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that these men would be surrendered to them, and they will probably complain of their liberation by the Colonial Government. Had they been discharged by the action of the Supreme Court, that would have afforded a satisfactory answer. In this case the men, I understand, were released for want of proper application from the Chinese Government for their rendition, a matter which should have been at once dealt with by communication with the British Consul at Canton, and their release.
In the case of the 13 prisoners the proceedings proved abortive through want of due care on the part of the Colonial authorities in attending at the outset.