I have the honor to request that you will be pleased
               to [take late?] your favourable consideration this my
               application for 
any sort of civil employment that you
               could kindly offer me in 
British Columbia or elsewhere.
               I beg to state that I have served for Five years in
               Her Majesty's service in the West Indies, Crimea &
               Canada, at the end of which time I found my
               prospect of promotion by purchase so bad, that I
               retired from the service and I did so without
               [illegible] much reflection and now I have to regret
               that I did so, for I am without

 any occupation;
               and am most desirous of getting some employment,
               and would prefer going to 
British Columbia, as it seems a good field
               for a young man and I have a small sum of money wh: I have
               no doubt I could turn to good account there
               besides which I am acquainted with many
               of the Engineer Officers who are either gone
               or going to that part of her majesty's dominions.
               I have also in contemplation marrying and I
               could not afford to live in 
London
 even
               should I be able to get employment there. And
               this is another great reason why I would like
               to go to service of Her Majestys Colonies.
               
               I may add that I can produce testimonials
               from every Commanding Officer under whom I have served.
               
            
            
               I trust that the services of my Father Colonel
               
V. Arbuckle on the retired list of the Royal
               Artillery and of My uncle 
General Wylde C.B. also
               of the Royal Artillery may have some weight in
               influencing you in my behalf, should you be so
               kind as to take my claim

 [or retnr?] my application
               into your favourable consideration and be
               able to give me employment of any sort and anywhere
               that it is in your power.
               
               Sincerely hoping that you will be able to give me a
               favourable answer to this my earnest appeal