177
My present position enables me to see and I fail to see which my acceptance of the offer will be either advantageous to the public welfare or beneficial to my personal interest.
The course I have adopted and for which I am now called upon to suffer has been forced upon me by circumstances, which imperatively demand investigation and it seems to me that I ought not to take any step which would have the effect of checking enquiry.
I have endeavoured to trace and I think I have obtained the clue, but the Chief Justice has obstructed me in every possible way, and it is clear that the conduct pursued by him, whether designedly or not, has prevented that clue from being followed out.
As much for my own credit as for the public good, I believe my resignation would have the effect of checking enquiry.
A great crime has been committed and a large amount of individual property entrusted to the department of which the Chief Justice was and is the responsible head, has been embezzled and is now concealed: this is the matter which I am desirous of bringing to light.
I am desirous of being permitted to retain my employment until this is finished. I have put the office in sufficient order to ensure regularity for the future, if the officer who takes my place has ordinary ability and integrity, but the injury sustained by the individual sufferers from the irregularities of the Court have still to be redressed.