evidently feels all the Government shinted work up to. In that important point he was a great help to me whilst acting as Colonial Secretary last year. I also attach considerable importance to his intimate acquaintance with the accounts and the Colonial finances, the knowledge of which would enable the Colonial Secretary materially to assist the Governor in a Colony, where I do not suppose the latter can escape from really doing all the heavy and responsible work himself. The amount of personal labor, of which despatches to the Secretary of State give but a very moderate idea,
My opinion of Mr. Rennie having already been expressed in my request to Your Lordship to place him in the Executive Council, I shall only add that his claims to promotion appear in themselves to be everything, and, I think, are so recognised by the Public, that it would not be desirable in the interest of the Colony to set them aside, if they can conveniently be allowed.
On the other hand, if Mr. Rennie is appointed Colonial Secretary, I think it equally desirable that a new man should be sent from England. As the editor of the "China Mail", he has had a good apprenticeship, with a salary of £1000 per annum, and the material advantage of being able to reside at Shanghai, enabled him, whilst not merely required to inspect the Consular and Diplomatic Stations in China and Japan, so that he can often escape the unhealthy part of the year at Hong Kong.
The duties, moreover, are not such as require that intimate local knowledge and general acquaintance with China, socially and politically, which it is expedient that the Colonial Secretary should start with. I would therefore regret that the opportunity should be lost of recruiting from the source here, in case Your Lordship coincides in the above views, I hope you may be able to send us a person qualified by