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by Mr. Davies after months during an interval of nearly more than four of which I have ceased to belong to this Government and have endeavoured by the strictest abstinence from all public matters to allow previous dissensions to die out.
With this Gentleman no time had elapsed before matters were again brought into discussion. The injury inflicted upon me and my conduct by the suppositions of Mr. Davies with his accusations I trust, you will not deem me presumptuous in asking that he be ordered by you to apologize to me for his conduct, and that as he circulated the Legislative Council I have at the difference on public injury attempted to be done me would have been sufficiently grievous had the publication been confined to the proceedings of the Council, but it is infinitely aggravated by the fact that the chief Magistrate has managed to have his libel circulated (within forty-eight hours after its production before the Council) in the columns of the most scurrilous of the Colonial newspapers - which could not have taken place except with Dr. Davies' cooperation.
When, Sir, you have contrasted the manner in which I expressed myself to what I then believed to be the honesty and fairness of his conduct, the same place may give publicity to his reparation. Up to the present time I have received no intimation from the Colonial authorities here as to the decision, if any, of the Secretary of State on the Opium Commission report; although, the highly flattering commendation which you were pleased to express to my humble services when in office, emboldens me to hope that any conduct in that matter did not merit severe animadversion.
I shall merely add that Mr. Dent, the colleague chief Magistrate in the Commission, has informed me that he was altogether dissociated from any connection...