12
and though my legal advisers do not share this view it
appears to be the unanimous opinion (in which I concur
that his moral claims are irresistible. I have in these
circumstances with the advice of my Council instructed Mr
C. Clementi to endeavour to ascertain what claim the
Opium Farmer will make. It has not however hitherto been
possible to commence these negotiations since the Farmer
is absent from the Colony, but I am taking steps to as-
-certain whom he will authorise to act on his behalf.
8.
Your Lordship will therefore
perceive that it is not yet in my power to inform you
precisely as to the extent of such valid claims for com-
-pensation as may be put forward directly and indirectly
as a consequence of the refusal to formally confirm the
licences of these 10 Divans. In these circumstances I
would most strongly urge Your Lordship that no steps
should be taken with regard to them until Mr. Hutchison's
report on the remaining Prepared Opium and Dross Opium
Divans has been received, and I am in a position to
estimate the total amount of the claims for compensation
which may be brought against the Government by Divan-
-keepers. By that time I hope also to be able to estimate
the amount of any claims which may be due to the Farmer.
Mr.