Perhaps it might be found that not the Annexe Government but Dai-ho-pai's party is moving all the matter. Therefore I have petitioned Your Excellency to kindly invite the Government at home to reconsider the matter before handing over these thirteen men who are the victims of a tyrannical Chinese party.
I regret to trouble Your Excellency to regard the matter, and I must say I am reluctant to make the former petition fearing to be an intruder and to displease Your Excellency, but I am compelled to do it by the persuasion that these men are victims of a tyrannical Chinese party and as in my position I know better than anyone the intrigues and corrupt practices which are peculiar to China. I thought Your Excellency would not be offended had I candidly exposed my convictions and suspicions with the facts they are grounded on, in such an important case in which the lives of thirteen men are at stake, while on the other part it is proved that the prestige of the English Government far from being blemished by taking time to reconsider well the matter, will grow and increase as the Chinese will more and more respect and prove a Government which is so considerate when the life of any man is concerned.
Apologizing for being intrusive so much on Your Excellency's kindness
I have, etc.
John Raimondi
Bishop of ...cacethe
Vicar Apostolic of sloughone.
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