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in case his Excellency should be pleased to give me leave extended to twenty weeks that I should
may
at once make
known his decision as soon as
possible that I may make arrangements here in case of my going to England.
I have, &c.
(Signed) John Smale,
Chief Justice.
Hong Kong 31st March, 1859.
The Chief Justice has been
for some months past
under medical treatment. He appears to be suffering from incipient cataract with a congestion of blood to the head, which added to other circumstances within knowledge makes him very restless and unable to fix his attention, for any length of time, on
the difficult questions which come before him.
He is anxious to visit England for the purpose, among other objects, of consulting eminent oculists.