My dear Hickson,
Come one at home must have sadly misled you.
I am sorry that you are new to Hong Kong and have not heard of your having obtained a position here, but I trust that we shall not be so great a disparity between work and remuneration as there is in the Old Countries.
I remain yours sincerely,
[A. J. Hickson Esq.]
My dear Hickson,
Hong Kong, 17th January 1857.
I cannot but regret that you have been compelled to resign your offices.
& Letter for the Crown Solicitor to W. H. Gaskell.
My dear Sir,
Believe me, I am most sincerely yours.
Wm Gaskell.
Hong Kong, 10th February 1857.
If we could have spared towards private practice, even after you were appointed, I cannot say. Besides, from my knowledge and observation of the Colony, I thought there were too many lawyers for the business.
To support you here, the prices are nearly - if not quite - three times those of home. I am well acquainted with the prices of rent and provisions, and have no hesitation in saying that they are adequate and, as for obtaining private practice, the profession is overcrowded.
Having been in practice in this Colony in my present profession of a Solicitor and Notary Public for about four years, I can see what difficulties you faced.
The duties of the offices to which you were appointed could not be conscientiously performed without a staff of assistants - at least one good clerk and an efficient bailiff - the salaries for which, with the rent of a proper office, would have entirely eaten up your salary or left you so small a margin that it would be absurd to think of supporting yourself upon it.
The clerks in our office - one European and a Portuguese boy - cost us £290 a year.
After six years of experience as a solicitor, I find that a respectable position cannot be kept up under at least 120 dollars per month; and, even then, rigid economy must be practised.
Your entire salary only amounts to that sum! I am sure that you carry with you to England the good wishes not only of the profession but of the community in general, and wishing a happy reunion with your family, believe me to remain your very faithfully,
James Brown, Solicitor and Notary Public, of the firm of Gaskell & Brown.
To J. J. Hickson Esq.
Page 225
Copies of Printed Extracts, from Newspapers published at Hong Kong, attached to the memorial presented to W. Sabouchere.
From "The China Mail" - "Resignation of Mr. J. J. Hickson"
"We are sorry, but not astonished, to learn that the Colony has lost the services of Mr. J. J. Hickson, Crown Solicitor, Deputy Sheriff, Coroner, and Proctor of Admiralty, to which he was gazetted."
your
come one at home must have sadly misled you.
Jam
sorry
that
you are new
hall com hear of your having obtained a position necessarily compelled to retuum home, but I trust that we
in which there will
Witt best wishes for your safe anival amongst family and friends.
not be so great a disparity between work and remuneration :
in the Old Countries.
I remain yours lincerely.
[
a. J. Hickson Z.
My dear Hickson,
Hong Kong. 17. Ichmary 1857.
Edward H. Stuce.
Icanent but regret that you have been compelled to resign
& Letter for th
twn,
O
g Kong to MW.
lucie practice in
Policitor
insular & Oriental ace. Solicitor to the
by Letter from Mr.
a favourable oryase 4 your native land and Every success for the future. and speak from experience as to the expenses of living, Wishing you
James Sohn Hickson liqu
Kong. WW. Hie Roon,
Company at
My dear Fir
Beleive me
My dear
most sincerely yours.
Wm Gaskell.
Sting Kong, 10th Jebruary 1857.
if we,
cnl d. have spared towards private practice, even
& you... you were appointed. Scannot &
the duties of the offices to which y befue your anival, Besides from my knowledge and observation of and the Colony thought there were too many lawyers for the busines - adequate and, as for obtaining private practice, the Rofession.
litterly
your Salary
those of home prices : To support you here. are nearly - if not quite-tree times
that they
hesitation in sausing well acquainted with the prices of Kent and provisions, and thave no profession of a Solicitor and Notary Public for about four years, Lam
Having been in practice in this Colony in my present
time
cannot see what
who had preceded you, had not well secured the business of the Colony;
225
your offices of foun solicitor. Queens Procter. Coroner be for the
Colony, still under the circumstances in which:
кут
are placed. I do not see that you
alternative but & do so, as it was
had
any
morally impossible to you bremain in the Colony and support-your: self on the very trifling salary allowed by Zwemment : your duties Could not be conscientiously performed without a staff of Aasistants - at least one good clerk and an efficient Bailiffs, the salaries for which, with the cent of a puper office, would have entirely exten
up your salary or left you so small. a mar in that it would be absurd to think of supporting yourself upon it; the Clarks in our Office
European and a Portuguese boy - Cost us
£290 year
viz! one
them.
and rext.
6 year
that must be increased; After
single
man'
between
an experience
of some six years and upwards as a
I find that a respectable position cannot be kept up under at least 120 Dollar per month; and, even then, rigid economy most be practised, Your entire calary only amounts to that sum! I am sure that you carry with you to England the good wishes not only of the Rosessin but of the Community in general, and wishing, happy Reunion with your family, Belive met temain four very faithfully
James Browni
J. J. Hickson legr
9 you
a
Sot. and Notary Public. of the trium of Gaskell & Brown,
Copies of Printed Extracts, prom Newspapers published at Singkong,
attached to the memorial prewarded [MW. Sabouchere,
From "The China Mail" "Resignation of M. J. J. Hickson"
"We are sorry.
but not astonished b learn that the Colony has lost " the cervices of th. I. I. Hickson, Crown Solicitor. Beputy Sheriff, " Coroner and Rocter of eAdmiralty to which he was,
was gazelled
"
è so vent
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