I am anxious to know the grounds on which my suspension was alleged by the late Governor of Hong Kong to have proceeded, or to deny that my anxiety is much increased since the perusal of the two letters of the 13th and 16th ultimo, dated 1862.
These letters were addressed to you at your direction by the last mail, No. 4091. Her Majesty's Undersecretary of State, and the latter also addressed to me by his Lordship but not at your direction.
Yet, for the reasons already mentioned, I am willing to bear, a little longer, with the perplexities of my uncertain position, and to rely on your doing justice, sooner or later, pending applications of Feb 4th & 14th to Secretary.
My present object is of a merely public character, and has reference to that part of your letter of the 13th ultimo, wherein you announced your intention to renew, through the Governor of Hong Kong, an enquiry.
I have humbly to represent, for my reasons, "for fearing that the good intentions, as well of yourself as of this Excellency, will be disappointed."
In the first place, it is to be a local enquiry, that is to say, at Hong Kong.
Nevertheless, the following witnesses are in Europe: -
The following witnesses: Lieut. George Bonham (formerly Resident in the Straits Settlements), John Darby Esq. (of the Chinese firm of Littlestone & Co.), William Dent Esq. (of that of John Dent & Co.), Augustus Hudson Esq. (of the firm of Gillman, H.J. & Co.), Henry M.A.S. Dixson (the former Merchant of Hong Kong) and myself.
The following witness is in Ceylon: Mr. Justice Stirling, late Attorney General of Hongkong.
The following witnesses are at Singapore: - Mr. Dunman, A. M. and Mr. Woods, the leading lawyers of that Straits Settlement.
The following witness is in transit between Japan and Europe: - The Chevalier Guimarães, late Governor of Macao.
And the following are between China and Europe: - Thomas Taylor Meadows, late Chinese Secretary to the Superintendency of British Trade in China.
Moreover, the following witness has, by this time...
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