Here I may safely assert that I would have done as well for him privately, and much better officially than his present Substitute.
If Dr. Ayres' objections to what I have proposed are admitted as insurmountable, I have no option but to go on working, leaving the consideration of my offer to do the work for the present.
At first sight, and in the force of my letter, this statement is absurd, but the Acting Governor has taken it; and has acted upon it; and has given an answer to my letter of 24th May, and this in itself is a sufficient reason for my appeal to your Lordship.
The Acting Governor has seen fit to make a statement, ascertained by the head of my Department, that I am incompetent to do my duty, inferring that in this respect I am not satisfactory; and this statement is endorsed by the Head of the Executive. There is, honestly, a contradiction in this, and everybody concerned, from the Lieutenant Governor downwards, is well aware that I acted successfully as Colonial Surgeon before Mr. Ayres came to the Colony, and again eleven years ago, and moreover that it now devolves upon me to a certain extent to advise and instruct Mr. Jordan in the duties of the Department.
The order of the Acting Governor of June refers to the claims of Dr. Adams, Health Officer of the Port, my senior in the service, and whose claims are therefore entitled to consideration. Dr. Adams is four years senior to me in the service, but he stands upon an entirely different footing, for he has a large and lucrative private practice among the shipping in the Harbour, and to do the Colonial Surgeon's duties ashore, he would have to sacrifice this private practice and find someone else to carry on his official duties afloat.
This sufficiently explains the fact of his being mentioned as a possible Acting Colonial Surgeon. Besides, his official emoluments and advantages are at least equal to those of the Colonial Surgeon, so he would have everything to lose and nothing to gain by the arrangement, except the (to him empty) honour of being Head of the Department, and having to learn and perform a round of duties entirely new to him.
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