439
Board of Trade
E.1
No. 36.
R. M. Martin, Esq. to B. Hawes, Esq.
18 July 1846.
30
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE RESIGNATION
notional only, but as a final act binding on you. I am to add, that Lord Grey concurs in the view thus taken by his predecessors.
- No. 36.
I have, &c.
(signed)
B. Hawes.
COPY of a LETTER from R. Montgomery Martin, Esq. to B. Hawes, Esq.
Sir,
29, Bloomsbury-square, 18 July 1846.
IN consequence of the observations which you had the goodness to make to-day, I venture to solicit your examination of the enclosed copy of the only Letter, 8 July 1845 letter which conveyed to Governor Davis my conditional resignation of the Treasurership of Hong Kong; "until I could bring the subject under the consideration of my Sovereign through the Secretary of State for the Colonies."
I am now prepared to prove, by Governor Davis's own hand-writing to the draft, and by a letter from the Acting-secretary, that my resignation was received subject to this condition by Governor Davis, who, however, never communicated this fact to Lord Stanley, by whom, as I now learn, my resignation was viewed as absolute. The peculiar grounds on which my resignation was given in, or rather forced from me, have therefore never yet been considered; and I earnestly pray that Earl Grey will, as an act of justice to me, authorize that inquiry into my case for which I have in vain petitioned my Sovereign, and which I have never ceased to seek for the last twelve months.
I am ready to resume my duties at Hong Kong, and to fulfil those of Colonial Secretary there, should it be the intention of Her Majesty's Government to unite the two offices.
I state this, to indicate that the unhealthiness of the climate will not prevent my pursuing any duty which may be prescribed by Her Majesty's Government.
Sir,
Enclosure in No. 36.
I have, &c. (signed) R. M. Martin.
Colonial Treasury, Hong Kong, 8 July 1845.
THE decision of his Excellency the Governor on my letters of 19th and 24th ultimo, refusing me leave of absence for six months on public business, and with a view to what I deem the public good, compels me most reluctantly to adopt the only alternative of requesting his Excellency to receive my resignation as Her Majesty's Treasurer for the Colonial and Diplomatic services in China, until I can bring the subject, through the Secretary of State for the Colonies, under the consideration of my Sovereign, who was graciously pleased to appoint me to the important office and trust which I have now the honour to place in the hands of his Excellency.
My quarterly accounts are made up to the 30th June 1845, declared before a magistrate, and passed by the auditor.
I beg that a Board may be appointed to receive from me the monies under my charge, and that his Excellency will state to whom I am to transfer the accounts and books of my department, and the vouchers for payments made by me since 30th day of June last.
In order that I may be enabled to pass my accounts in England, and to receive for myself and for my sureties the Exchequer quietus, I have the honour to request that a copy of my day cash-book be furnished me from this office.
31
OF MR. M. MARTIN, TREASURER OF HONG KONG.
tendered to the Governor of Hong Kong a conditional resignation of your office as Treasurer of that colony.
In reply I am to inform you, that Lord Grey must consider your coming to this country, after having been refused leave of absence by the Governor, as in itself a resignation of your office; and that you could not be allowed to alter the effect of such a step, by describing your resignation as conditional only. His Lordship, like his predecessors, must regard that resignation as final, and must consider the correspondence with you on this point as now closed.
---No. 38.-
I have, &c. (signed)
B. Hawes.
COPY of a LETTER from R. Montgomery Martin, Esq., to Earl Grey.
My Lord,
29, Bloomsbury-square, 4 December 1846.
I BEG to transmit herewith the first part of a Report on China, which I prepared for the Board of Trade, and which I have caused to be printed, as it may be useful to Her Majesty's Government. The three subsequent parts will be ready on the 1st of each succeeding month.
I still venture to hope that your Lordship will grant me the inquiry which I have earnestly sought during the last eighteen months; the more especially as every mail from China demonstrates the correctness of the views which I came to England to bring under the early consideration of Her Majesty's Ministers.
I am ready to prove before a Committee of Parliament, or before any impartial tribunal, that I have done nothing to forfeit my position in Her Majesty's service; on the contrary, it can be shown that I am entitled to commendation; and I have reason to think that if my case had been fully and impartially placed before Lord Stanley, his Lordship would have seen that my resignation was "conditional," and that I was at least entitled to a hearing before I was condemned to the sacrifice of my appointment.
It is painfully humiliating to be thus an importunate beggar for justice, which would not be denied to a criminal; but I am desirous to exhaust every means before I appeal to Parliament, as I am unwilling to do aught in opposition to Her Majesty's Government.
Surely, my Lord, by conceding the boon of inquiry, no detriment would accrue to the public service; and your Lordship (to whom I am, personally, a stranger) can have no cause to permit the continuance of the injustice I am now enduring, and which I feel assured, if you were in possession of the whole facts, you would not hesitate to redress.
- No. 39.--
(signed)
I have, &c.
R. M. Martin.
No. 38. R.M. Martin, Esq., to Earl Grey. 4 December 1846.
No. 37.
B. Hawes, Esq. to
27 July 1846.
The Colonial Secretary.
- No. 37.-
1 have, &c. (signed)
R. M. Martin.
COPY of a LETTER from B. Hawes, Esq. to R. Montgomery Martin, Esq.
Sir,
Downing-street, 27 July 1846.
R. M. Martin, Esq. 18th instant, soliciting a reconsideration of the circumstances under which you tendered
I AM directed by Earl Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
COPY of a LETTER from R. Montgomery Martin, Esq. to Earl Grey.
My Lord,
29, Bloomsbury-square, 1 January 1847.
No. 39.
R. M. Martin, Esq.
1 January 1847.
I BEG leave to place before your Lordship the second part of my General to Earl Grey. Report on China.
I have not been honoured with any notice of my letter of 4th December last. I still entreat the concession of an inquiry into the causes which compelled me to return to England from China.
743.
E 3
I have, &c. (signed) R. M. Martin.
-No. 40.