my duty not to disturb you by any importunity & to acquiesce in my bi fortune
A state of circumstances however now exists in Hongkong arising out of the acts of my successor Mr. Anstey which I conceive fully justifies me in obtruding myself again upon your notice. I learn from the newspapers that during his short tenure of office Mr Anstey has charged the Chief Justice with intoxication & that such charge has been indignantly repudiated by the whole community, that he has without the concurrence of the Government on his own responsibility prosecuted criminally the acting Chief Magistrate for Extortion & altogether failed in substantiating the charge - there being at the time an action for slander pending against him by such acting Chief Magistrate; and that he has deemed it advisable to swear on his own behalf an affidavit in the Supreme Court to the effect that so much ill will exists against him on the part of the special jury panel (which is composed of the most respectable & influential portion of the community) that he cannot have a fair trial at their hands.
I am of course totally unaware Sir how far you have been made acquainted with the above facts, or of your determination thereupon; but I trust I may be acquitted under my somewhat peculiar circumstances of either wanting delicacy in speaking of myself or of seeking to injure Mr Anstey who is in the possession of a post which I have held with pleasure & which I should gladly again hold if I state by conviction to be that Her Majesty's service was & is in all
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