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in the interest of the civil service, and be able to discharge my duties here. Climate has afforded a striking illustration of the effect of the depreciation of silver on official salaries in the East.
Cause my last letter to report satisfaction, and having done what I could to obtain a transfer to the less trying climate of Ceylon, I have, since the decision adverse to my application for a permanent exchange of posts with the Auditor of Ceylon, considered it right to refund monthly sums to the local Treasury as large a portion as my salary sufficed to meet certain charges, and keep me out of debt until I can claim my pension.
Being a bachelor, I should not care to complain so long as my salary sufficed, as it now does, to meet my needs without incurring debt. The reason for my refunds (and no one in Hongkong is aware of the nature of these refunds: they are not influenced by any grasping after an increase of my own salary) is that they are brought to account by the Treasurer, as "Miscellaneous receipts", by order.
So far from being the case, Sir W. Robinson was good enough, through the effects settling in Hongkong, to say, in the Confidential Despatch...