4
the high testimonials of unqualified satisfaction bestowed upon me by Governors Sir Henry Pottinger, Sir John Davis, and Sir George Bonham, all of which are on record in the Colonial Office, as well as attached to this Memorial. It is right that I should exonerate his Grace the Duke of Newcastle for this supercession, it having taken place during the rule of his Grace's predecessor. In a letter from me to Lord Stanley, dated 19th July, 1858, I applied for the appointment of Governor of Singapore, on a vacancy occurring; the reply to this letter came from Sir Bulwer Lytton, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, couched in these words (No. 43 of 1st October, 1858):-
"You will inform Colonel Caine that I am aware of the value of the services rendered by him during the long and continuous period of his connection with Hong Kong, and that these will not fail to receive due weight in the event of any arrangement being adopted which would involve his removal from the office which he holds in that colony."
Other despatches referring to and acknowledging my services from the Colonial Office are in existence: one was No. 22 of 26th March, 1859. I was instructed by the Colonial Office, in the aforesaid despatch, to send in a Memorial of my services for pension, and, not being a free agent, obedience was imperative, as is shown by my reply 91, of 20th May, 1859, herewith attached.
It was my duty to obey, and I did so; and I state this fact to show that the act itself was compulsory, but the pension, though full and adequate, has not removed the sting attached to the unjust supercession, or in the remotest manner nullified the stigma thereby adhering to my character to the end of my days. It appeared as if I were doomed to disgrace, notwithstanding that I have on three several occasions expressed to the Colonial Office my readiness to meet any charge prejudicial to my character that might be exhibited.
On 21st January, 1861, I applied to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle for re-employment in the Colonial Service, volunteering to go to any part of the world he might be pleased to order me (and since that application I have ventured to name "Western Australia," "Singapore," and even "Labuan"), a reply from the Colonial Office, dated 22nd January, 1861, is to this purport:-"His Grace will bear in mind your wish for re-employment, but there are so many old colonial servants seeking employment at the present time, that his Grace is unable to hold out the expectation of being able speedily to avail himself of your services."
5
It is proper that I should here lay before your Majesty communication of mine to the Duke of Newcastle, of which the following is an extract, dated 9th June, 1860:--
"Having perused in a recent Gazette of Civil Officers honoured with the dignity of knighthood, commencing with the late Chief Justice of New Zealand, I have to submit my name to your Grace's kind consideration for a similar honour." "The honour I solicit would be a full recognition on the part of our most gracious Sovereign of a career embracing more than forty-six years of continued foreign service." The reply of the 13th July, 1860, crushing my hopes, states:-"The Companionship of the Bath which you solicit is an honour intended to be a recognition of peculiar and distinguished services. His Grace does not consider that the civil services which you have had the opportunity of rendering to the Crown under this Department, however meritorious, would justify him in recommending you for that special mark of the Royal approbation; but it would rest with the Secretary of State for War to consider how far your military services may merit such a reward, if you should think it right to bring those services under his consideration."
I beg to observe that I did not apply for the Companionship of the Bath. And I would here remark, for the purpose of showing a precedent, and that, too, without the slightest prejudice to the gallant and distinguished soldier in question, Major-General Sir Edward MacArthur, whilst in command of Her Majesty's Forces in Australia, acted temporarily as Governor during the absence of the latter, and received through the Colonial Office, the honour of a Knight Commander of the Civil Order of the Bath.
On again addressing the Colonial Office, begging his Grace to grant me an audience, I was informed by letter of 5th December, 1861, that "The Duke of Newcastle is so very much occupied just now with urgent public business, that he is quite unable to see any one except upon public subjects of an important nature. Under these circumstances, he will not, I fear, be able to grant you an interview; but you need not, I think, be under any apprehension that your name will escape his recollection.” And finally, to the last appeal, the private Secretary intimates on the 2nd February, 1864, that His Grace regrets that he is unable to offer you further employment."
