CO129-120 - Sir MacDonnell - 1867 [1-2] — Page 152

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

evidently feels all the Government shinted work up to. In that important point he was a great help to me whilst acting as Colonial Secretary last year. I also attach considerable importance to his intimate acquaintance with the accounts and the Colonial finances, the knowledge of which would enable the Colonial Secretary materially to assist the Governor in a Colony, where I do not suppose the latter can escape from really doing all the heavy and responsible work himself. The amount of personal labor, of which despatches to the Secretary of State give but a very moderate idea,

My opinion of Mr. Rennie having already been expressed in my request to Your Lordship to place him in the Executive Council, I shall only add that his claims to promotion appear in themselves to be everything, and, I think, are so recognised by the Public, that it would not be desirable in the interest of the Colony to set them aside, if they can conveniently be allowed.

On the other hand, if Mr. Rennie is appointed Colonial Secretary, I think it equally desirable that a new man should be sent from England. As the editor of the "China Mail", he has had a good apprenticeship, with a salary of £1000 per annum, and the material advantage of being able to reside at Shanghai, enabled him, whilst not merely required to inspect the Consular and Diplomatic Stations in China and Japan, so that he can often escape the unhealthy part of the year at Hong Kong.

The duties, moreover, are not such as require that intimate local knowledge and general acquaintance with China, socially and politically, which it is expedient that the Colonial Secretary should start with. I would therefore regret that the opportunity should be lost of recruiting from the source here, in case Your Lordship coincides in the above views, I hope you may be able to send us a person qualified by

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evidently feels all the Government shinted work up to. In that important point he was a great help to me whilst acting as Colonial Secretary last year. I also attach considerable importance to his intimate acquaintance with the accounts and the Colonial finances, the knowledge of which would enable the Colonial Secretary materially to assist the Governor in a Colony, where I do not suppose the latter can escape from really doing all the heavy and responsible work himself. The amount of personal labor, of which despatches to the Secretary of State give but a very moderate idea, My opinion of Mr. Rennie having already been expressed in my request to Your Lordship to place him in the Executive Council, I shall only add that his claims to promotion appear in themselves to be everything, and, I think, are so recognised by the Public, that it would not be desirable in the interest of the Colony to set them aside, if they can conveniently be allowed. On the other hand, if Mr. Rennie is appointed Colonial Secretary, I think it equally desirable that a new man should be sent from England. As the editor of the "China Mail", he has had a good apprenticeship, with a salary of £1000 per annum, and the material advantage of being able to reside at Shanghai, enabled him, whilst not merely required to inspect the Consular and Diplomatic Stations in China and Japan, so that he can often escape the unhealthy part of the year at Hong Kong. The duties, moreover, are not such as require that intimate local knowledge and general acquaintance with China, socially and politically, which it is expedient that the Colonial Secretary should start with. I would therefore regret that the opportunity should be lost of recruiting from the source here, in case Your Lordship coincides in the above views, I hope you may be able to send us a person qualified by
Baseline (Original)
evidently feels all the Government Species shinted work up to. In that important point he was - great help to me whilst acting bery a. & Colonial secretary last year. I also attach Ensiderable. Importance to his intimate acquaintance with hein accounts and the Colmed finances, taining which would enabl as Colmmal secretary Materially to apist the Governor in a Colony, where I do not su huv the latter can A... then escape from really doing all the heavy and responsible work his self- Amount of persmal labor of whicht despateties to the Secretary of State Give but a very madyrate idea, indenn My opreme of Mr Rennie hummer having already me torquest You Lordship to plane him in the Excntur Council I thall only add that his clarins to prostion appear in themselves to o severally thing and, I think, are to Recognised assuch better Public, that it would toot be desirable in the enterest of Hellfoot to pect them aside, of they can Cowenently be allowed. Der the other hand a M Rennie apserming 150 to be apporrited Colunal tecretary thick it equally desirable that a new main thould be sent from Expland. editor Seural. His ал a poot opprent, eexpectatility with a salary of £1000 peramum, and the material advantage of the dusunbar, enabled but being not merely required paymntly to inspect the consulex and diplomatic Statue's in China and Japan, so that he can often escape the unhealthurt hark of the year at Hooking. The duties morcover are not such as require that intimate local knowledge fund general, Acqurantance with China Socially And politically, which it is expedient. the Colonial Secretary Thould start with. I would therefore regret that the opportunity should be lost of the source here with pesh recruiting In Case Your Hard and lurgy Lordship Coincides in the above mis I hope you may be able to send us a person qualified by
2026-05-19 15:42:43 · Baseline
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evidently feels all the Government

Species

shinted work up to. In that important point he was - great help to me whilst acting

bery

a.

& Colonial secretary last year. I also attach Ensiderable. Importance to his intimate acquaintance with

hein accounts and the Colmed finances,

taining which would enabl as Colmmal secretary Materially to apist the Governor in a Colony, where I do not su huv the latter can

A...

then

escape from really doing all the heavy and responsible work his self- Amount of persmal labor of whicht despateties to the Secretary of State Give but a very madyrate idea,

indenn

My opreme of Mr Rennie hummer having already me torquest You Lordship to plane him in the Excntur Council I thall only add that his clarins to prostion appear in themselves to

o severally thing and, I think, are to Recognised assuch better Public, that it would toot be desirable in the enterest of Hellfoot to pect them aside, of they can Cowenently be

allowed.

Der the other hand a

M Rennie apserming

150

to be apporrited Colunal tecretary thick it equally desirable that a new main thould be sent from Expland. editor Seural. His

ал

a poot opprent, eexpectatility with a salary of £1000 peramum, and the material advantage of the dusunbar,

enabled but being not merely required paymntly to inspect the consulex and diplomatic Statue's in China and Japan, so that he can often escape the unhealthurt hark of the year at Hooking.

The duties morcover are not such as require that intimate local knowledge fund general, Acqurantance with China Socially And politically, which it is expedient. the Colonial Secretary Thould start with. I would therefore regret that the opportunity should be lost of

the source here with pesh recruiting

In Case Your

Hard and lurgy

Lordship Coincides in the above mis I hope you may be able

to send us a

person qualified by

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