To the Editor of the Nonru-Carva Datty News, Sm,—It is always cheering to hear the other side, and to find Britishers ready to champion the oppressed. So that two letters in this column in reply to "A Taxed Britisher" and perhaps myself, were read with interest. I imagine, however, that the two writers of those letters reside in or near Shanghai (their reply appeari very next day after A Taxed Britisher had ventilated his grievances). Which makes all the difference. Nu Shanghai friend of mine has reported lost letters, snd some friends who are obliged to send direct to Seana, where they believe the mails are made up and not opened at Hongkong, have had their weekly letters to England received every week at the other end.
My own hope was not for a four-cent postage, but for" ten-cent rather than a twenty-cent postage, till that hope was dashed.
But those who have complained in print, have been exhorted to report to you when letters apparently lost have reached their destination. With chastened pleasure I do so. For one letter has actually reached England in ten weeks, when I have been posting one to my English home every week. If in my previous correspondence Thave seemed to emulate the mate in the well-known nautical yarn who wrote in the jib's log, Captain drank," I beg to make and write "—th of, Cap-Which I hope will prove me a lover of fair play.
It is well I am a married man; or my chances of wooing and winning by one letter in ten weeks might be. like the letters, few and far between. But I con-foss te being an article writer for a couple of home papers, and in this capacity, am able to report that one article has also actually reached England. I believe four or five have not, but have no proof beyond their non-appearance, though both editors were requesting contributions and are not in the habit of consigning me to the W.P.B.
Were I the only sufferer, the case would be simple. But here are half-a-dozen modest friends around, who would never think of kicking up any journalistic dust. They tell the same tale, but feel that while the loss is general (except as regards Shanghai-posted letters) they had better grin and bear it. On the other hand, I have written because the loss is so genera How long is this sort of thing to last? Hongkong kindly fix a date after which we may have the privilege of posting letters at the advertised rates But honour where honour is due. And personally (to adapt Lord Brougham's words concerning Portugal) I feel all possible respect for the Hongkong Post Office, that is to say, all the respect that is possible. For has it not let one letter through' unabsorbed—one letter in ten weeks?
He who once described himself as 8th April.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.