40
vices of the Crown, and to these facts, if required, I can adduce sufficient and ample proofs. I have here to return my thanks for the reference suggested (in your letter) to the Secretary of State for War, but having outlived all the military chiefs under whom I immediately served (with exception to Lord Combermere), I do not feel under my present state of humiliation that I could satisfactorily apply to that office, seeing that the services performed by me professionally were in the humble grade of a subaltern officer, though flattering and honourable to me as a soldier, and well known to and acknowledged by the Horse Guards.
Doubtless if I had been allowed to join my regiment in the operations before Canton under Lord Gough, in May, 1841, when I was refused that favour (vide Mr. Secretary Morrison's letter, dated Canton, 22nd May, 1841, and attached to my list of services, dated 25th May, 1859, and in the Colonial Office), I should necessarily, in common with others of my comrades, have not only been promoted one step in the Army, but also have had the honour of being one of the Companions of the Military Order of the Bath; the result of such compulsive detention at Hong Kong, though officially stated to be for the good of the service, has proved a most severe punishment to me; and now, at the end of my career in both departments of forty-six years and a half continued foreign service, I have become a mark for the finger of scorn to point at.
This my further appeal to the Duke of Newcastle, will, imagine, necessarily remain over until his return to England, when I beg you will do me the honour to submit the same to the consideration of his Grace.
To C. Fortescue, Esq., M.P.,
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Sir,
I have the honour, &c.
(Signed)
W. CAINE.
Downing Street, August 4, 1860.
I am directed by the Secretary of State to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, and in accordance with your request therein contained, I am to acquaint you that it shall be laid before the Duke of Newcastle on his return to England. I am at the same time to assure you, that it was far from my intention by my letter of the 13th ultimo, to imply any unfavourable opinion respecting your conduct as a civil servant of the Crown.
Lieut.-Colonel Caine.
I have the honour, &c.
(Signed)
C. FORTESCUE.
41
EXTRACT from Sir J. Bowring's Despatch, No. 14, August 17, 1858, to Sir E. Bulwer Lytton.
So far from the Lieutenant-Governor having been a partial judge or a willing condemner of Mr. Anstey, it is within my knowledge that his counsels to Mr. Anstey have been temperate and friendly, and that upon questions on which he has formed an opinion he has been most unwilling to take an official part.
With reference to Mr. Anstey's resuscitation of refuted charges, or rather insinuations of corruption against Colonel Caine, I beg to refer to my despatch No. 13, dated 8th May, 1854, addressed to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, and to say, that though the matter had been finally disposed of by the Secretary of State, Sir George Grey, Colonel Caine expressed a perfect willingness to have the case inquired into had the Home Government consented to a reinves-tigation, nor can I believe Mr. Anstey was uninformed of the real state of matters as regarded these libellous charges emanating from a discreditable local newspaper.
True copies.
Meine
Retired Colonel and late Deputy-Governor of Hongkong.
60
40
vices of the Crown, and to these facts, if required, I can adduce sufficient and ample proofs. I have here to return my thanks for the reference suggested (in your letter) to the Secretary of State for War, but having outlived all the military chiefs under whom I immediately served (with exception to Lord Combermere), I do not feel under my present state of humiliation that I could satisfactorily apply to that office, seeing that the services performed by me professionally were in the humble grade of a subaltern officer, though flattering and honourable to me as a soldier, and well known to and acknowledged by the Horse Guards.
Doubtless if I had been allowed to join my regiment in the operations before Canton under Lord Gough, in May, 1841, when I was refused that favour (vide Mr. Secretary Morrison's letter, dated Canton, 22nd May, 1841, and attached to my list of services, dated 25th May, 1859, and in the Colonial Office), I should necessarily, in common with others of my comrades, have not only been promoted one step in the Army, but also have had the honour of being one of the Companions of the Military Order of the Bath; the result of such compulsive detention at Hong Kong, though officially stated to be for the good of the service, has proved a most severe punishment to me; and now, at the end of my career in both departments of forty-six years and a half continued foreign service, I have become a mark for the finger of scorn to point at.
This my further appeal to the Duke of Newcastle, will, imagine, necessarily remain over until his return to England, when I beg you will do me the honour to submit the same to the consideration of his Grace.
To C. Fortescue, Esq., M.P.,
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Sir,
I have the honour, &c.
(Signed)
W. CAINE.
Downing Street, August 4, 1860.
I am directed by the Secretary of State to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo, and in accordance with your request therein contained, I am to acquaint you that it shall be laid before the Duke of Newcastle on his return to England. I am at the same time to assure you, that it was far from my intention by my letter of the 13th ultimo, to imply any unfavourable opinion respecting your conduct as a civil servant of the Crown.
Lieut.-Colonel Caine.
I have the honour, &c.
(Signed)
C. FORTESCUE.
41
EXTRACT from Sir J. Bowring's Despatch, No. 14, August 17, 1858, to Sir E. Bulwer Lytton.
So far from the Lieutenant-Governor having been a partial judge or a willing condemner of Mr. Anstey, it is within my knowledge that his counsels to Mr. Anstey have been temperate and friendly, and that upon questions on which he has formed an opinion he has been most unwilling to take an official part.
With reference to Mr. Anstey's resuscitation of refuted charges, or rather insinuations of corruption against Colonel Caine, I beg to refer to my despatch No. 13, dated 8th May, 1854, addressed to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, and to say, that though the matter had been finally disposed of by the Secretary of State, Sir George Grey, Colonel Caine expressed a perfect willingness to have the case inquired into had the Home Government consented to a reinves- tigation, nor can I believe Mr. Anstey was uninformed of the real state of matters as regarded these libellous charges emanating from a discreditable local newspaper.
True copies.
Meine
Retired Colonel and late Deputy-Governor of Hongkong.
60
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