1
417
British Naval Authorities,
On the following day I was able to telegraph to you
that the Viceroy, in deference to representations which I
had rude to him in the course of an interview that morning,
*
had released the steamer. I added that I had arranged that
the claim against her, amounting to Tls. 13,400, would
be hoard by the Judge of His Majesty's Supreme Court
on his approaching visit to Canton.
I may here mention that the "Tai On's" owners, who
are a Hongkong registered Company consisting of British
subjects of Chinese descent, do not, as far as I am aware,
propose to make any claim against the Canton Government
for the arrest and detention of the vessel, and that they
have deposited with mo a sum of Tls. 6000 as security for
her appearance at the hearing of the cuse.
I have now the honour to submit for your consideration
my explanation of the manner in which this regrettable
misunderstanding arose.
On September 20th. last I received a despatch from
the Viceroy informing me that a theatrical junk had been
run