It will thus be evident to my Sovereign, that I am now bereft of all hope of honours or future employment through the Colonial Office, and consequently compelled to throw myself upon the benevolent consideration of your Majesty for that relief otherwise unattainable. Being born of humble
42
4
the high testimonials of unqualified satisfaction bestowed upon me by Governors Sir Henry Pottinger, Sir John Davis, and Sir George Bonham, all of which are on record in the Colonial Office, as well as attached to this Memorial. It is right that I should exonerate his Grace the Duke of New- castle for this supercession, it having taken place during the rule of his Grace's predecessor. In a letter from me to Lord Stanley, dated 19th July, 1858, I applied for the appointment of Governor of Singapore, on a vacancy occur- ring; the reply to this letter came from Sir Bulwer Lytton, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, couched in these words (No. 43 of 1st October, 1858):-
"You will inform Colonel Caine that I am aware of the value of the services rendered by him during the long and and continuous period of his connection with Hong Kong, and that these will not fail to receive due weight in the event of any arrangement being adopted which would in- volve his removal from the office which he holds in that colony."
Other despatches referring to and acknowledging my services from the Colonial Office are in existence: one was No. 22 of 26th March, 1859. I was instructed by the Colonial Office, in the aforesaid despatch, to send in a Memorial of my services for pension, and, not being a free agent, obedience was imperative, as is shown by my reply 91, of 20th May, 1859, herewith attached.
It was my duty to obey, and I did so; and I state this fact to show that the act itself was compulsory, but the pension, though full and adequate, has not removed the sting attached to the unjust supercession, or in the remotest manner nullified the stigma thereby adhering to my cha- racter to the end of my days. It appeared as if I were doomed to disgrace, notwithstanding that I have on three several occasions expressed to the Colonial Office my readi ness to meet any charge prejudicial to my character that might be exhibited.
On 21st January, 1861, I applied to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle for re-employment in the Colonial Service, volunteering to go to any part of the world he might be pleased to order me (and since that application I have ven- tured to name "Western Australia,"
""Singapore," and even
"Labuan"), a reply from the Colonial Office, dated 22nd January, 1861, is to this purport:-"His Grace will bear in mind your wish for re-employment, but there so many old colonial servants seeking employment at the present time, that his Grace is unable to hold out the expectation of being able speedily to avail himself of your services."
5
It is proper that I should here lay before your Majesty communication of mine to the Duke of Newcastle, of which the following is an extract, dated 9th June, 1860:--
"Having perused in a recent Gazette of Civil Officers honoured with the dignity of knighthood, commencing with the late Chief Justice of New Zealand, I bave to submit my name to your Grace's kind consideration for a similar honour." "The honour I solicit would be a full recognition
on the part of our most gracious Sovereign of a career embracing more than forty-six years of continued foreign service." The reply of the 13th July, 1860, crushing my hopes, states:-"The Companionship of the Bath which you solicit is an honour intended to be a recognition of peculiar His Grace does not consider and distinguished services. that the civil services which you have had the opportunity of rendering to the Crown under this Department, however meritorious, would justify him in recommending you for that special mark of the Royal approbation; but it would rest with the Secretary of State for War to consider how far your military services may merit such a reward, if you should think it right to bring those services under his consideration." I beg to observe that I did not apply for the Companionship of the Bath. And I would here remark, for the purpose of showing a precedent, and that, too, without the slightest prejudice to the gallant and distinguished soldier in question, Major-General Sir Edward MacArthur, whilst in command of Her Majesty's Forces in Australia, acted temporarily as Governor during the absence of the latter, and received through the Colonial Office, the honour of a Kinght Com- mander of the Civil Order of the Bath.
On again addressing the Colonial Office, begging his Grace to grant me an audience, I was informed by letter of 5th December, 1861, that "The Duke of Newcastle is so very much occupied just now with urgent public business, that he is quite unable to see any one except upon public Under these circumstances, subjects of an important nature.
he will not, I fear, be able to grant you an interview; but you need not, I think, be under any apprehension that your name will escape his recollection.” And finally, to the last appeal, the private Secretary intimates on the 2nd February, 1864, that His Grace regrets that he is unable to offer you further employment."
It will thus be evident to my Sovereign, that I am now bereft of all hope of honours or future employment through the Colonial Office, and consequently compelled to throw myself upon the benevolent consideration of your Majesty for that relief otherwise unattainable. Being born of humble
42
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