CO129-094 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1863 [11-10] — Page 168

Companies were not prohibited from carrying letters otherwise than through the Post Office; but on the contrary, many of the inhabitants of this place and Shanghai who employed irregular and unauthorized means by sending their correspondence in the manner complained of, did so in a way with their eyes open that they were cognizant that they were doing wrong clandestinely and fully, and it occurs to me that if a notice to the community had been necessary at all, it should have been that the irregularity would not be allowed to continue. A warning, I gathered from an interview I had with Isaac Bernard Jagre, Commander of the Company's Steamer "Nanges" that this offensive notice was issued on account of a complaint made by a German gentleman, in the service of Messrs. Fletcher & Co., to the Company's Superintendent that he could not obtain his letters from Shanghai with the same rapidity or facility as he had been wont to do, stating that "Mr. Cutterland was a friend of his and wished him to receive his letters on board," hence the issue of the notice.

In conclusion, I would state that I considered my duty was done when I mentioned the facts of letters...