229
9
Extract from Colonial Secretary CAINE's letter, granting leave of absence, No. 197, 26th April, 1850.
"His Excellency has instructed me to convey to you the full and unqualified expression of his satisfaction with "the zeal and ability you have always evinced whilst conducting the responsible duties of your office, and further to "express his regret at the necessity of your departure from the Colony. He indulges a hope however that the change "to a more congenial climate will perfectly re-establish your health, and enable you at no distant period to resume "the duties of your office with advantage to yourself and benefit to the public."
10
“Miscellaneous” from SIR GEORGE BONHAM to the DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, No. 11, of 20th January, 1854.
"Referring Your Grace to my Despatch of 27th December, 1848, marked Separate, wherein I conveyed to "LORD GREY my opinion of the character of the Gentlemen holding Office at Hongkong, I then had known Mr. "MERCER only nine months, and spoke highly of him; and it affords me pleasure now to add that a more intimate "knowledge of his character and habits for a further period of 5 years has fully confirmed the high opinion that I "then entertained of that Gentleman's character in every respect.
11
From Major General JERVOIS (Lieutenant-Governar,) to the DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, No. 25, of 8th March, 1854. "The merits and services of Mr. MERCER have been so vividly brought by SIR GEORGE BONHAM to the "notice of EARL GREY in Despatch of 27th December, 1848, marked Separate, as well as to Your Graco in that of "20th January, 1854, No. 11, that there is but little left for me to add thereto, beyond my perfectly coinciding in "the opinions expressed by His Excellency with regard to Mr. MunCER.”
12
"Financial" from Lieutenant-Governor CAINE to the DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, No. 2, of 15th April, 1854.
"With reference to the succession to myself in the posts of Colonial Secretary and Auditor General, the merits "and talents of Mr. MERCER have been so prominently brought to the notice of Your Grace by Sru GEORGE BONHAM in despatches, separate, of 27th December, 1848, and No. 11 of 20th January last, that I can only express my "conviction that there is no Gentleman here more fitted for the post of Colonial Secretary, and should it be the pleasure of Your Grace to confirm Mr. MERCER as Colonial Secretary and Auditor General, it will be a source of congratulation to this Colony to have that situation so ably filled as I know it will be in his person:-to this I am "convinced that SIR GEORGE BONHAM will bear full and ample testimony."
13
From SIR JOHN BOWRING to Mr. LaBOUCHERE, „No. 85, of 2nd June, 1856.
"The absence of Mr. MERCER from the sittings and discussions of the Legislature has been frequently felt to "be a very great inconvenience, and I am persuaded that his presence and assistance will be of the greatest possible "value to the public service,"
14
Extract from Minute of SIR JOHN BOWRING, 8th August, 1850.
"The Colonial Secretary is entitled to all my consideration, and I do not forget the readiness with which he his intention of visiting Europe, when it was represented to him that the public service would suffer from gave up "his removal."
15
Despatch of Lieutenant-Governor CAINE, No. 88, of 19th May, 1859, to Secretary SIR E. B. LYTTON. "In submitting the enclosed application from Mr. MERCER, the Colonial Secretary, I have the honor to entreat your favorable consideration of his request for a removal to a more congenial climate, or in the event of an appoint- "ment befitting his merits and equivalent to the situation he now so ably fills, not being attainable, then I respect-
fully recommend that the retirement requested be granted to this officer in the manner in which it is urged.
The abilities and attainments of Mr. MEACER are so well-known in this Colony that I hardly know how to "attempt an enlogium on one who has obtained the respect and esteem of all who have been associated with him "during his great length of service in Hongkong, and I may at the same time be permitted to doubt if in all Her "Majesty's Possessions there be a more useful, more zealous, or more practical officer, or one more worthy, Sir, of 'your highest consideration, than Mr. MERCER,”
64
16
Extracts from Parliamentary Blue Book, entitled" Papers-Hongkong-ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 21st Murch, 1860,”
1-From SIR J. Bowning to LORD STANLEY, No. 73, of 4th June, 1858. (p. 7.)
"the embarassing position in which I was placed by Mr. MERCER's departure."
[* departure in the ordinary course of leave of absence.}
2.- From SIR J. BOWRING to SIR E. B. LYTTON, No. 88, of 21st July, 1858. (p. 38.)
"Mr. MERCER's prolonged absence* causes me much perplexity."
{* absence in England with the sanction of the Secretary of State.]
3-From Mr. Attorney General ANSTEY's letter to SIR E. B. LYTTox, 21st January, 1850. (p. 264.) "It is true that Mr. Muncan, the Colonial Secretary, a man of honor and courage has returned to his post."
4.--From Mr. Attorney General ANSTEY to SIR E. B. LYTTON, 16th August, 1858. (p. 391.) "Mr. MERCER that highly accurate and able Officer."
17
Extract from SIR H. ROBINSON'S Despatch, No. 70, of 19th May, 1860, to the DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. "It would, I consider, be a great pity if, while still so young, his ability and experience were lost to the "QUEEN's service.
