The above was "too late" at the Post-office on the 8th instant. I enclosed it on its return in a cover addressed to the Post Master, the Imperial Chinese Post-office, Shanghai" and sent it to the office of the China Merchants' 8. N. Ca. for the Haeshin well before their closing hour, but it was sent back to me; they could not take it. I complained to the authorities who told me the Haeshin's agents were quite right, they had instructions to receive no letters to whomsoever addressed. So it is with us, that unless our letters are at the Post-office at 3.30 p.m. there is no chance of getting them off, although the steamer does not start until daylight the next morning!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.