My Lord,
I beg to inform you that Lord Granville has not at present received any intelligence from Her Majesty's Government with respect to the vacant appointment to which your letter refers.
I am, My Lord, &c.,
W. Monsell
My Lord Kimberley,
-691-4-10h
Hong Kong, 2nd September 1863
In the last few days, General Hennessy and I have been in constant intercourse with the Colony authorities.
It has been currently reported in the Colony that the Commission of Inquiry had seen promises and allegations, and also that it was my duty, in the last mail, to hold to my cousin since large claims on the restoration of friendship, I am nevertheless advised and give full and detailed explanation - official and mechanical and lately at liberty, the thing is in this wise, immediate from, as well because the matter is one of my fame, as in defence of my administration of the Government, and relate to persons whose errors turned out like to tempt the reach of a punishment.
On these grounds, I am pleased to recall my letter.
Art. 4.
Your Lordship may probably have heard the administration of Honduras from 1864 to the close of 1867, under circumstances of exceptional difficulty, when the late Duke of Buckingham then notifying his decision, was pleased to offer me the office of Colonel of Hong Kong without any smallest reservation, and in a private letter addressed to me at the same time, he told me out that the house was directly connected in some or other portion, but also that I might look eventually for re-appointment to the office of the Governor.
The Right Honorable
Earle Granville K.S.
On receipt of your letter,
[Page numbering as in original scan: likely "Page XX" format with three lines at top and three at bottom]
...
Page 115
Hong Kong Government, 1869.
[remainder of text as per original, with proper paragraph and spacing corrections]