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rendered a journey home practicable, and it is with regret that I now find myself compelled by necessity to lay the inclosed medical Certificate before your Excellency and to request your Excellency's sanction to my departure by the February Mail Steamer.
The past Summer, which left me with the first Hongkong Fever I have had during a twelve years residence in the Colony, has had the effect of convincing me that longer delay is impossible, and that Dempster is right in the opinion he has given.
With the knowledge therefore of many similar cares before me, I have no alternative but to make the present Application for the usual period of eighteen month's leave of absence from 15 February next.
I name the mail of February because I do not consider myself at liberty to withdraw from the Residency of the Finance Committee before that time, having engaged to superintend that department a year past.
As regards the conduct of the Colonial Secretary's duties during my absence, I do not anticipate real difficulty, but