MY DEAR SIR C. TREVELYAN,
Annexure 1.
MR. MERIVALE to SIR C. TREVELyan.
Colonial Office, December 30, 1858. You will, no doubt, have heard in a general way of the recent occurrence at this office by which a very important confidential despatch got irregularly divulged. I was absent all the time and know nothing of it, except from the accounts I have received since
my return.
Sir E. Lytton wants to get rid of Mr. Miller, if he can effect an exchange for him without degradation or loss of income, implying thereby that he is himself satisfied that no imputation attaches to him except that of gross carelessness, sufficiently punished by the loss of all the prospect of advance- ment which was open to him here.
I have no reason to doubt that this is the most just, as well as charitable view of his conduct, of which I cannot myself speak from personal know- ledge of the circumstances.
The question is, how can this be done?
Miller's place is that of under-librarian, pay 2007. to 4007., rising by tens. His probable, though not the only possible advancement would be the post of librarian, 6007. to 8007., rising by twenties.
Such, then, is the post we have to offer, should you think it a fair proposal, to any creditable man in a subordinate employment at about 2001. a year in the Treasury or any other office with which you are connected, taking Miller in exchange. Of course we cannot recommend Miller to deal with highly confidential papers any more, but I am bound to say in his favour that he has one of the most remarkable heads for order and method that I ever knew. He completely established our registration system on its present basis, and was most valuable as a supervisor of the printing of parliamentary papers; for such purposes as these I have never found so good an assistant. He took the post of inferior labour (from which he must now be unfortunately removed) on account of fears about his health.
I ought to add that the very advanced age of Meyer, the present librarian, is rather a disadvantageous circumstance in the offer I have to make, as the vacancy in his office may happen so very soon as to be hardly open for the promotion of a very fresh under-librarian.
I ought to add, further, that Miller's salary is made up to 3007. a year on account of old services, but I apprehend if any exchange is effected with a clerk of 2007. a year, or thereabouts, our office must bear the difference, as a kind of pension to a retired functionary.
Very faithfully yours,
H. MERIVALĘ.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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C.O. 885/5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
SIR,
Annexure 2.
The COLONIAL OFFICE to the TREASURY.
Downing Street, July 21, 1870.
IN giving effect to the changes in the establishment of this office, sanctioned by your letter of 31st March last, the Earl of Kimberley desires to
bring under their Lordships' notice two personal cases.
The first is that of Mr. Woods, hitherto sub-librarian of this office. Mr. Woods entered the public service in 1828, and it will be seen by a Treasury Minute, dated 13th November 1856, that he had discharged his duties to the satisfaction of his superior officers.
In 1857 he became a supplementary clerk in the Treasury, with a salary which ultimately became 4007. a year.
In January 1859 he was transferred to this office, with no increase of salary, but with expectations of promotion which will be collected from the