I last requested Your Lordship to sanction the confirmation of this appointment.
As I have explained, I tried, to the satisfaction of Your Lordship, the circumstances under which Mr. Dayer Ball's provisional appointment to the Magistracy was made. I may take this opportunity to express my belief that Mr. Ball, from his knowledge of Chinese, is likely to prove a valuable acquisition to the Service, and though, perhaps, one is not able to judge from the brief trial afforded him, he may completely realize the expectations which had been entertained of his probable proficiency as an Interpreter, a post which, in my opinion, requires special qualifications beyond knowledge of the language. I am of the opinion that as an Assistant Interpreter, he will be of great use at the Magistracy, and that otherwise the Service would be deprived of a valuable addition to it, were Your Lordship to refuse to sanction his appointment.