My dear Hickson,
Come one at home must have sadly misled you.
I am sorry that you are new to Hong Kong and have not heard of your having obtained a position here, but I trust that we shall not be so great a disparity between work and remuneration as there is in the Old Countries.
I remain yours sincerely,
[A. J. Hickson Esq.]
My dear Hickson,
Hong Kong, 17th January 1857.
I cannot but regret that you have been compelled to resign your offices.
& Letter for the Crown Solicitor to W. H. Gaskell.
My dear Sir,
Believe me, I am most sincerely yours.
Wm Gaskell.
Hong Kong, 10th February 1857.
If we could have spared towards private practice, even after you were appointed, I cannot say. Besides, from my knowledge and observation of the Colony, I thought there were too many lawyers for the business.
To support you here, the prices are nearly - if not quite - three times those of home. I am well acquainted with the prices of rent and provisions, and have no hesitation in saying that they are adequate and, as for obtaining private practice, the profession is overcrowded.
Having been in practice in this Colony in my present profession of a Solicitor and Notary Public for about four years, I can see what difficulties you faced.
The duties of the offices to which you were appointed could not be conscientiously performed without a staff of assistants - at least one good clerk and an efficient bailiff - the salaries for which, with the rent of a proper office, would have entirely eaten up your salary or left you so small a margin that it would be absurd to think of supporting yourself upon it.
The clerks in our office - one European and a Portuguese boy - cost us £290 a year.
After six years of experience as a solicitor, I find that a respectable position cannot be kept up under at least 120 dollars per month; and, even then, rigid economy must be practised.
Your entire salary only amounts to that sum! I am sure that you carry with you to England the good wishes not only of the profession but of the community in general, and wishing a happy reunion with your family, believe me to remain your very faithfully,
James Brown, Solicitor and Notary Public, of the firm of Gaskell & Brown.
To J. J. Hickson Esq.
Page 225
Copies of Printed Extracts, from Newspapers published at Hong Kong, attached to the memorial presented to W. Sabouchere.
From "The China Mail" - "Resignation of Mr. J. J. Hickson"
"We are sorry, but not astonished, to learn that the Colony has lost the services of Mr. J. J. Hickson, Crown Solicitor, Deputy Sheriff, Coroner, and Proctor of Admiralty, to which he was gazetted."