# Memorial to Her Majesty
I, a humble and devoted servant of your Majesty, having served for many years with fidelity and zeal, now find myself in a state of distress and neglect. Despite my long and honourable service, I am without influential friends to urge my cause, as all those of my early and middle age have passed away, leaving me desolate and forgotten. The numerous testimonials included in this memorial will assure your Majesty that, though my interests are currently neglected, I have been well regarded by those under whom I served in both military and civil life.
The testimonials from the Chinese inhabitants of Hong Kong, presented on four different occasions, will sufficiently evidence their feelings towards me, both upon my promotion to Colonial Secretary and after my departure from that island. They are accompanied by a tribute from the Indian inhabitants, forwarded to me on the day before my departure for England. As further proof of my services having been useful to the State while in China, I attach an extract from a trial of certain Chinese in the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, who were instigated by the late Imperial Commissioner "Yeh" to destroy me, under promise of a reward of 50,000 dollars.
As regards my military career, it commenced under the auspices of Brigadier-General F. Hardyman, of the 17th Foot (Equerry to His Royal Highness the late Duke of Kent, and my guardian); Colonel Edwards, 17th Foot, killed as Brigadier-General at Bhurtpoor on the 18th January, 1826; Brigadier-General McComber, 14th Foot; and General Sir Thomas Reynell. The testimonials in my favour from the latter three distinguished officers quoted in this Memorial speak for themselves. Those from General Hardyman were unfortunately lost when my property was wrecked on the River Ganges in 1827.
I served on the Staff of Lieutenant-General Sir Samford Whittingham, Major-General the Honourable John Ramsay, and (local) Major-General Oglander, 26th Foot. To have earned the good opinion of, and to have served under officers of the high reputation of the above-named, who were practically the "good and the brave," is an honour that I ever revert to with pride and satisfaction. With them, exalted birth did not overlook the merits of one who, as a poor soldier of fortune, had won his way to distinction by general conduct aided by his own good sword.
It is also on record that I was selected by the Deputy Governor of Bengal to escort His Royal Highness Prince Henry of the Netherlands to the Courts of Lucknow and Delhi, in the capacity of Aide-de-Camp, and I continued on this duty from 28th November, 1837, until 17th February, 1838. When His Royal Highness left Calcutta, Mr. Thoby Prinsep, then the Principal Secretary to Government (Mr. Thoby Prinsep is now one of the Members of the Indian Council), and under whom I acted, can testify to the approval conveyed through him to me of the Bengal Government.
In 1840, I proceeded to China, and was appointed by the order of Lord Auckland, British Commissioner and Military Magistrate of the Island of Chusan, during its occupation by your Majesty's forces, and until its delivery to the Chinese authorities in February, 1841.
I have been thrice complimented in action before the enemy; first, by General Hardyman, on 3rd January, 1815, and by the same officer when carrying the regimental colour of the 17th Regiment on 19th December, 1817, and attacked by the Arab Chief, who fell by my hand on the heights of Jubbulpoor, and by Lord Combermere, Commander-in-Chief in India, at the assault and capture of Bhurtpoor; whilst placed in a singularly perilous position, leading the right column of attack, I was singly opposed to three of the enemy, all of whom were destroyed by me. The memorial explains this fully.
I twice volunteered to lead forlorn hopes at Bhurtpoor, which honour was assented to by Sir Thomas Reynell, had any taken place. Again, I similarly volunteered to lead a forlorn hope against the fortress of "Sumtur," in Bundelcund in 1828. Sir Sanford Whittingham promised me this latter, but the Rajah of Sumtur having come to terms, I was again disappointed. Major-General F. Meade and Colonel T. Tidy (Adjutant-General's Department, Horse Guards), are still alive, and can bear testimony to what they know of my conduct at Bhurtpoor, 18th January, 1826.
In May, 1841, I was appointed Chief Magistrate of Hong Kong, and towards the end of that month I applied to Captain Charles Elliot for permission to join my regiment for ten days, then before Canton with your Majesty's forces, under Lord Gough. This favour was refused in the following manner:
"The duties of your office at Hong Kong would not permit you to leave that place when no other officer of the Government is on the spot, and the Chief Superintendent is well assured you must feel with him, that while in the office you now hold, it necessarily becomes your duty to forego (however painfully) the privilege of being with your corps in any military operation in which it may be engaged."
Thus your Majesty will perceive that it was for the public good that I was detained at Hong Kong, thereby losing all chance of honours and promotion, such as were granted to several of my comrades, two of whom, my juniors in the service, one a Brigade Major, and the other Deputy Judge...
