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integrity; and it is also to his credit that the defalcations had been discovered and he realised the result of his not exercising supervision over his department, he set and has vigorously to work and since then done all in his power to repair his previous omission. Under these circumstances I consider that suspension would not only be harsh but ruinous to his future prospects, and I shall be very glad if your Lordship concurs in this view.
As regards enforcing his pecuniary responsibility for sums unappropriated during his tenure of office, that would involve a punishment short of ruin. The amount is large, and his salary is small, unduly small, for an officer in his position, and for obvious reasons it is especially undeniable that he should be crippled with debt and under heavy obligations to others for pecuniary assistance.
On the whole, I would venture to suggest that if Your Lordship concurs in the view which I have taken, the best solution of the case would be to remit his pecuniary responsibility, and if possible, should the case appear to Your Lordship to warrant so severe a punishment, to provide him...