2. to your Lordship is aware, there has been much official difficulty respecting what is called "the Blockade of the Port of Hongkong" by Chinese Revenue Cruizers and Gunboats; and there are other important questions of long standing at issue with the Chinese Authorities, respecting which I have been in correspondence of late with the British Minister at Peking,
and with the British Consul at Canton.
It is believed that there is little prospect of a speedy or satisfactory arrangement of these matters except
through a personal conference between Sir Harry Parkes and myself;
especially as Mr. Hewlett, our able Consul at Canton, is obliged to proceed to England on the score of ill-health. It may be further mentioned that I had invited Sir Harry Parkes to pay me a visit at Hongkong on his way from Japan to his new post in China. It appears, however, that he is unavoidably precluded from now adopting this course, as his presence is urgently required at Peking.
3. Again