116
CORRESPONDENCE
unsolicitedly, selected me for office in China, it was expected that I would be enabled to collect useful information.
Desirous of justifying the confidence reposed in me, I prepared and submitted several reports and documents to your Excellency; and these, together with a commercial report which I am preparing for the Lords Committee of the Privy Council for Trade, will, hope, demonstrate that I have minutely examined affairs in China.
Although several of the conclusions at which I have arrived, after anxious investigation, may be at variance with those emanating from high authority, I trust I may, without arrogance, ask a full and fair hearing for opinions originating in integrity of motive and a solicitude to ascertain what would be most conducive to the trade and permanent interests of the British empire: being therefore convinced that an inves- tigation of our Anglo-Chinese policy is of the highest importance on general as well as on financial and commercial considerations; aware that the sentiments entertain find little concurrence in England, from several gentlemen who recently filled office in China; and thinking that Her Majesty's Government have been acting under some erroneous impressions, am very desirous of personally placing before Her Majesty's Ministers the information collected and the opinions thence deduced, after visiting every part of China accessible to Europeans.
For this purpose I have the honour to solicit from your Excellency leave of absence for six months, on the following terms :——
1st. That I draw no salary for these six months. 2nd. That I defray my own expenses to England.
3rd. That if Her Majesty's Government decide there were no justi- fiable grounds for this application, that I resign my present office.
By granting my request, no detriment whatever can accrue to the... public service. The treasury accounts are close up, the books daily balanced, and all the required returns will be made on the 30th June.
"I believe the payments on account of public works will be compara- tively small for the next six months (or until final orders from home); and am certam that, with ordinary care, no delay or embarrassment can arise in the colonial treasury.
and
Confiding in the importance of the information which I believe it to he in my power to convey, and in the probability of its being duly appreciated by Her Majesty's Ministers, I ask permission to forego all my salary, -to incur considerable expense,--to destroy, perhaps, my remaining health by travelling during this hot and adverse season; further, I propose to risk my commission in Her Majesty's service, in order that may have an opportunity of communicating personally to the authorities at home the result of my inquiries in this country.
I have, &c.,
Sir,
Inclosure 4 in No. XV.
R. M. MARTIN.
To the Hon. F. W. A. Bruce, Colonial Secretary.
H. M. Treasury, Hong Kong, June 24, 1845.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant, conveying to me the refusal of his Excellency the
ON RESIGNATION,
117
Governor to grant my application for six months' leave of absence, on the following grounds :-
1st. That the regulations by which the Governor is bound as to leave of absence are clear and peremptory, confining such leave to cases of serious indisposition, requiring change of climate.
2nd. That his Excellency does not feel justified in incurring an
person act of responsibility, by the substitution of another place. And
in my
3rd. That by granting the leave sought, his Excellency would materially depart from the usages of the service.
In reply, I beg to observe that,-
1st. The words of the regulations (ch. iv. p. 25) are, "Leave of absence should be confined as much as possible to cases of serious in- The regulations then disposition, requiring change of climate." proceed to state when leave should be granted on private affairs. A fortiori, leave may be granted on public affairs.
2nd. By granting the leave sought, no responsibility whatever would be incurred by his Excellency, as my sureties would stand good during my absence, as well as those of my locum tenens.
3rd. By the usages of the service, colonial officers frequently obtain leave of absence to proceed to England irrespective of
sickness.
But, even were the regulations clear and peremptory against leave of absence being granted, except in cases of imminently fatal illness, I venture to think that the novel and peculiar position of Great Britain in China, the nature and prospects of this island as a new settlement, and the many years which I have devoted to the study and personal examination of other colonies, and to the investigation of the commercial my application and financial relations of England, might have rendered
exception_to_the_general rule, more particularly as my temporary absence would be no detriment to the public service, and as I offered. to take upon myself all the responsibility of my proceedings,
an
I put aside entirely the question of my health, although it has been materially shaken by my residence and mental labours here; life or death is of little moment, compared with the great interests which England has at stake in China. These interests are too vast and pressing to be affected by individual considerations, or by the ordinary usages and proceedings of the service which are applicable to every-day
occurrences.
Whether I am right or wrong, I have endeavoured to demonstrate in my reports and minutes, that our affairs in China require immediate and special reconsideration and revision; that time and experience have made manifest several mistakes, which, if not rectified previous to the evacuation of Chusan in March or February next, will be a subject of deep regret and serious injury; and that our policy and proceedings are not productive of the extended beneficial results which the British nation has a right to expect in China, and not commensurate with the farge expenditure incurred on this coast.
Feeling strongly on these points, as of great national importance; believing, that however humble my situation in Her Majesty's service, it is my bounden duty to my Sovereign to bring them under the early serious consideration of Her Majesty's Ministers; and deeming that my
515