I hope I am not presuming in saying that the Act sanctions their Lordship's decision on the merit of Special Cases—that my comforts with are to be considered a special one I cannot doubt—and the letter of Captain F. C. Watkins, R.N., the Harbor Master & Marine Magistrate, dated the 30th Ultimo, which I have taken the liberty of forwarding enclosed in original, will, I trust, in conjunction with the other testimonials already forwarded, justify my expressing that hope.
I beg respectfully to submit the certificate of my present medical adviser and take the opportunity of remarking that I was one of the sufferers from the poisoned bread, seriously believing that the effect of it, combined with exposure to the sun and weather in the discharge of my duties inspecting ships, has accelerated the destruction of my constitution.
In calculating the average salary, I am alluding to the inadequate salaries received by me, and that on several occasions when acting for my superiors, savings have been effected at my loss and labor, and therefore trust that, as regards my present application, it may not be to my permanent injury.
In the instance of the departure of Captain Watkins, when I had the honor of being appointed for the third time Acting Harbor Master, combining with it my own proper duties, according to the Colonial regulations, I would have been entitled to my own salary of £400 and half of £600, Captain Watkins' salary, making £700 per annum, whereas an exception was made in my case, and I received only £500, which, after a year's lapse, was raised to £600, but on account of my illness, two months after, was again reduced to £500—a proceeding I believe without precedent in the Colonial Service, at any rate at Hongkong—and this, I confidently assert, without any fault of mine. I could instance similar acts towards me previous to the last three years, but as these do not affect my pension, I refrain from intruding with them, not doubting Her Majesty's Government will take a favorable view of my case.
I have calculated the average salary up to the date of my leave of absence as per enclosed statement and hope that the same will be found correct. It will be seen from the statement of salaries received by me that in 1851, 1853, and 1854, I contributed to the Superannuation fund on salaries from £400 to £450, which were unfortunately precluded from the calculation of the average for the last three years.
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In received Sean not avoid once broke
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