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come to the conclusion that I should not be justified in
imposing this increasing burden upon the tax-payers of
this Colony, and I have accordingly telegraphed to Your
Lordship today informing you that I have decided to close
the Post Office at Tientsin on September 30th.
5.
The other Postal Agencies at
Chinese Treaty Ports which are at present conducted by
this Government involve without exception a financial loss,
and in view of the probable increase of the deficit thus
incurred in consequence of the causes alluded to in the
latter part of the third paragraph of this Despatch it is
not improbable that this Government may have to reconsider
the obligations which it has hitherto freely undertaken in
connection with them. If after further consideration of
this matter I should find it necessary to address Your
Lordship on this subject I shall do so in a separate
Despatch.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
[...]
Henry
Governor, &C.