431
No. 10.
James Stephen, Esq to R. Montgomery Martin, Esq.
7 January 1846.
14
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE RESIGNATION
- No. 10.-
Copy of a LETTER from James Stephen, Esq. to R. Montgomery Martin, Esq.
Sir,
Downing-street, 7 January 1846.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Gladstone to inform you, that he has had under his consideration the despatches from the Governor of Hong Kong and your own letters, explaining the circumstances under which you resigned your office of Treasurer of that colony, in order to come to this country to lay certain representations respecting Hong Kong before Her Majesty's Government.
Mr. Gladstone finds, that after a full consideration of the circumstances, Lord Stanley, according to the records of this office, appears to have regarded your resignation of office as final, and Mr. Gladstone desires me to add, that he concurs with Lord Stanley in thinking that, after what has passed on the subject, no other character can be ascribed to it.
(signed)
I have, &c.
Jas. Stephen.
OF MR. M. MARTIN, TREASURER OF HONG KONG.
- No. 11.-
15
COPY of a LETTER from James Stephen, Esq. to R. Montgomery Martin, Esq.
Sir,
Downing-street, 31 January 1846.
I HAVE laid before Mr. Secretary Gladstone your letter to me of the 13th instant, in which you state that "Lord Stanley informed you by letter, that in compliance with your request he had not formally accepted your resignation," and you add, that "on the 28th November last his Lordship observed, that he could not discuss with you the statements you transmitted on Hong Kong, as it had been resolved to make them a subject for the deliberation of the Cabinet."
On perusing this letter, Mr. Gladstone directed me to write to Lieutenant-colonel Wilbraham, who had acted as Lord Stanley's Private Secretary, to ascertain whether it was in his power to throw any light on the contradiction between the statements I have thus quoted, and the documents remaining in this office in Lord Stanley's hand-writing.
On the 27th instant, Colonel Wilbraham addressed to me his answer to that inquiry in a letter of that date, a copy of which, by Mr. Gladstone's direction, I enclose for your information. Mr. Gladstone desires me to add, that he must consider this statement from Colonel Wilbraham as closing the discussion respecting the resignation of your office as Treasurer of Hong Kong; and that he must regard that resignation as having been finally, and therefore irrevocably accepted by Lord Stanley.
I have, &c. (signed) Jas. Stephen.
No. 12. James Stephen, Esq. to R. M. Martin, Esq.
31 January 1846.
27 January 1846.
No. 11.
R. Montgomery Martin, Esq., to Mr. Secretary Gladstone.
13 January 1846.
Copy of a LETTER from R. Montgomery Martin, Esq. to Mr. Secretary Gladstone.
Sir,
Polloe, near Glasgow, 13 January 1846.
In reply to Mr. Under-secretary Stephen's letter of 7th instant, I beg to refer to my correspondence with Governor Davis of 18th and 24th June and 8th July last, by which it will be seen that the tendered resignation of the office of Treasurer of Hong Kong was constrained, conditional and dependent on the information I laid before Her Majesty's Government being deemed insufficient to justify my coming to England.
In my letter to Lord Stanley from Hong Kong of 8th July last, I asked his Lordship to suspend decision until he had personally heard my statements, and to grant an inquiry previous to accepting my resignation.
Lord Stanley informed me by letter, that "in compliance with my request, he had not formally accepted my resignation," and on 28th November last his Lordship observed, that he could not discuss with me the statements I transmitted on Hong Kong, as it had been resolved to make them a subject for the deliberation of the cabinet.
Under these circumstances, it is submitted, that I was fully justified in coming to England in July last to make what have been deemed important representations to Lord Stanley, Lord Aberdeen, Mr. Goulburn and the Lords of the Treasury, previous to the treaty of Nankin settled in January or February 1846; and it is consequently respectfully suggested, that I do not deserve to forfeit my commission, and be deprived of employment in Her Majesty's service, after having usefully, zealously and at no inconsiderable hazard and sacrifices, done my duty as a faithful servant of the Crown in China, whither I am again prepared to proceed when ordered.
Relying on your equitable consideration, and with the request that as my official statements have been made the subject of cabinet discussion, so also will be this letter, and my removal or otherwise from Her Majesty's Service.