"After the strong testimony borne in Mr. MERCER's favor by my four predecessors I feel that any recommen- "dation from me would be quite superfluous, nevertheless, it is very gratifying to me to have this opportunity of "acknowledging the cordial co-operation and assistance I have invariably received from him since my assumption of "this Government, and of expressing my opinion that his long, faithful, and efficient services in this trying climate "entitle him to Your Grace's most favorable consideration."
18
From the Hon. Stn F. BAUCE, Minister at Pekin, and formerly Colonial Secretary of Hongkong--to myself, dated, Pekin, bth December, 1860,
"Your case has always appeared to me one of peculiar hardship. Because a man has done well, to keep him "in a climate like that of Hongkong without promotion and advance of pay, which would alone make it worth the "risk, is a great hardship."
19
SIR HI. ROBINSON to the DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, No. 15, of 30th January, 1861.
"I have the honor to forward and to recommend to Your Grace's favorable consideration the accompanying "letter from Mr. MERCER, applying for the Government of the Straits Settlements.
"I have already in a former Despatch expressed my opinion as to Mr. MERCER'S personal fitness and strong "claims for promotion in the public service. My four predecessors in this Government have borne similar testimony "in his favor. It is therefore unnecessary for me to say more in reference to the present application than that the "experience Mr. Mancen has had here in the formation of a new Colony and his acquaintance with the Chinese "and Malay character render him peculiarly fitted for the appointment he seeks.
"I may also mention as showing that Mr. MERCER possesses the qualifications of tact and temper, and sound "judgment so essential for such a post that he has lived in Hongkong (where society is established under somewhat "similar conditions, as in Singapore) for seventeen years, during which time he has kept clear of the constant private and official quarrels which have disgraced the place, and has acquired the confidence and respect of the entire community."
44
20
Extract from letter of Mr. CRAWFORD formerly Governor of the Straits Settlements, 22nd April, 1861. "I have already been at the Colonial Office, and there found that Mr. MERCER stood well, and I have also seen "SIR GEORGE BONHAM, once my own assistant, and he says he is the best man in the Hongkong Government."
21
Extract from SIR H. ROBINSON'S Despatch, 10th January, 1862, to the DUKE OF NEWCASTLE applying for leave of absence.
"Mr. MERCER, the Colonial Secretary, is an old and faithful servant of the Crown, and well fitted to administer "the Government of the Colony, if Your Grace should think fit to entrust him with it."
22
From SIR JOHN DAVIS to myself, 22nd March, 1863.
"I hope the Dukk [OF NEWCASTLE] will do you justice, as he has so often promised.”
23
From SIR FREDERICK BRUCE to myself, 10th September, 1863.
"I sincerely trust that you may get some new appointment on SIR HERCULES ROBINSON's return; it is a "great shame that your claims are not favorably considered."
24
Extract from Despatch No. 136 of 18th December, 1864, from Sia H. ROBINSON to the RT: HON: E. CARDWELL, Secretary of State for the Colonies, covering Mr. Mercar's application for the Government of Hongkong. "My opinion as to Mr. MERCER's strong claims to and fitness for promotion is already officially on record in "your Department. In addition to the Despatches quoted by Mr. MERCER, if I remember rightly, I addressed the "DUKE OF NEWCASTLE upon the same subject in a letter written from Ireland in either January or February last "year,
* when returning a Confidential Report upon the Public Officers of Hongkong which had been transmitted "for my porusal.
"It only remains for me therefore, in recommending the present application to your favorable consideration, to "observe that Mr. MERCER'S elevation to the highest post in the Colony would in my opinion be a very encouraging "and appropriate recognition of his long, faithful, and efficient services in this trying elimate, and that due provision "has been made for such a fitting termination to a lengthened career of local usefulness, by the 5th Section of the "Hongkong Pension Minute."
25
Letter from SIR JOHN DAVIS to Mr. Secretary CARDWELL.
HOLLYWOOD, 30th January, 1865,
"SIR,--Without any knowledge of possibly contemplated arrangements as to the successor of SIN HI, ROBINSON "in the government of Hongkong, I venture in the briefest terms possible to state that in the year 1860, Sin "GEORGE BONHAM and myself together waited on the late DUKE OF NEWCASTLE to bring to His Grace's notice, "our personal experience of the merits and services of Mr. MERCER, the Colonial Secretary. His Grace without "hesitation observed that the combined testimony of two retired Governors, under whom Mr. MERCER had served, "spoke strongly in his favor, and confirmed the favorable opinion that himself had already formed.
"This recoived the best corroboration that the case has hitherto admitted of by Mr. MERCER, actually serving "as Governor for nearly two years, vice SIR H. ROBINSON.Without knowing SIR HERCULES, I venture to assert "that with an equally practical knowledge of his merits he will be as conscientious an advocate of Mr. MERCER as "SIR GEORGE BONHAM and inуyself.
* I have not seen this letter, but as additional testimony think right to call attention to it in this note.
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