CO129-173 - Sir Kennedy - 1876 [1-3] — Page 15

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

*

A system of keeping a vacant appointment on the Estimates, & giving bits of salary to other people.

As to W. Ball, this despatch appears to me to show more clearly than ever that his place was made for him, that is that if he had not turned up the appointment would not have been created.

Sir A. K. speaks well of him, has likely it does not look as if he was to be such a competent interpreter as to be able to get rid of the necessity for native interpreters.

I had a long talk with M. Cecil Smith on this subject a few days ago, & it would perhaps be well if you would see him also; as his ideas do not altogether correspond with Mr. Pickering's; he does not think it would be advisable to send out from England any people of a lower social scale of education than the old Cadets, even merely to do interpreting work. He thinks that Chinese teachers similar to the native ones when he himself learnt could easily be sent to the Straits to teach Chinese to cadets at less expense & difficulty than sending cadets to China.

He also agreed with me as to the objection to sending out people young, which Mr Pickering wishes; but he himself was a University man.

As Mr Pickering told me there was nobody to be found in China who could succeed him or serve in a similar capacity, I asked Mr Smith as to a successor & W Rosario the chief Interpreter of H.K. he told me that all right be trained up to this place, starting he might eventually expect a salary of £700 or £800 a year; Mr Rosario has only about £500. Mr Pickering's idea was that Interpreter need hardly go up to £300 a year.

M Smith himself thought it would be a pity if we discontinued...

Edit History

2026-05-21 07:23:14 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
* A system of keeping a vacant appointment on the Estimates, & giving bits of salary to other people. As to W. Ball, this despatch appears to me to show more clearly than ever that his place was made for him, that is that if he had not turned up the appointment would not have been created. Sir A. K. speaks well of him, has likely it does not look as if he was to be such a competent interpreter as to be able to get rid of the necessity for native interpreters. I had a long talk with M. Cecil Smith on this subject a few days ago, & it would perhaps be well if you would see him also; as his ideas do not altogether correspond with Mr. Pickering's; he does not think it would be advisable to send out from England any people of a lower social scale of education than the old Cadets, even merely to do interpreting work. He thinks that Chinese teachers similar to the native ones when he himself learnt could easily be sent to the Straits to teach Chinese to cadets at less expense & difficulty than sending cadets to China. He also agreed with me as to the objection to sending out people young, which Mr Pickering wishes; but he himself was a University man. As Mr Pickering told me there was nobody to be found in China who could succeed him or serve in a similar capacity, I asked Mr Smith as to a successor & W Rosario the chief Interpreter of H.K. he told me that all right be trained up to this place, starting he might eventually expect a salary of £700 or £800 a year; Mr Rosario has only about £500. Mr Pickering's idea was that Interpreter need hardly go up to £300 a year. M Smith himself thought it would be a pity if we discontinued...
Baseline (Original)
this * systan of keeping a vacant appoint. imgularment on the Estimates, & giving bits of Salary of it to other people_ aluat the always incenbenennt As to W. Ball, this despatch appears tome to shew more clearly than ever that his place was made for him, that is that if he had not turned the appointment would not have. пр 1 been created Sir.A. K. speaks well of him, has- likely it does not look af it he was to be such a competent interforeter as tobe able to get rid of the necess for native interpreters. I had. A long talk with M. Cecil Smith in this subject a few days ago, & it would perhaps be well. if you would see him also; as his sheas do not altogether correspond with Mr. Pickering's; he does not think. it would be advisable to send out- from England any people of a lower social scale deducation than the olde Cadet's even merely to do interpreting work, the thinks that Chinese teachers 13 Similar to the native from when he himself barnt could casily be sent to the Straits to teach Chines to cadets at less experte & difficulty than sending cadets to China- He also agreed with me as to the objection to sending out people young, which SW-Pickering withes; bus- he himself was a University man As Mc Sickering told me there was nobody to be fot in China alo could Inceced him or serve win oing was that similar capacity, Parked Mr.Smith as to a successor & W-Rosario the thick Interpreter of It. K the told me that all right be trained up to this place, stars- he migher eventually expect a salary, 7 £700 or £800 a year; McRosano has only about £500, KM. Sickings idea was that Interpreter need hardly go up to £300 a year. A as mee M-Smith himself. thought it- would be a kity if we discontinued
2026-05-21 07:23:14 · Baseline
View content

this

*

systan of keeping a vacant appoint. imgularment on the Estimates, & giving bits of

Salary of it to other people_

aluat

the

always incenbenennt

As to W. Ball, this despatch appears tome to shew more clearly than ever that his place was made for him, that is that if he had not turned

the appointment would not have.

пр

1

been created

Sir.A. K. speaks well of him, has-

likely

it does not look af it he was

to be such a competent interforeter as tobe able to get rid of the necess for native interpreters.

I had.

A

long talk with M. Cecil Smith in this subject a few days ago, & it would perhaps be well. if you would see him also; as his sheas do not altogether correspond with Mr. Pickering's; he does not think. it would be advisable to send out- from England any people of a lower social scale deducation than the olde Cadet's even merely to do interpreting work, the thinks that Chinese teachers

13

Similar to the native from when he himself barnt could casily be

sent to the Straits to teach Chines to cadets at less experte & difficulty than sending cadets to China-

He also agreed with me as to the objection to sending out people young, which SW-Pickering withes; bus-

he himself was a

University man

As Mc Sickering told me there was nobody to be fot in China alo

could Inceced him or serve win

oing was that

similar capacity, Parked Mr.Smith as to a successor & W-Rosario the thick Interpreter of It. K the told me that all right be trained up to this place, stars- he migher eventually expect a salary, 7 £700 or £800

a year; McRosano has only about £500, KM. Sickings idea was that Interpreter need hardly go up to £300 a year.

A

as mee

M-Smith himself. thought it- would be a kity if we discontinued

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.