CO129-229 - Acting Governor Marsh & Public Offices - 1886 [11-12] — Page 386

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

complete recovery effectually prevented during the Summer: and, when November arrived with the cool weather, it brought such a large increase of work (a daily average of 90 patients) that my restoration to health was seriously impeded.

Paragraph 3 reiterates the statement that I refused duty, and finds that ill-health was no excuse, although the Council had before them the Report of the Medical Board (Medical Enclosure No. 4).

These two points, Sir, I again respectfully submit to your judgement.

Paragraph 4 contains in substance a recommendation that I should be allowed to retire on a pension on the ground of ill-health, which I received temporarily, preventing my performance of duties. As to this, I would again allude to my letter of instructions of June 6th, 1883, and enclosure No. 1 to the finding of the Medical Board of 29th November (Enclosure No. 14).

Finally, I beg to observe that this matter appears to have arisen from a series of misunderstandings. Mr. Jordan, who found himself in the position of having to advise the Government on this occasion, failed to recognize the gravity of Mr. Marques' illness, being ignorant of the practice of the Department and not knowing how to provide for the emergency. He was apparently not aware of his personal responsibility, took no steps to procure assistance beyond one application to the Military Staff, and was perhaps anxious that official duties should not encroach too much on his time and interfere with his private practice.

His Excellency was thus misinformed as to Mr. Marques' illness, as to the requirements of the case, and as to the facts. Mr. Cyres wrote on 16th November that he understood the Superintendent was in charge of Post Mortem work during Mr. Marques' illness, and has since seen Mr. Jordan, who understood so also. Then His Excellency has read both my letter of March 1881, applying for an increase of salary, and June 1883, as conveying instructions, but with an impression altogether different from my own.

Through all these difficulties and misunderstandings, I have conscientiously striven to carry out my instructions as I understood them since June 1882. If I misinterpreted them, you, Sir, will judge the extent of my error and whether it admits of excuse.

However, the charge of the Civil Hospital alone is too great a strain to be borne for many years by any man, and I shall be glad, with your permission, to retire on a pension as advised by the Council.

That I should be practically dismissed from the service, however, after devoting the best years of my life to it, is a course which will not, I believe, commend itself to your judgement, and I now leave it to your consideration.

Page 383

Edit History

2026-05-25 07:23:29 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
complete recovery effectually prevented during the Summer: and, when November arrived with the cool weather, it brought such a large increase of work (a daily average of 90 patients) that my restoration to health was seriously impeded. Paragraph 3 reiterates the statement that I refused duty, and finds that ill-health was no excuse, although the Council had before them the Report of the Medical Board (Medical Enclosure No. 4). These two points, Sir, I again respectfully submit to your judgement. Paragraph 4 contains in substance a recommendation that I should be allowed to retire on a pension on the ground of ill-health, which I received temporarily, preventing my performance of duties. As to this, I would again allude to my letter of instructions of June 6th, 1883, and enclosure No. 1 to the finding of the Medical Board of 29th November (Enclosure No. 14). Finally, I beg to observe that this matter appears to have arisen from a series of misunderstandings. Mr. Jordan, who found himself in the position of having to advise the Government on this occasion, failed to recognize the gravity of Mr. Marques' illness, being ignorant of the practice of the Department and not knowing how to provide for the emergency. He was apparently not aware of his personal responsibility, took no steps to procure assistance beyond one application to the Military Staff, and was perhaps anxious that official duties should not encroach too much on his time and interfere with his private practice. His Excellency was thus misinformed as to Mr. Marques' illness, as to the requirements of the case, and as to the facts. Mr. Cyres wrote on 16th November that he understood the Superintendent was in charge of Post Mortem work during Mr. Marques' illness, and has since seen Mr. Jordan, who understood so also. Then His Excellency has read both my letter of March 1881, applying for an increase of salary, and June 1883, as conveying instructions, but with an impression altogether different from my own. Through all these difficulties and misunderstandings, I have conscientiously striven to carry out my instructions as I understood them since June 1882. If I misinterpreted them, you, Sir, will judge the extent of my error and whether it admits of excuse. However, the charge of the Civil Hospital alone is too great a strain to be borne for many years by any man, and I shall be glad, with your permission, to retire on a pension as advised by the Council. That I should be practically dismissed from the service, however, after devoting the best years of my life to it, is a course which will not, I believe, commend itself to your judgement, and I now leave it to your consideration. Page 383
Baseline (Original)
12. complete recovery effectually prevented a during the Summer: and, when November arrived with the cool weather, it brought work me such a large increase of ( a daily average of 90 patients) that my restoration to health was imfrede: seriously my Paragraph. 3. reiterates the statement that I refused duty, and finds that illhrailt was no secuse, although although the Council had before them the Report of the Medical. Boare Medical Enclosure. Les sif. These two points, Sir. I again respectfully submit to your judgement. Paragraph 4. contains in substance recommendation that I should be allowed to retire on a from undertaking, even. pension. on the ground of illhealth onl temporarily the which I received. increase off Frets::.. preventing the cuties for an my performance of As to this I would again allude to letter of instructions of June 6th 1883 and incloure les 1. to the finding of the Medical Board of 29th the Medical Board of 29th Encéreuse. o 14. November Finally I beg to observe that this matter appears to have arisen of misunderstandings a. Series from a Mr Jordan, who found himself. in the position of having to advise the Govern ment on this occasion, failed to recognize the - gravity of Mr. Marques illness, and ignorant of being the praction of the Department did not know how to provide for the emergency Be was apparently not aware of personal responsibility, took no steps to his procure 1 procure assistance beyond. 383 -one application to the Military Staff, and was herhaps anxions that official duties should not ~ his time and in- encroach too much on terfere with his private practice. His Excellency was thus misinformed to the require of as to Mr. Marque's illness, as to the -ments of the case, and as to the farts / for Mt. Cyres wrote on 16th November I understand that the Superintendent was in charge [ Post Mortem work I during Mr. Marques illness, and have since, Seen At Jordan who understood so also). Then His Excelle has read both my. letter March 1881, applying for increase cy Ensiveuse bol. of of-rulary, and June 1883, as conveying instructions my an impression altogether different from my 07 Through all these difficulties and mis-: -understandings, I have conscientiously striv to carry. cut muy as instructions of I understood them. June 1882 If I misinterpreted them, you, Sir, will judge of the extent of my whether it admits In any of case excluce. error and !. however, the charac # a of the Civil Hospital, alone is too great a strain to be bome for many years ty man and, I shall be glad with your per- -mission, In to retire pension as advised by the bo ci on That I should be practically dis missed from the service, however, after devoting the best a years of my life to it is cource which will not, I belie itself to your judgement, and I now le mmend. . ... . . . (ru
2026-05-25 07:23:29 · Baseline
View content

