and if nothing
occurs to the contrary I shall embark on the 15th Decr next in order to arrive in
at Genoa Hongkong by that date. -
with respect to my terms at Gray's Inn, having only kept five I am in somewhat an unfortunate position, & yet if a very short extension were granted
I were enabled to put in six, my position be materially improved, as I will proceed shortly to explain.
The Inns of Court will not call
the Bar unless he has kept 10 terms.
It has taken me nearly 18 months to put
in five terms, and I presume
hence it would take 18 months more to
put in the remaining five. - This is due to the fact
that from June to November (a period of five months) the long vacation occurs
& therefore no attendance at the Inn is possible. from now to June however four terms
may be kept & it is with an
eye to these future 4 terms that I venture to address
You.
If I could therefore succeed in putting
in four terms, I should find applying for such an extended leave as
may save me the expense of living useless mouths in England -
moreover it
may be said
by the last mail I received
a letter from Dr Bakson Wright (Headmaster Queen's College) who informed
me that the Spen Team at Queen's College, Hongkong.
would commence about
about 20th Feby next.
As I am due back in
on 28th Jany it will be seen that I should be absolutely idle, owing to the winter
vacation commencing duties.
a period of one month before I could
540
The next term in Gray's Inn commences
on the 11th Jany, if therefore I were allowed to Keep this term I could pick up the German mail at Genoa
on the 9th Feby & be in Hong Kong about the 9th
of March
thus in reality 20 days extension is necessary this at the commencement of
the school year when little dislocation
can be easily remedied.
I need not say how grateful I should be.-
I should look upon such an extension as a distinct favour.
To be called to the Bar has
been my
for years & I have shaped my studies accordingly; while with respect to my work in Queen's College the consciousness of having some interest taken in my work & ambition would nerve me to strive for approbation.
I should like finally to say that I am deeply impressed that Dr Wright would raise no
objection to such a short extension
I have the honour to be Sir
your most obedient servant
John William Jones