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Majesty's Government had been patient, and that I should have to object strongly to further delay.
His Excellency, being evidently in fear of a rebuff from the Hongkong Government, as well as attack from the numerous friends of Admiral Ho, said, in reply to a question, that I was prepared to submit to Mr. Hay privately any reasonable proposals for a settlement of the case.
On April 8th the Foreign Secretary called on me by direction of the Viceroy and drew up a paper of terms which seemed to me to be satisfactory.
To give Admiral Ho's friends as little time as possible to organise further obstruction and to prevent any misunderstanding with the Hongkong Government His Excellency wished the Foreign Secretary and myself to set our names to the agreed terms by which both sides were to abide, and to save delay I sent you my telegram No.4 requesting sanction to accept those terms if they proved acceptable to the Governor of Hongkong. Some private correspondence with Mr. Hay, of an explanatory nature ensued, and on receipt of the enclosed letter of April 12th I telegraphed again in reply to your telegram No.7 of April 9th. Yesterday after receipt of your telegram No.8, the Foreign Secretary and myself signed the enclosed Memorandum of conditions, which is the same as the enclosure referred to in the last paragraph of Mr. May's letter, with the addition of the sentence "an officer from His Majesty's Consulate General to witness the execution" to condition 3.
As regards condition 2 it is agreed between the Foreign Secretary and myself that at least the six petty officials whose names were furnished by the Hongkong Government shall be impeached and cashiered. One is reported on good authority to be dead, but to be on the safe side his name will be included in the memorial.
The Viceroy informs me that he is communicating with the Wai Wu Pu by telegram and that he will forward his memorial to the Throne in a day or two.
(Signed)
I have &c.,
Acting Consul General.