Dears Kingsmill,
I have received your letter and must say that while you are at home, you are certainly of no use to us here. You have stated that you have a wife and family dependent on you. Remaining in the Colony is more likely to add to your difficulties than to alleviate them. I have no hesitation in stating that every day you remain here will not only expose you to the perils of a Hong Kong Summer but also to the anxieties of separation.
At any rate, being here will be to them, in a pecuniary or any other view, at home, with you yourself being a burden. I believe you should not remain here any longer. I advise you to send in your resignation, giving your reasons in full, and I have no hesitation in expressing my feeling that procrastination in taking this step will not be beneficial.
I am convinced that you have not been fairly dealt with, and I know that I can become a passage home. Mr. Anstey seems far from a pleasant prospect, and your position here can be attended with no good. I suggest you come and see me whenever you may deem it necessary.
Yours sincerely,
J. J. Gibson
Acting Attorney General at Hong Kong,
My dear Sir,
Believe me,
Hong Kong, February 12, 1857.
W. J. Bridges
With very great regret, I have observed that your salary was barely sufficient to support you decently. The information as to the duties of your appointment or the circumstances of this Colony was not available to you in time. Indeed, it appears to me that from the very outset, you have labored under difficulties since your arrival in this Colony.
As a professional man with two years of experience in this Colony, I feel competent to form an opinion on this matter. The expenses of living in Hong Kong far exceed any idea that I had prior to leaving home, although I was warned that it was not a cheap place. The fact is, the place is dearer even than Calcutta, and as compared to England, I can say that an outlay of £120 per annum in London gave me more comfort, substance, and enjoyment than £350 could here.
To meet these expenses, there was a hope held out of private practice, but this was, in your case, quite out of the question due to the multiplicity of duties thrown upon you, which did not allow you time to turn your attention to private practice. Indeed, having to perform all the duties in your own person, you found it absolutely impossible to proceed without assistance, the cost of which you had to defray out of your very limited income, thereby reducing it to a scale at which it was impossible to continue in the post without getting deeper into debt.
I am perfectly satisfied that the only course open to you was to resign at once and put up with personal discomforts. I put these aside and form my deliberate opinion on the propriety of the step you have taken on the broad grounds above stated.
I remain, my dear Sir, yours faithfully,
Henry Kingsmill,
James Hickson Esq.
Page 223
D
ingsmill, the by Letter from Mr
upon you at home, while out here you certainly will be of no from them, you have, you state, a wife and family dependant. the Colony is more likely to add to your difficulties than to free you thecepe no hesitation in stating that every day you remain in
opy
will not have the perils of a Hong Kong Summer auxieties of seperation.
spaced the.
at any rate, be to them in a pecunians or any other view, at home, they with,
aue
you yourself
beshe you.
Shave
do-not.
remain here any longer.
send in your resignation Ziving your reasons ist full, and the the refue no hesitation in
feeling.
is so string among the Cones
тип
Cam convinced that procrastination in taking this Stet
been fairly dealt with, that I know I can becme a pee passage
mity that you have not
home; San
M. Anstey seems the far from a pleasant Can be attended, with no good, and your position with agaid to
and see me.
one
Write & ans Come
whenever you may deem it necessary
J. J. Sichem Equ
M. Hickam, neral at Hing King,
esent acting attorney.
My dear Sir,
Jours lincerely.
ゲ
Believe me.
Hong Kong, February 12. 1857.
W. J. Bridges
With veus great regret have I r
many
have
support, from bacely sufficient to your decent
Salary attached to your post- was of the Colony to which you were about to come; In the first place the information as to the duties of your Appointment or the circumstance suffered from being unable to obtain, in time, sufficient or reliable this Colony, Indeed it appears to me that from the very outset you. difficulties under which you have laboured since your anival in
remarked the
are experience of two years spent in this Colony.
a pufessional man
I feel my self-competent & foun
an Opinie
ces
as
this
con on
UX A VY SE
223
this matter, and I can say that the expenses of living in Singkong
aunum in
for exceed any idea that I has proner on the subject, although bese leaving home, I was warned that I should out-find it a Cheap place : The fact is the place is deaser even that (alcuttie, and as to England, I say that an outlay
outlery of £120 per London gave me more comfort substance and enjoyment than £350 could here; to meet these expenses there was held out to
Ke hope of private practice, that which is at best but matter of speculation was, in your case, quite out of the question
you
_
verer shoulders were, so
on yerer
as the multiplicity of duties thrown for from allowing you time to tum your attention to private practice, that they really did not afford you time pr the trömmary and necessary relaxations of life, Indeed hewing tied for some time to perform all the duties in your own,
in your own person you found it absolutely impossible. (and so would any one) to proceed without assistance, the cost of which you
had to defray
had
you
out of your very limitted income, thereby reducing it to a scale at which it was impossible. Cold pay your ways i Continued in the post the inevitable consequence would be that
you
you
would every day have been getting deeper into debt, I am perfectly satisfied that the only couse which lay open to
I am aware that you
you was to resign at once,
Laid to Eucerin
= tee and put up with personal discomforts (not to use a stinger
term) wwhich no
Gentle.
man Could. Submit but.. I put these aside and form my deliberate opinion of the propicity of the step you
: have liken on the broad grounds above stated,
1 remain . My dear Sir, yours faith; ally
Steury Kingsmill,
James Mickson Eg"
༡
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