My dear Davies,
I have a somewhat melancholy pleasure in complying with your request to sound you a letter by way of testimonial to your fitness for the Chief Magistrateship at Hong Kong; for I believe the office would do better in other hands, beneath other stilities and just pretensions, and I cannot help thinking that, in England. If however you have determined to apply for it, I have no difficulty in giving you a testimonial not as a mere matter of form (which is too frequently the case) but with perfect sincerity and a full knowledge of your talents and character. I have no hesitation in saying that I believe it to be impossible that a more competent person to the office could be selected.
Believe me,
Yours faithfully,
R. P. Collier
To H. Tudor Davies, Esq.