Sim,—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, informing the Council that us you wre about to leave Shanghai for a longer period than three months, you resign the post of Com: manding Officer of the Shanghai Volanteers.
While regretting that this step is necessary, the Council cannot allow the occasion to puss without recording their high appreciation of the valuable services you have rendered to the Corps. It is owing to the ability and untiring energy that you have at all times devoted to its interest that the Corps has attained its present very creditable state of efficiency.
As you request, your resignation will take effect from the date of your departure, and trusting that the Corps may again be fortun nate enough to have you for the commanding officer, have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, J. G. Porvox, Chairman.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.