Governor Bonham-
25th March 1848-
Victoria, Houghton,
to
The Earl Grey-
N. 3.
2 Inclosures-
Received-
Transmitting an application from Mr Sterling, claiming the Acting Chief Justiceship of Hongkong-
Mr. Merivale was absent when Mr. Hulme came home - the Attorney General of the Colony, Mr. Campbell - the Acting Attorney General, made application to be Chief Justice that as Mr. Hulme will arrive within a month or six weeks, it is not a question of efficiency between the two candidates that places them, in the present case, I apprehend, one purely of money - it would be preferable to sanction the arrangement as it has hitherto stood - to sanction the shifting of offices for so short a time as would be necessary, I should think much wiser.
Case. APP. 24/5.
to continue as Campbell has done : approve ?
H.M. May 25
No instruction that now sent out will be of any practical use.
9.24
-
My Lord,
Hong Kong, March 25th
the last month I had the honor of submitting to your Lordships an application from the Chief Justice of Hongkong as that office sought to be tempered to the Clergy Reserves of Hongkong as that many permanent openings are at hand - I am superseding - I now respectfully advance to your Lordships' notice the fact that I have been Attorney General of this Colony since the creation of the office and am now a barrister of 18 years standing - having been called to the bar in November 1829, and that at no time have my moral qualities or legal attainments been questioned.
Therefore, my Lord, while I humbly submit that I be preferred to the Acting Chief Justiceship before Mr. Campbell - a barrister only called in 1844 (as I am informed) - I also beg that this and my former letter from Aden may be favorably considered should the contingency arise of an appointment to the Colony.
I further ask,
Is the Right Honorable
The Earl Grey, Colonial Secretary of State for the Colonies
By Lord
The Honor to be Your Lordships' obedient and humble servant,
Hadley Stirling