C.O.
11988
Rect.
Red 15 JUN 31
Enclosure 5.
Hongkong, 3rd May, 1891.
SIR—I have the honour to convey to your Excellency my respectful request that you will be good enough to expunge my name from the letter addressed to you by the unofficial members of Council on the 24th ultimo with the frank admission and expression of my regret that it contains certain passages which appear to imply disrespect, though they were certainly not so intended by me. It is conceivable that in the midst of personal affairs one may happen to commit oneself to the substance of a letter without sufficient consideration of the terms used!
I may be permitted to add that had the letter been in respectful terms I am quite sure, from my knowledge of your Excellency, that it would have met with the respectful consideration due.
With regard to the payment of the increased salaries I recognize that an initial error was made by myself in the amendment on the motion in Council, which with more time for reflection I would have omitted; proposing instead, that the question should be postponed until the consideration of the next estimates; for, I take for granted that the payment this year of the increased salaries that may be sanctioned by the Secretary of State will not preclude their reconsideration in futuro. The increased salaries this year have, however, been voted, and on maturer consideration I think it fair, right, and expedient that they should be paid, although I still maintain as strongly as ever that were the Secretary of State to sanction to any large extent the proposed increase it would be inexpedient to continue to do so permanently.
Having thus expressed my views on the salaries question I do not feel that it is necessary for me to substitute any letter for the one from which I have withdrawn.
The immediate prospect of the cessation of your Excellency's official relations with the colony, which I, in common, I believe, with the whole community most sincerely regret, will, I feel sure, convince your Excellency that I have no other motive in the course I now take than that of repairing to the best of my ability an unintentional wrong. I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient, humble servant.
J. J. KESWICK.
To His Excellency Sir G. William Des Voeux,
K.C.M.G.
598
C.O
11988
Rect
Red 15 JUN 31
Enclosure 5.
Hongkong, 3rd May, 1891.
SIB-I have the honour to convey to your Excellency my respectful request that you will be good enough to expunge my name from the letter addressed to you by the unofficial members of Connoil on the 24th ultimo with the Frank admission and expression of my regret that it contains certain passages which appear to im- | ply disrespect, though they were certainly not so intended by me. It is conceivable that in the midst of personal affairs ons may happen to commit oneself to the substance of a letter with- out sufficient consideration of the terms used!
I may be permitted to add that had the letter been in respectful terms I am quite sure, from my knowledge of your Excellency, that it would have met with the respectful consideration due.
With regard to the payment of the increased salarios I recognize that an initial error was made by myself in the amendment on the motion in Council, which with more time for reflection I would have omitted; proposing instead, that the question should be postponed until the consideration of the next estimates; for, I take for granted that the payment this year of the increased salaries that may be sanctioned by the Secretary of State
will
will not preclude their reconsideration in futuro. The increased salaries this year have, howevor, bean voted, and on maturer consideration I think ît fair, right, and expedient that they should be pid, although I still maintain as strongly as ever that were the Secretary of State to sauction to any large extent the proposed increase it would be Inexpedient to continue to do so permanently.
Having thus expressed my views on the salaries question I do not feel that it is necessary for me to substitute any letter for the one from which I have withdrawn.
The immediate prospect of the cessation of your Excellenog's official relations with the colony, which I, in commou, I believe, with the whole community most sincerely regret, will, I feel sure, convince your Excellency that I have no other motive in the course I now take than that of repairing to the best of my ability an unintentional wrong. I have the honour to be. Sir, your most obedient, humble servant.
J. J. KESWICK. To His Excellency Sir G. William Des Voeux,
K.C.M.G.
598
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