Feb 10th
Dear Mr Guling,
Allow me to take this opportunity of expressing my regret at your sudden dismissal from the post you, for so many years, have so ably filled. As you are aware, I have had the pleasure of knowing you officially for twenty odd years, seventeen of these in command, and have found you uniformly obliging, courteous and painstaking, avoiding as far as possible any friction, and in any question involving your department, integrity is sure, I should consider it simply absurd; such was the unanimous consensus of opinion of all the China Harbour Co.'s Steamship Masters, many of whom knew you well, and entertained for you the entire goodwill and regard.
I trust that you may soon be entirely exonerated and your character cleared, and that a prompt statement may be made. With every expression of sympathy on this trouble, and with best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Arthur H. Alabaster
S.S. Taming 405
Hory Tony 190
F.I.
!