(Confidential)
Hongkong 13th December 1869
My Lord,
On the 19th October last I addressed a letter to His Excellency Sir Richard MacDonnell begging him to take my services into consideration should any opportunity for my substantive promotion offer.
I now find that any such prospect in this place is so uncertain that I am impelled to write to your Lordship in the hope of obtaining another Colony.
I have learnt that Mr Remie lately appointed Auditor General of Ceylon will most probably be unable to assume that post as the state of his health forbids residence in a tropical Climate.
The Right Honorable Earl Granville, K.G. Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies