the events of which I complain in their chronological
sequence.
253
2.
My father, Mr C. J. Irving, C. M. G.,
himself the third member of my family in direct descent
who has served in the Public Service, held as his last
appointment that of Resident Councillor, Penang. My uncle
Sir Henry Irving, G. D. M. G., was also a member of the
Colonial Civil Service. I was educated at Blundell's
School, whence in 1889 I went up for the Indian Civil Service
examination under the old conditions. I failed to pass by
a few places, eight I think. In 1891, I obtained a nomina-
tion from Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, then Govenor of the
Straits Settlements, to the post of "Junior Officer* in the
State of Perak. A nomination was in those days the only
way whereby to enter the administrative or judicial branches
of the Native States Services. I passed my final examina-
tion in Malay within eight months, the short time of prepa-
ration as well as the number of marks I gained long stand-
ing as "records". After acting for short periods in the
Secretariat, the Land, Treasury and Audit Departments, I was
!
i
!
:
in 1893 gazetted a Magistrate of the Third Class, with power
to give sentences of three months hard labour, and with a
limited jurisdiction in Civil cases. I performed the duties
of Assistant District Magist ate, Kuala Kangsar, for six
months. I had meanwhile voluntarily studied the Hakka dia-
lect of Chinese, and was ( I think) the first Native States
officer who was sent to China to learn the language. ΤΟ
pursue my studies to the best advantage I spent a year at
KAYINGCH AU