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misconstrued and give rise to a considerable amount of personal feeling. It would create a spirit of bitterness, and would convey the impression that those masters and officers who had been attacked and had suffered egregious injury were considered to come within the category of "dead-heads", whereas we have just received information to the effect that in at least two cases a Captain and a Chief Officer have received a substantial monetary payment from the funds of the Government of Hong Kong in the way of ex-gratia
compensation.
He would wish to avoid any sense of personal reflection on those who are liable to these piratical attacks, and therefore we trust that the Secretary of State for the Colonies will be quite agreeable to act upon our suggestion.
1 am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
In Moore
Secretary.