O'Malley was residing at Government House and the defendant was a friend of mine, and other insinuations of a similar kind in Mr Nelson's letter are not worthy of notice.
I have the honour to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's Most Obedient Humble Servant,
Hong Kong, 25th March 1881.
My Lord,
I have the honor to submit for Your Lordship's perusal the printed report, in pamphlet form, of a Criminal prosecution for Libel, instituted against me by Mr John Pitman, and to respectfully call your Lordship's attention to the following facts in connection with the case.
The Libel (marked A on page 13 of the pamphlet) was published on 29th March 1880 and was brought to my notice on the following day, whereupon I promptly instructed my Solicitors to prosecute and the case came on at the Court on 21st idem. Report of the proceedings marked B on page 1 of the pamphlet.
On the same date (31st March 1880) the Libel was withdrawn and an apology tendered (see Letter marked C).
The Right Honourable The Earl of Kimberley, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, London.