t
SIR,
[F.]
14943
IRECR
AGP 24 AUG 85/
JUNIOR UNITED SERVICE CLUB,
38
LONDON, S.W.
18th March, 1885.
59833
52
I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. of 16th
inst. informing me that there is no objection to my being granted retired pay
at
£200 per annum which I may draw notwithstanding my holding a Colonial appointment, but that if I accept this, the rate cannot be subsequently increased.
I should most gratefully have accepted a temporary reduced rate of retired pay while serving under the Colonial Office, but I cannot accept a permanent reduction.
I would most respectfully explain, that, in the event of my proceeding to Colonial Office employ in China, I do not expect to serve long enough to earn a Colonial Office pension. My health might break down in a few months, when I should have to resign. I have been medically examined, and warned that I could, only at the risk of my life, prolong a residence in a tropical climate be- yond three years. I am advised that it would in my circumstances be most imprudent to sacrifice for life one-third of the retired pay I have earned, for a short and not particularly well paid period of service under the Colonial Office. Under these circumstances, I beg respectfully to request, that I may be retired from the service on the pension of £300 a year which I have earned, with a step of honorary rank.
I am aware that it is not for me to make any suggestions or conditions; but as this matter affects my personal interests so deeply, I trust I may not be con- sidered guilty of any impropriety in stating, that I should be most willing to serve under the Colonial Office, or in any other Government Department, draw- ing only the half of my retired pay of £300 a year, provided I reverted to the full retired pay, on relinquishing such employment.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed)
A. H. A. GORDON,
THE MILITARY SECRETARY
Major and Brevet Colonel,
York & Lancaster Regt.
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