of efficiency. I look upon it as essential to its proper working that it should have a European gentleman who can communicate in the language and receive their orders.
4. This is a desideratum not easily obtainable, and since Mr. Wodehouse went on leave of absence and was subsequently removed to another Department, there has been nobody professing the necessary qualifications able to fill his place.
Mr. Creagh has, however, at one time been steadily devoting his out-of-office hours to the study of the Chinese language, and his examiners have now pronounced him a competent Interpreter. Mr. Creagh, in the original agreement made between him and this Government, was simply to preside over the Sikh Force which he enlisted and brought from India, and all that he has done in the direction of learning Chinese has been quite voluntary and apart from his regular duties. He will, however, now be able to devote special attention to the
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