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• who had personally observed and approved my public course went of their own accord and together to the late Duke of Newcastle and, before His Grace, strongly urged my claims to promotion. His Grace explained the difficulty of giving me a Government elsewhere, fully acknowledged my claims, and added that the Colonial office was beginning to make it a rule to promote Colonial Secretaries to their respective Governments when found duly qualified.
Sir John Davis is the only survivor of those present at that interview; I invite a reference to him.
7 On learning this result I was hopeful that on the next vacancy in Hongkong I should reap the reward of long and laborious service in the Hongkong climate.
I was further strengthened in this hope by being, as I have said, twice appointed to act as Governor; on the later occasion for a nineteen months' term.
I should add that I have been nearly 21 years in the service of which I have held the Colonial Secretaryship for nearly 11, and have acted as a member of Council for 17.
I address you, Sir, in anticipation of the appointment...