286
fixed the
the places and times of meetings. &c.
The meetings were held here in
Chambers.
my
The last time the
four Commissioners met together
was on
the 14th July, when an Adjournment took place sine die
to enable Sir Robert Hart to see what he could do at Macao.
On the 12th of August – during the adjournment – Shao Sac Tai suddenly left, without any formal notice,
Sir Robert Hart did not return from Macao till the 25th August.
He informed me privately of what he had done there; but we had no meeting of the Commission
until the 5th Sept,
as he had to
await communications from Peking
before he could officially
announce what he had done at Macao.
Inclosure A
Inclosure B
I inclose a copy of the draft Ordinance, which I have prepared,
and submitted to the Commission, when the scheme which I had put forward on the 3rd July was accepted by the Chinese Government,
on the 11th July.
During the interval from the 14th to Sir Robert Hart's return, circumstances arose which suggested
an improvement on that scheme, and required an alteration in my first draft Ordinance.
I content myself, at present, by
inclosing an amended draft Ordinance