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but honest parents, I am without influential friends to urge my cause, all those of my early and middle age having passed away, so that I am literally desolate and forgotten. The numerous testimonials embraced in this memorial will be an assurance to your Majesty that, though at present my interests are totally neglected, I have been well thought of by those under whom I served both in military nud civil life. The testimonials from the Chinese inhabitants of Hong Kong, tendered on four different occasions, will sufficiently evidence their feelings towards me, both on promotion to Colonial Secretary as well as after my leaving that island. They are also accompanied by a tribute from the Indian inhabitants, forwarded to me a day before my departure for England. As another proof of my services having been useful to the State when in China, I attach extract of a trial of certain. Chinese, in the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, who were instigated by the late Imperial Commissioner
"Yeh" to destroy me, under promise of a reward of 50,000 dollars. As regards my military career, it commenced under the auspices of Brigadier-General F. Hardyman, of the 17th Foot (Equerry to His Royal Highness the late Duke of Kent, and my guardian); Colonel Edwards, 17th Foot, killed as Briga- dier-General at Bhurtpoor on the 18th January, 1826; Bri- gadier-General McComber, 14th Foot; and "General Sir Thomas Reynell. The testimonials in my favour from the latter three distinguished officers quoted in this Memorial speak for themselves. Those from General Hardyman unhappily were lost when my property was wrecked on the River Ganges in 1827.
I served out he Staff of Lieutenant-General Sir Samford Whittingham, Major-General the Honourable John Ramsay, and (local) Major-General Oglander, 26th Foot. To have earned the good opinion of, and to have served under officers of the high reputation of the above-named, who practically were the "good and the brave," is an honour that I ever revert to with pride and satisfaction. With them exalted birth did not overlook the merits of one who, as a poor soldier of fortune, had won his way to distinction by general conduct aided by his own good sword,
It is also on record that I was selected by the Deputy Governor of Bengal to escort His Royal Highness Prince Henry of the Netherlands to the Courts of Lucknow and Delhi, in the capacity of Aide-de-Camp, and I continued on this duty from 28th November, 1837, until 17th February, 1838. When His Royal Highness left Calcutta, and Mr. Thoby Prinsep, then the Principal Secretary to Govern- ment (Mr. Thoby Prinsep is now one of the Members of the
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Indian Council), and under whom I acted, can testify to the approval conveyed through him to me of the Bengal Govern- ment. In 1840, I proceeded to China, and was appointed by the order of Lord Auckland, British Commissioner and Military Magistrate of the Island of Chusan, during its occu- pation by your Majesty's forces, and until its delivery to the Chinese authorities in February, 1841.
I have been thrice complimented in action before the enemy; first, by General Hardyman, on 3rd January, 1815, and by the same officer when carrying the regimental colour of the 17th Regiment on 19th December, 1817, and attacked by the Arab Chief, who fell by my hand on the heights of Jubbulpoor, and by Lord Combermere, Commander-in-Chief in India, at the assault and capture of Bhurtpoor; whilst placed in a singularly perilous position, leading the right column of attack, I was singly opposed to three of the The memorial enemy, all of whom were destroyed by me. explains this fully.
1 twice volunteered to lead forlorn hopes at Bhurtpoor, which honour was assented to by Sir Thomas Reynell, had any taken place. Again, 1 similarly volunteered to lead a forlorn hope against the fortress of "Sumtur," in Bundle- cund in 1828. Sir Sanford Whittingham promised me this latter, but the Rajah of Sumtur having come to terins, I was again disappointed. Major-General F. Meade and Colonel TX Tidy (Adjutant-General's Department, Horse Guards), are still alive, and can bear testimony to what they know of my conduct at Blurtpoor, 18th January, 1826.
In May, 1841, I was appointed Chief Magistrate of Hong Kong, and towards the end of that month I applied to Captain Charles Elliot for permission to join my regiment for ten days, then before Canton with your Majesty's forces, under Lord Gough. This favour was refused in the following
manner:
"The duties of your office at Hong Kong would not permit you to leave that place when no other officer of the Government is on the spot, and the Chief Superintendent is well assured you must feel with him, that while in the office you now hold, it necessarily becomes your duty to forego (however painfully) the privilege of being with your corps in any military operation in which it may be engaged."
Thus your Majesty will perceive that it was for the public good that I was detained at Hong Kong, thereby losing all chance of honours and promotion, such as were granted to several of my comrades, two of whom, my juniors in the service, one a Brigade Major, and the other Deputy Judge
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