TO
HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA,
&c. &c. &c.
THIS PETITION for Redress of Grievances of WILLIAM CAINE, Retired Lieutenant-Colonel, and late Lieutenant-Governor of Hong Kong,
Humbly setteth forth,-
LONDON, 65, RICHMOND ROAD, BAYSWATER,
July 1st, 1864.
THAT I have faithfully served my Sovereign and country for the long term of forty-six years, such services being performed in the East Indies and China, without furlough home; that at the end of such period I was superseded in the government of Hong Kong, to which another officer was appointed, and my post of Lieutenant-Governor abolished, and this, too, after having gained the thanks of the Colonial Office for the services I had the good fortune to render that colony. I do most respectfully present that, considering the foregoing circumstances, it was but natural that I should have looked forward to the hope of succeeding Sir John Bowring as its Governor, the more so, as I never, during my stay in China of more than eighteen years, suffered a single reproof from the Colonial Office; and I most deferentially submit that my claim to succeed was as fair and as equitable as that of a senior Major of a regiment viewing his succeeding to its Lieutenant-Colonelcy on the death of the Lieutenant-Colonel of his corps. It was, however, my misfortune that the Colonial Office was pleased to decree otherwise, though in the face of its own repeated approvals of my conduct in my civil capacity at Hong Kong; possessing, too,
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