20
more popular than we were, as is evidenced by the hospi tality we received, and as is further borne out by the public address and by the "ovation" given me on my de- parture.
Notwithstanding my entire success there, and despite the fact that all my preparations for the defence were ap- proved of, my applications to remain were refused, although, war being expected and my preparations approved, I had a right to hope that my application to retain the command would have been granted. On my return the cold shoulder was given me, and the subsequent ill-treatment as shown in my correspondence with the authorities would convey the idea, to those who did not know the particulars of the case, that I was the General who had incurred Sir Pope Hennessy's criticism.
Finally, too much stress cannot be laid on what is the gist of the whole matter-I mean the fact that I am being punished on false pretences. It cannot be too often repeated that the sole origin of the Duke's ill-treatment of me is a fault which I never committed, and is based on an imaginary censure which the Commander-in-Chief under his own hand has admitted was never administered, thereby confessing his own unpardonable blunder in his letter to me of the 15th October, 1888, in which he told me that he had censured me for the character of my relations with the Governor of Hong Kong. Thus, the only fault which the Commander-in-Chief was able to lay to my charge at a time when he was seeking something against me to justify bis treatment of me turned out to be a delusion.
In addition to the points above mentioned, careful re- ference should be made to the following Brochures among those which accompany this memorandum ;
21
Brochure 3, pp. 6–8
"
4, pp. 4-7
37
6 (the whole)
7 (the whole)
"
7
8 (the whole)
37
11, pp. 19-29
31
18, pp. 1 and 188-195
37
14 (the whole)
,,
15, pp. 1, 18-21, 37–39
"
16 (the whole)
J. N, SARGENT,
Lt.-Gen.
N.B.--Copies of this Memorandum will be sent to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Secretary of State for War, and His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief.
FRINTED ST
SPOTTWOODE AND C, NEW STREFT SQUARE
LONDON
J. N. S.
633