CO129-266 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [1-3] — Page 529

Copy.

Enclosure 3.

C.O. 525 7324

RECP IRE 29 PR 96!

Supreme Court.

HongKong, 21st.March,1895.

sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt

of Your Excellency's letter of 20th. instant,coveying to me

the offer of the Puisne Judgeship of the Straits Settlements

asking me to decide as soon as possible and adding that, if

I accept,it will be necessary for me to go at once.

While thanking the Most Honourable the Secre-

tary of State and Your Excellency for the offer,I respect-

fully ask to be permitted, under present circumstances, to

decline to avail myselfof it.

As Your Excellency is aware, I am now acting

as Chief Justice of HongKong during the absence of Sir

Fielding Clarke and I should be sorry to give up that posi-

tion so soon after my appointment by Your Excellency as it

is one in which I trust I may do good work and give satis-

faction. The emoluments of the proposed Puisne Judgeship are

the same as those of the Attorney General here, and,other

things being equal,I should prefer remaining in Hongkong where

I have recently taken and newly furnished a house, to changing

to Singapore without improved official status or emolument.

I have had the honour of serving either as

Attorney General or Chief Justice for more than twelve years

and, while I prefer judicial work, I trust that my present

reply will not militate against my chances of future promo-

His Excellency

Sir W. Robinson, K. C. M. G.