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promised by my dispatch 8/46 sent by last mail - This document which will be found explains fully the position in which Government was placed this year and the reasons which have compelled it to adopt the course of selling Securities to individual applicants instead of granting a monopoly to one person, has been prepared by Mr. Russell, the Treasurer, upon whose shoulders has fallen the principal part of the duty of carrying out the decision of the Government. Mr. Russell has requested that this memorandum should be considered as confidential as the Chinese from whom he has obtained information and whose names are referred to therein might get into trouble if their names were disclosed.
2. Referring to Your Lordship's Confidential Dispatch of 18th January last, I trust that the Memorandum now sent will clearly show that this Government has not undertaken the direct control and supervision of supply of opium to the public. Act & Ordinance 2 of 1858 will more clearly show that Government has the authority to do so.