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Rh and courteous, which he wrote with his own hand to his officers of all grades, regarding measures which they had been officially instructed to execute. To each letter there would be appended at the end a few words of a friendly and confidential character, to make the recipient put his heart into the work. In many cases these concluding words were treasured up by those to whom they were addressed.

Without any disparagement of the Civil Service as it was in 1843, it must be admitted that his nomination to the Lieutenant-Governorship was received with some surprise by many, especially those of the senior grades who had served in these Provinces from the beginning of their careers. He was considered to be a favourite of official fortune, a talented young man of conspicuous qualities, calculated to attract the notice of the Governor-General in Council. He had, indeed, gone through the drudgery, as well as borne the honour, of a District Officer's life for several years. Still, after a brief apprenticeship, he had rapidly advanced to several high posts, almost as if by flight from height to height, and then by the favour of the Governor- General had been straightway appointed Lieutenant-Governor. He himself wrote privately, 'I may meet with detraction and shall have to overcome prejudices. ... But the God who has placed me there (Agra) will enable me to do my duty — or if He shall see fit to discredit me or remove me from the sphere, He can also give me submission to His will.' He added 'Sir Matthew Hale