22
Treasurer. Mr. Mercer's personal qualifications, his official station, and his education for the Bar at Oxford and one of the Inns of Court pointed him out as the most proper person for selection."
VI.
From GOVERNOR BONHAM to EARL GREY, No. 67, of 28th August, 1848.
"Mr. Hulme having returned Mr. Mercer has vacated his temporary seat, [in the Legislative Council] but I have re-appointed him to the Council, considering him from his acquirements and professional education particularly qualified for the Office."
Ef
VII.
Extract from Enclosure 4 (by Governor Bonham) in Despatch Separute" from GOVERNOR BONHAM to EARL GREY, of 27th December, 1848.
"Mr. Mercer, the Colonial Treasurer, has been in the service since February 1844; was educated at Oxford, and is in every respect a desirable person for public employ. His capacity is far above the Office he holds, and were the Colonial Secretary's Office to become vacant, he would be a most eligible person to succeed to it.
"I never heard of Mr. Mercer, until I arrived in the Colony, but so highly do I think of his qualifications and attainments, that I have nominated him to a seat in the Legislative Council. He was educated for the Bar."
VIII
"Civil" from GOVERNOR BONHAM to EARL GREY, No. 87, of 26th April, 1850.
"I have already had occasion to record my sentiments respecting Mr. Mercer's qualifications for public employ.
23
I think it, nevertheless, proper again to state to Your Lordship that Mr. Mercer has not only conducted the proper duties of his Office entirely to my satisfaction, but that he has rendered himself eminently useful in the Legislative Council, for which his education and other attainments render him particularly fit."
IX.
Extract from Colonial Secretary CAINE's letter, granting leave of absence, No. 107, 26th April, 1850. "His Excellency has instructed me to convey to you the full and unqualified expression of his satisfaction with the zeal and ability you have always evinced whilst con- ducting the responsible duties of your office, and further to express his regret at the necessity of your departure from the Colony. He indulges a hope however that the chaugeto a more congenial climate will perfectly re-establish your health, and enable you at no distant period to resume the duties of your office with advantage to yourself and benefit to the public."
Χ.
"Miscellaneous" from SIR GEORGE BONHAM to the DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, No. 11, of 20th January, 1884. "Referring Your Grace to my Despatch of 27th Decem ber, 1848, marked Separate, wherein I conveyed to Lord Grey my opinion of the character of the Gentlemen holding Office at Hongkong, I then had known Mr. Mercer only nine months, and spoke highly of him; and it affords me pleasure now to add that a more intimate knowledge of his character and habits for a further period of 5 years has fully confirmed the high opinion that I then entertained of that Gentleman's character in every respect.”
610