28 Lansdowne Road Notting Hill London Hong Kong October 20th 1863
RECEIVED 21 OCT 1863
In reply to your letter of the 14th I have the honor to be informed that in conformity with the directions therein given I have waited upon Sir Ranald Martin who has given the Certificate which is sent herewith.
This I trust will be sufficient to enable His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to grant my request.
I shall not be ready to avail myself of my leave until the arrival of the mail leaving here via Marseilles on the 10th of January next by which time I would propose to return.
In making this application for extension of my leave I would mention that I did duty for Frederic Rogers, Bart. Under Secretary of State for the Colonies.