J. B. Ickheul
Acting Colonial Secretary Sir,
219
Hongkong 7th January 1852
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th instant, informing me that the cover which I enclosed with my communication of the 19th ult., will be forwarded to the Earl of Kimberley.
I reserve to myself, in my place in Council, the opportunity to discuss the issues raised by the correspondence, copies of which I have recently transmitted to the Secretary of State, but, having attempted to describe them in your letter, now under acknowledgment, I may be permitted to state here that I do not recognise in that description any adequate representation of the grave affair which I have brought to the attention of his Lordship.
The subject matter of that affair relates to a foul and malicious accusation against a gentleman, resident in this Colony, not only made officially to me, as a member of the Legislative Council,
The Honourable
M. S. Jonnechy
Acting Colonial Secretary.