the task of giving, in connection with the Board of Examination and subject to its advice, fortnightly a lesson to each of the two classes (standards) of Government Students; that since then I continued doing so since the arrival of His Excellency Governor Hennessy
although
the appointment of separate examiners for competitive examinations implied, to my mind, that His Excellency the Governor was not satisfied with the capabilities of the existing Board of Examination;
that since sending in my report for the year 1876 I received no other indication from the Government regarding its views of my labours with the Students except the statement referred to in dispatch No. 501 to the effect that His Excellency the Governor had explained to me that I should proceed as usual.
In view of the generally unsatisfactory state of the whole subject I do not feel prepared to devote the time and labour involved in giving four mornings each month to the tuition of Government officers - and therefore prefer to resign my duties as Director of Chinese studies.
At the same time I shall be most happy to continue acting as a member of the Board of Examination if His Excellency...