I have, &c. (signed) R. M. Martin.
My dear Sir,
Enclosure in No. 12.
55, Portland-place, 27 January 1846.
In answer to your letter of the 21st instant on the subject of Mr. Montgomery Martin's resignation of the treasurership of Hong Kong, I beg to say, that the only communication with him that I am aware of, was a letter which I wrote to him from Lancashire on the 13th November last, by desire of Lord Stanley, and which I presume he refers to in the extract of his letter of the 13th January last, which you have sent me, where he states that "Lord Stanley informed me by letter," that "in compliance with my request, he had not formally accepted my resignation."
The words of my letter of November 13th, after saying that Lord Stanley would on his return to town give him the interview he requested, were "Colonel Wilbraham is desired by Lord Stanley to add, that in compliance with Mr. Martin's wishes, he has delayed the formal acceptance of his resignation of the Treasurership of Hong Kong, though he considers the resignation as final.
With reference to Mr. Martin's statement, that at the subsequent interview Lord Stanley "observed, that he could not discuss with (him) the statements (he) transmitted on Hong Kong, as it had been resolved to make them a subject for the deliberation of the Cabinet;" I am desired by Lord Stanley to say, that Mr. Martin must have greatly misunderstood him, as his expression to Mr. Martin was, that the matters on which Mr. Martin had written to him, such as the evacuation of Chusan, &c., were such as he could not discuss with Mr. Martin, they being properly subjects for the consideration of the Cabinet; an expression which bears a very different meaning from the construction which Mr. Martin appears to have put upon it.
Lord Stanley has further desired me to observe, that at the interview, Mr. Martin did not say a word to him about the confirmation or otherwise of his resignation; but expressed himself to the effect that he knew he had committed faults, and must bear the penalty of them.
Jas. Stephen, Esq.
&c. &c. &c.
I remain, &c. (signed)
E. B. Wilbraham.
Encl. in No. 12.
-No. 12.-
743-
B 4
No. 13.-
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431
No. 10.
James Stephen, Esq to R. Montgomery Martin, Esq.
7 January 1846.
14
CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE RESIGNATION
- No. 10.-
Copy of a LETTER from James Stephen, Esq. to R. Montgomery Martin, Esq.
Sir,
Downing-street, 7 January 1846.
1 AM directed by Mr. Secretary Gladstone to inform you, that he has had under his consideration the despatches from the Governor of Hong Kong and your own letters, explaining the circumstances under which you resigned your office of Treasurer of that colony, in order to come to this country to lay certain representations respecting IIong Kong before Her Majesty's Govern-
ment.
Mr. Gladstone finds, that after a full consideration of the circumstances, Lord Stanley, according to the records of this office, appears to have regarded your resignation of office as final, and Mr. Gladstone desires me to add, that he concurs with Lord Stanley in thinking that, after what has passed on the subject, no other character can be ascribed to it.
-No. 11.
>
(signed)
I have, &c.
Jas. Stephen.
OF MR. M. MARTIN, TREASURER OF HONG KONG.
- No. 12.
15
COPY of a LETTER from James Stephen, Esq. to R. Montgomery Martin, Esq.
Sir,
Downing-street, 31 January 1846.
I HAVE laid before Mr. Secretary Gladstone your letter to me of the 13th instant, in which you state that "Lord Stanley informed you by letter, that in compliance with your request he had not formally accepted your resignation," and you add, that "on the 28th November last his Lordship observed, that he could not discuss with you the statements you transmitted on Hong Kong, as it had been resolved to make them a subject for the deliberation of the Cabinet."
On perusing this letter, Mr. Gladstone directed me to write to Lieutenant- colonel Wilbraham, who had acted as Lord Stanley's Private Secretary, to ascertain whether it was in his power to throw any light on the contradiction between the statements I have thus quoted, and the documents remaining in this office in Lord Stanley's hand-writing.
On the 27th instant, Colonel Wilbraham addressed to me his answer to that inquiry in a letter of that date, a copy of which, by Mr. Gladstone's direction, I enclose for your information. Mr. Gladstone desires me to add, that he must consider this statement from Colonel Wilbraham as closing the discussion respecting the resignation of your office as Treasurer of Hong Kong; and that he must regard that resignation as having been finally, and therefore irrevocably accepted by Lord Stanley.
