Copy of a letter addressed to Viscount Lowther by Land William Fitzmaurice
My lord,
A40 Ventridge, October 4, 1843
I am extremely obliged by Your Lordship's prompt reply, that although I very much regret my letter to Pater, I think that in addition to my appointment in China being regular, it may have been useful to Her Majesty's service if any thing should occur to prevent the Post Master of Hong Kong from discharging her duties, or if there should be any of our other Colonies,
Your Lordship will take my application into favorable consideration. I have stone permission to expect some remuneration on the transmission of the mails in China. I have the honor to be, etc.
The hints referred to in the concluding paragraph of this letter were sent to the Post Master General on the 13th of November, and their receipt was acknowledged on the 29th of that month by Colt Maberly.
Copy
D In 178 Houstong, 406
Tonbridge, October 12, 1843
Supposing that Her Majesty's establishment in China will be increased, now that the treaty with that Empire is ratified and the tariff settled, and being aware of the extremely limited number of persons acquainted with the Chinese language, I venture to solicit you to bestow some appointment in that Country upon me.
I have taken the liberty of addressing you directly instead of through some friend, because I fear that delay on the part of a Gentleman kindly interested in my behalf might unfortunately cause me to lose the opportunity of being offered the Post Master in China, as appears from a Letter addressed to Lord Viscount Lowther on the 3rd Instante, of which a copy is annexed (See the letter marked B).
I presume to state that in addition to a practical knowledge of Correspondence and accounts, I have almost thirty years' acquaintance with the Chinese language.