CO129-192 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4] — Page 479

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

(Private)

My dear Lin,

470

18th Nov 1880

Hong Kong

Dear Sir,

I am very unwilling to trouble you with my grievances, but it is now absolutely necessary that something should be done to avoid a public scandal. From the moment of my arrival in the Colony, the Chief Justice showed a feeling which made it evident to me that he regarded my appointment as a grievance and was not willing to do anything to assist me. But as I was prepared to find him crotchety, I did not think much of his demeanour.

I found the office in a state of confusion, impossible to describe. Sir Planket was too ill to afford any explanation, and none of the subordinates, except a Portuguese clerk named Barros, offered any aid. They all evidently regarded me as an interloper, who had come to oust them from something to which they were entitled. However, I set their doubts at rest and established fairly firm relations, so that we now work as harmoniously as I could wish, and I am gradually getting things into tolerable order, and establishing a system by which they can be worked for the future, that is, if I can only get the Chief Justice to remain quiescent, or act reasonably.

Rowden agrees entirely with me on the views I have taken, and so does the Attorney General, and I think there is not a man in the Colony who does not approve of what I am known to have done already.

Thus much in my own justification. I now come to my grievance, which is rapidly becoming intolerable, and the cause of it is...

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(Private) My dear Lin, 470 18th Nov 1880 Hong Kong Dear Sir, I am very unwilling to trouble you with my grievances, but it is now absolutely necessary that something should be done to avoid a public scandal. From the moment of my arrival in the Colony, the Chief Justice showed a feeling which made it evident to me that he regarded my appointment as a grievance and was not willing to do anything to assist me. But as I was prepared to find him crotchety, I did not think much of his demeanour. I found the office in a state of confusion, impossible to describe. Sir Planket was too ill to afford any explanation, and none of the subordinates, except a Portuguese clerk named Barros, offered any aid. They all evidently regarded me as an interloper, who had come to oust them from something to which they were entitled. However, I set their doubts at rest and established fairly firm relations, so that we now work as harmoniously as I could wish, and I am gradually getting things into tolerable order, and establishing a system by which they can be worked for the future, that is, if I can only get the Chief Justice to remain quiescent, or act reasonably. Rowden agrees entirely with me on the views I have taken, and so does the Attorney General, and I think there is not a man in the Colony who does not approve of what I am known to have done already. Thus much in my own justification. I now come to my grievance, which is rapidly becoming intolerable, and the cause of it is...
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(rivate 7 My dear Lin 470 th1880 Hory Kong Dear 27 very unwilling to trouble you with Dry Grievances but it is now absolutely necessary that Romething should in done to avoid a public scandal From the moment - of my arrival in the Colony the Chief justice onewid a feeling which made it evident to me that he regarded my appointment as a a grievance and was not willing to do anything to assist me, but as I was prepared to fired him crotchetty, I did not think much of his demeanour - I found the office in a state of confusion impossith & cleveribe - hoor Planket was too ill to reford any explanation, and none of the subordinatio, Except a Portugues Cisk named Barros, oferid any aid They all evidently regarded me interlopes, who had Come to oust theme of something & which they were entitle Icom however, I set their doubts ab rest, and extablished now aj ak firmity relations, so that we never work as harmoniousl as I could with, and I are gradically getting things into tolerath order, and establishing a system, by which they Can be worked for the fature, that is, if I can only sieb the chief Justice to remain guisscent, or alt reasonably. Rowden aques entirely with me on the views I have taken, and so does the attorney general, and I think There is not a man in the Colony who does not approv of what, I am Known Whave done already e Thus much in my own, justification, I now come to my inivance: which is rapidly be craving unitelerath the cause of it is
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(rivate 7

My dear Lin

470

th1880

Hory Kong

Dear 27

very

unwilling to trouble you

with

Dry

Grievances but it is now absolutely necessary that Romething should in done to avoid a public scandal From the moment

-

of my arrival in the Colony the Chief justice onewid a feeling which made it evident to me that he regarded my appointment

as a

a grievance and was not willing to do anything to assist me, but as I was prepared to fired him crotchetty, I did not think much of his demeanour - I found the office in a state of confusion impossith & cleveribe - hoor Planket was too ill to reford any explanation, and none of the subordinatio, Except a Portugues Cisk named Barros, oferid any aid They all evidently regarded me interlopes, who had Come to oust theme of something & which they were entitle Icom however, I set their doubts ab rest, and extablished

now

aj ak

firmity relations, so that we never work as harmoniousl

as I could with, and I are gradically getting things into tolerath order, and establishing a system, by which they Can be worked for the fature, that is, if I can only sieb the chief Justice to remain guisscent, or alt reasonably. Rowden aques entirely with me on the views I have taken, and so does the attorney general, and I think There is not a man in the Colony who does not approv of what, I am Known Whave done already

e

Thus much

in my own, justification, I now come to my inivance: which is rapidly be craving unitelerath the cause of it is

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