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you whether I would undertake the work referred to in paragraph
1 of this letter. I replied that although the matter would put
me to some inconvenience, owing to the pressing nature of my
work, I would be glad to do the work referred to if I were
officially requested to do so, as I was anxious to repay in
any way I could the great kindness shown me by the Colonial
Office in London. You informed me later, late in July or
early in August, that permission had been written for to the
Secretary of State for the Colonies to secure my services for
the proposed work.
5.
On December 17th., on my arrival in
Singapore, I received your letter No. 2871, informing me that
the Secretary of State for the Colonies had approved of my
temporary employment for the purpose of performing the work in
question on my return to Hongkong in 1903, and that a fee of
£100 would be paid me on its completion.
Ô
On December 21st., 1902, I replied
to your letter, accepting the temporary employment offered to
me by the Hongkong Government and stating that I should com-
mence work in November, 1903.
7.
I wrote to the University of Chicago
informing the President of my engagement by you, made the
necessary changes in my plans so as to permit of my doing the
work, and considered the matter concluded.
8
Your letter of January 17th., 1903,
informs me that my services are not now required, and the
reason stated is that Mr. Drayson has undertaken to perform
the work which I was engaged by you to undertake.
9.
Confining myself for the moment to
the question of that courtesy which a professional man expects
to receive at the hands of those who seek to secure his
services