28 Diana Road
Orrell, Seaforth, Liverpool
10 August 1901
The Under Secretary of State for the Colonies
I humbly beg to present the following statement of my case for your consideration.
On July 6th 1899 I arrived in the Colony of Hongkong having joined the permanent staff here, as Chief Inspector of Nuisances.
Throughout the entire period I remained in office there, I rarely had a full staff under me, and latterly there were several men short owing to the increased number to be obtained in England, whilst bubonic plague was epidemic & also a new ordinance was enforced which also caused increased work to be thrown on the staff.
On March 6th 1901 I was invalided home as stated by my own medical advisor owing to excessive and arduous duties. The precise terms of my invaliding were not known to me until I was handed my Leave papers at about 11 am on the 6th March, my steamer being due to leave at noon.
Howsoever, after a leave twice that granted, and which only allowed me to recover, I am not in a fit condition to hope to pass any medical examination, however lenient. I am not in a condition to do the average work of my position as Chief Inspector which is mainly mental and clerical.