12.

complete recovery effectually prevented a during the Summer: and, when November arrived with the cool weather, it brought

work

me

such

a

large increase of

( a daily average of 90 patients) that my restoration to health was

imfrede:

seriously

my

Paragraph. 3. reiterates the statement that I refused duty, and finds that illhrailt was no secuse, although

although the Council had before them the Report of the Medical.

Boare

Medical Enclosure. Les sif.

These two points, Sir. I again respectfully

submit to your judgement.

Paragraph

4. contains in substance

recommendation that I should be allowed to

retire

on a

from undertaking, even.

pension.

on

the ground of illhealth

onl

temporarily

the

which I received.

increase

off

Frets::..

preventing the cuties for

an

my

performance of

As to this I would again allude to letter of instructions

of

June 6th 1883 and incloure les 1. to the finding of the Medical Board of 29th

the Medical Board of 29th Encéreuse. o 14.

November

Finally I beg to observe that this matter appears to have arisen

of

misunderstandings

a. Series

from a

Mr Jordan, who found himself.

in

the position of having to advise the Govern

ment on this occasion, failed to recognize the

-

gravity of Mr. Marques illness, and

ignorant of

being

the praction of the Department

did not know how to provide for the emergency

Be

was

apparently not aware of

personal responsibility, took no

steps to

his

procure

1

procure assistance beyond.

383

-one

application

to the Military Staff, and was herhaps anxions that official duties should not ~ his time and in- encroach too much

on

terfere with his private practice.

His Excellency

was

thus misinformed to the require

of

as to Mr. Marque's illness, as to the -ments of the case, and as to the farts / for

Mt. Cyres wrote on 16th November I understand that the Superintendent was in charge [ Post Mortem work I during Mr. Marques illness, and have since, Seen At Jordan who understood so also). Then His Excelle has read both my.

letter March 1881, applying for increase

cy

Ensiveuse bol.

of

of-rulary, and June 1883, as conveying

instructions

my

an impression

altogether different from my

07

Through all these difficulties and mis-:

-understandings, I have conscientiously striv

to

carry.

cut

muy

as

instructions of

I understood them.

June 1882

If I misinterpreted them, you, Sir, will judge of the extent of my

whether it admits

In any

of

case

excluce.

error

and !.

however, the charac

#

a

of the Civil Hospital, alone is too great a strain to be bome for many years ty

man and, I shall be glad with your per- -mission, In to retire

pension as advised

by the bo ci

on

That I should be practically dis

missed from the service, however, after

devoting the best

a

years of my life to it is cource which will not, I belie

itself to your judgement, and I now le

mmend.

. ... . . .

(ru

Comments

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

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.