horrible form was applied at the Courts within the city of Canton in order to extort confession from the thirteen criminals who were "delivered up" by the Hong Kong Government on the application made by any predecessor Dr. Hence in his despatch No. 80 of the 21st May, 1877.
(Bequest) A.R. Skrine.
Confidential
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