from this point of view solicit an impartial consideration of the facts which follow; and which have at last prevailed upon me to address you on the subject and circumstances which relate to it.
3. Estimated at the scale of remuneration ruling throughout the Coast of China and in Japan for services of a professional character of a European nature, the present salary of the Surveyor General will be found to be far below the standard. It is in fact equivalent to the wages given in Hongkong and the outports to Master Mechanics in charge of ordinarily responsible positions in the service of private parties or of Dock, steamship, and other companies. In corroboration of this, I am able to refer you to many men employed at these rates.
4. On the other hand, I may state that the emoluments of the Chief Engineer to the Municipality of Shanghae are £1700, while on the railways and other public works of Japan, a country far healthier and cheaper than China, £1000 is the honorarium of assistant Engineers of the second class. Looking also to the neighbouring Colony of Singapore, I find the...