TO THE COU11T OF AVA. 
409 
as applied to British ships in Burman ports, were 
omitted in the draft produced by the Burman 
negotiators, but were inserted after a short ex¬ 
planation. In the second article, respecting the 
free exportation of money, the ominous words, 
“ according to custom,” were twice oyer inter¬ 
polated. It became necessary to remonstrate 
against the unfairness of making alteration in a 
document which was the groundwork of the ern 
gagement which had been entered into. 
E . You have inserted an expression in your 
draft which is not contained in the original, and 
upon which I made my engagement with you : 
no alteration, even verbal, ought to be made 
without my sanction, unless you desire the en¬ 
gagement should no longer be binding, and that 
you propose entering upon a new arrangement. 
—B. The words inserted are of no consequence 
whatever. 
E. As this is the case, you will have the less 
difficulty in striking them out.— B. We will 
not strike them out. It is not proper that an¬ 
cient customs should be changed. 
E. Will you be so good as to strike out the 
expression which you have inserted without my 
sanction.— B. We will not strike them out. If 
you think proper, you may depart from your 
engagement. 
