Gentlemen, and my opinion of their characters and aptitude for office will be found attached to the Enclosure marked ... Personally, I shall be glad to find that ... will be pleased to ... of them to ... Your Lordship ... Your ... allow some ... remain, with the understanding that their places are not to be filled up in case of vacancies occurring; and this I confess, I think, would only be just to many of them who have been in the Service from the earliest days of the Colony, and who have suffered much sickness and hardship during that period. I have however undertaken to state my opinion, irrespective of the interests of all parties,
313 of the strength of the Establishment requisite for the performance of the duties of the Colony; and this have done with honesty and some pain; and I have now to request respectfully that, should it be considered to make any immediate reduction, ... may be distinctly advised of the Gentlemen whose Services are to be dispensed with. I have considered it my duty to make it generally known that reductions in the several Departments may possibly take place at no distant period, which very ... has caused several of those who think their interests likely to be affected thereby.