No. 6.
(No. 85.)
Copy of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir J. F. Davis, Bart., to Lord Stanley.
My Lord,
Victoria, Hong Kong, 24 June 1845. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 97, of March 25th, forwarding copy of a letter from Mr. Martin to the Under-secretary of State; I beg to observe, that my despatch No. 44, of April 25th, will have anticipated much that I might have said in answer to that letter, although the nature of some of its statements requires a specific notice.
Mr. Martin commences with the climate, observing, however, that "the mortality has not been so extensive as last year." Among the victims to sickness before he wrote, he enumerates myself, whom your Lordship may deem competent to deny the fact; and to add, that I never for a single day was unequal to my work. It is singular, that of a list of other official persons whom he enumerates as labouring under attacks that render persons "utterly unfit for a longer residence, if mental or bodily labour be required," the whole number are now at their duties. These are, the Chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary, the Auditor, the Surveyor general, and the Clerk of the Works. Mr. Martin himself, not being able to obtain a sick certificate, addressed to me the enclosed application for leave of absence on other grounds, which by my answer also enclosed, I informed him, did not justify the abandonment of his duties without leave from home. The Colonial Regulations are quite clear on this point, as your Lordship is aware.
Mr. Martin has altogether misunderstood his position, as I have endeavoured to show him in my reply to his letter enclosed herewith. A steady adherence to his own duties as Treasurer would have prevented that restlessness which has kept him moving perpetually between this and one or other of the points on the coast, with no other result than the accumulation of arrears in his work, and the creation of such crude theories as these scampering visits of a few days could afford.
I have before observed to your Lordship, that a comparison between Chusan and Hong Kong is mere loss of time, unless the former place were still at our option. Mr. Martin has not yet explained how it could be retained without a breach of treaty, after all the Chinese indemnity shall have been received.
It would have been well had Mr. Martin taken less liberty with others' opinions as the alleged supporters of his own. He even states that my views had changed after a visit to Chusan, a place with which I was perfectly well acquainted before. He very improperly observes, that the sentiments of Messrs. Bruce and Shelley on a public question had been altered by “a recent illness;'
Page 743
A 3
and
25
1841-1886
No. 6.
(No. 85.)
Cory of a DESPATCII from Governor Sir J. F. Davis, Bart., to Lord Stanley.
My Lord,
Victoria, Hong Kong, 24 June 1845. WITH reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 97, of March 25th, forward- ing copy of a letter from Mr. Martin to the Under-secretary of State; I beg to observe, that my despatch No. 44, of April 25th, will have anticipated much that I might have said in answer to that letter, although the nature of some of its statements requires a specific notice.
Mr. Martin commences with the climate, observing, however, that "the mortality has not been so extensive as last year." Among the victims to sick- ness before he wrote, he enumerates myself, whom your Lordship may deem competent to deny the fact; and to add, that I never for a single day was unequal to my work. It is singular, that of a list of other official persons whom he chuncrates as labouring under attacks that render persons "utterly unfit for a longer residence, if mental or bodily labour be required," the whole number are now at their duties. These are, the Chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary, the Auditor, the Surveyor general, and the Clerk of the Works. Mr. Martin himself, not being able to obtain a sick certificate, addressed to me the cuclosed application for leave of absence on other grounds, which by my answer also cnclosed, 1 informed him, did not justify the abandonment of his duties with- out leave from home. The Colonial Regulations are quite clear on this point, as your Lordship is aware.
Mr. Martin has altogether misunderstood his position, as I have endeavoured to show him in my reply to his letter enclosed herewith. A steady adherence to his own duties as Treasurer would have prevented that restlessness which has kept him moving perpetually between this and one or other of the points on the coast, with no other result than the accumulation of arrears in his work, and the creation of such crude theories as these scampering visits of a few days could afford.
I have before observed to your Lordship, that a comparison between Chuson and Hong Kong is mere loss of time, unless the former place were still at our option. Mr. Martin has not yet explained how it could be retained without a breach of treaty, after all the Chinese indemnity shall have been received.
It would have been well had Mr. Martin taken less liberty with others' opinions as the alleged supporters of his own. Ile even states that my views had changed after a visit to Chusan, a place with which I was perfectly well acquainted before. He very inproperly observes, that the sentiments of Messrs. Bruce and Shelley on a public question had been altered by “a recent illness;'
743-
A 3
and
25
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.