I am to state that in informing the Viceroy of the above, His Excellency would be glad, (as possibly affecting the case in view of those who have regard to the cause of imprisonment) if you would ascertain whether the word "mistake", which occurs in the translation of the Viceroy's Despatch to you, is a correct rendering of the original.
I have to...
87 Frederick Stewart,
Colonial Secretary
24.13. M. Consul, Canton, to Colonial Secretary,
(Copy)
20104
British Consulate, Canton, 5 December, 1880.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Despatch No. 1866 with reference to the request for the rendition of the fugitive to Fon-chi and will communicate it to His Excellency, the Viceroy.
The word rendered by my interpreter "mistake" is somewhat difficult of translation, and I should myself have preferred the word "wrongly"; it is commonly employed in Chinese law where the person injured is not the person against whom the attack...
The Hon. F. Stewart, H. M. Colonial Secretary, Hongkong