I have, &c. (signed) Jas, Stephen.
No. 12. James Stephen, Martin, Esq. Esq. to R. M.
31 January 1846,
27 January 1846.
No. 11.
R. Montgomery
Martin, Esq., to
Mr. Secretary Gladstone.
13 January 1846,
Copy of a LETTER from R. Montgomery Martin, Esq. to Mr. Secretary
Sir,
Gladstone.
Poloe, near Glasgow, 13 January 1846.
In reply to Mr. Under-secretary Stephen's letter of 7th instant, I beg to refer to my correspondence with Governor Davis of 18th and 24th June and 8th July last, by which it will be seen that the tendered resignation of the office of Treasurer of Hong Kong was constrained, conditional and dependent on the information I laid before Her Majesty's Government being deemed insufficient to justify my coming to England.
In my letter to Lord Stanley from Hong Kong of 8th July last, I asked his Lordship to suspend decision until he had personally heard my statements, and to grant an inquiry previous to accepting my resignation.
Lord Stanley informed me by letter, that "in compliance with my request, he had not formally accepted my resignation," and on 28th November last his Lordship observed, that he could not discuss with me the statements I trans- mitted on Hong Kong, as it had been resolved to make them a subject for the deliberation of the cabinet.
Under these circumstances, it is submitted, that I was fully justified in coming to England in July last to make what have been deemed important repre- sentations to Lord Stanley, Lord Aberdeen, Mr. Goulburn and the Lords of the Treasury, previous to the treaty of Nankin settled in January or February 1846; and it is consequently respectfully suggested, that I do not deserve to forfeit my commission, and be deprived of employment in Her Majesty's service, after having usefully, zealously and at no inconsiderable hazard and sacrifices, done my duty as a faithful servant of the Crown in China, whither I am again prepared to proceed when ordered.
Relying on your equitable consideration, and with the request that as my official statements have been made the subject of cabinet discussion, so also will be this letter, and my removal or otherwise from Her Majesty's Service.
I have, &c. (signed) R. M. Martin.
My dear Sir,
Enclosure in No. 12.
55, Portland-place, 27 January 1846.
In answer to your letter of the 21st instant on the subject of Mr. Montgomery Martin's resignation of the treasurership of Hong Kong, I beg to say, that the only communica- tion with him that I am aware of, was a letter which I wrote to him from Lancashire on the 13th November last, by desire of Lord Stanley, and which I presume he refers to in the extract of his letter of the 13th January last, which you have sent me, where he states that "Lord Stanley informed me by letter," that "in compliance with my request, he had not formally accepted my resignation."
The words of my letter of November 13th, after saying that Lord Stanley would on his return to town give him the interview he requested, were "Colonel Wilbraham is desired by Lord Stanley to add, that in compliance with Mr. Martin's wishes, he has delayed the formal acceptance of his resignation of the Treasurership of Hong Kong, though he considers the resignation as final.
With reference to Mr. Martin's statement, that at the subsequent interview Lord Stanley "observed, that he could not discuss with (him) the statements (be) transmitted on Hong Kong, as it had been resolved to make them a subject for the deliberation of the Cabinet; " I am desired by Lord Stanley to say, that Mr. Martin must have greatly mis- understood him, as his expression to Mr. Martin was, that the matters on which Mr. Martin had written to him, such as the evacuation of Chusan, &c., were such as he could not discuss with Mr. Martin, they being properly subjects for the consideration of the Cabinet; an expression which bears a very different meaning from the construction which Mr. Martin appears to have put upon it.
Lord Stanley has further desired me to observe, that at the interview, Mr. Martin did not say a word to him about the confirmation or otherwise of his resignation; but expressed himself to the effect that he knew he had committed faults, and must bear the penalty of them.
Jas. Stephen, Esq.
&c. &c. &c.
I remain, &c. (signed)
E. B. Wilbraham.
Encl. in No. 12.
-No. 12.-
743-
B 4
No. 13.-
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