In the reply to this Letter the following Number should be quoted.
15360
95
C.O.
19020
20 YT
320
TREASURY CHAMBERS, 28 October 1895
Seas
78013
Stracks
cartamily
Sir,
Adverting to the letter from this Department
of the 14th instant, (No: 13911/95) respecting the circula
-tion in certain British Colonies of counterfeit coins believed to emanate from China, I am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you,
for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that They have received a letter from the Foreign Office stating that the information which has been furnished on this subject appears to the Marquess of Salisbury to be too vague to afford grounds for a represent a -tion to the Chinese Government, but that his Lordship has forwarded copies of the correspondence to Her Majesty's Minister at Pekin, who hasbeen instructed to make any inquiries which may seem to him advisable.
I am at the same time to enclose a copy of a communí -cation from the Melbourne Branch Mint, dated the 19th June 1894, respecting the counterfeit shillings referred to in the Treasury letter of the 14th instant; and I am to suggest, for Mr Secretary Chamberlain's consideration, the expediency of causing inquiries to be made at Hong Kong, whence the parcel of counterfeit coin is stated to have been forwarded to Melbourne.
The Under Secretary of State
Colonial Office,
+
I am
Sir,
Your obedient servant
EwHamilto