As O'Brien can judge of his intentions towards O'Brien well, in the highest degree "benevolent"
Stay in Hong Kong till March next without damper, the chances seemed to me in favor of something "turning up" before that time.
Meanwhile, O'Brien yielding, I suppose, to the impatience of that femme fatale, his sister, has not waited for my telegram and has sent in his memorial more than a month sooner than he intended.
This I learn by a letter from himself, in which he grounds his precipitate action on the fact that the Governors of Fiji and Bahamas have had their terms prolonged and that an appointment has been made to Barbadoes: when he argues that his chances are at an end!
I wish the memorial could be withdrawn. I suppose that is officially impossible, but I would not mind taking the responsibility of withdrawing it on his behalf. I do not suppose that in any case you would be disposed to grant the request, and there are, I think, good reasons why you should not.